• Algeria inaugurates rapid prototyping platform at Ouzera University
• The platform supports students with innovative projects, aligning with the national strategy to build a knowledge economy
• It features advanced tools including 3D printing, laser cutting, and modeling equipment

Algeria's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kamel Baddari (photo, center), inaugurated a rapid prototyping platform at the University of Ouzera in Médéa province on Tuesday, April 22, aiming to empower students with innovative projects. The facility aligns with the national strategy to position universities as key drivers of the knowledge economy.

"The launch of this technological rapid prototyping platform enhances the outcomes of scientific research, provides students with an avenue to establish startups, and reinforces the strategic role of students in wealth generation and the advancement of the knowledge and innovation economy," Minister Baddari said during the inauguration ceremony.

Equipped with sophisticated modeling tools, laser cutting, and 3D printing capabilities, the platform expedites the design and production of functional prototypes. This offers project developers the chance to realize their concepts more swiftly while lowering manufacturing expenses. It bolsters a growing technological ecosystem within Algerian universities, following the recent introduction of a national cloud computing platform, a drone design and control system, and a university incubator focused on entrepreneurship and innovation.

This initiative is part of a broader push to support the entrepreneurial landscape in Algeria. In recent years, the government has expanded support mechanisms for young project holders through the establishment of support structures such as the National Agency for the Promotion of Incubators (ANPI), startup development centers across various regions, and funding mechanisms like the Algerian Startup Fund, which has been allocated several billion dinars.

Currently, Algeria has several hundred officially registered startups operating in crucial sectors including digital technology, fintech, healthcare, and smart agriculture. The development of technological platforms within universities, such as the one in Ouzera, further strengthens an environment conducive to the emergence of a generation of innovators capable of actively contributing to the country's economic diversification.

By Samira Njoya,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji