Tunis — Mr. Mondher Zenaidi, Minister of Health and Mr. Afif Chelbi, Minister of Industry, Energy and Small and Medium Enterprises, chaired on Saturday in Tunis, a signing ceremony of a spin-off contract between between both ministries and the Tunis Pasteur Institute.

Ms Najoua Miladi, Secretary of State in charge of hospitals, Mr. Abdelaziz Rassaa, Secretary of State in charge of Renewable Energy and food industries, as well as managers of both departments took part at the event.

Under the spin-off contract, the Pasteur Institute is requested to create structures and identify projects in the framework of this program.

It will also work to raise awareness of this mechanism inside and outside the Institute and to enhance the potential of creating projects on the basis of studies and research developed by the institution.

The project will be implemented with the private sector and in partnership with international and with the assistance of the technological pole of Sidi Thabet (Governorate of Ariana), specialized in health and biotechnology fields.

During October and November 2009, the program registered the membership of 14 public and private companies operating in the fields of industry, energy, health, transport and communication technologies.

Since the start of the program, some 46 companies have joined the national spin-off program.