Interviewed and Published by Boudou Gueffai, Editor-in-Chief | Oran, Algeria May 11th, 2026
GIZ showed up in Oran last week, EU money in hand, ready to shake things up. But honestly, this felt different from the usual global tech events. In a powerful demonstration of international development cooperation, the German agency GIZ partnered with Algeria’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Micro-Enterprises (MECSM) to deliver a transformative Open Innovation workshop in Oran, a city that knows reinvention. After French colonization and with its strong Spanish heritage, this is where Yves Saint Laurent was born and Raï music was first heard. The New York Times by Anita Pouchard Serra – Photojournalist /visual storyteller, just ranked it #7 on their 2026 must-visit list. “El-Bahia” (The Radiant), as locals call it, has always burned bright with its Mediterranean charm and cultural fire. Now it’s adding tech innovation to its legacy, positioning itself on the Arab world’s innovation map.
This workshop marks a turning point for Algeria’s innovation ecosystem. World-class expertise has arrived in this Mediterranean capital, with special guest Sebastien Toupy sharing his vision and leaving a lasting impact to inspire young talent and promote government initiatives.
From Brussels to Oran, Sebastien Toupy’s mission to unlock Algeria
Sébastien Toupy, founder of Founders Academy and Scalefront, led the workshop that brought game-changing insights to Algerian enterprises and incubators. The guy’s been everywhere; Brussels, Bishkek, Reykjavik, Amsterdam, you name it. But Oran? Something clicked for him here; he saw what Algeria’s really sitting on: 13,400 startups ready to explode. With his experience spanning Europe to Central Asia and North Africa, Toupy didn’t hesitate when Oran called. The city’s international buzz is real, and he wanted in on what’s brewing in Algeria’s innovation scene. Here’s what’s wild, Algeria has everything. Startups? Check. Incubators? Over 200. Government backing? Absolutely. Yet somehow only 219 companies have actually teamed up with these startups. Meanwhile, the government’s literally offering 30% off your tax bill if you partner up. We’re talking up to $1.5 million here.
The Saudi Times asked Sebastien about his experience in Oran and he said “Oran surprised me, in the best way. The room had real energy: people who enjoy a good argument and aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions, which is exactly the spirit open innovation needs. What struck me most was how differently entrepreneurs read the same opportunities depending on their background and lens. That diversity of perspective isn’t a complication, it’s an asset. Oran’s tech ecosystem is growing fast, and I think the open innovation framework we explored together gives it a compelling direction. I’m excited to see where its growth will lead in the coming years.”
GIZ’s Four-City Innovation Roadmap: Annaba, Oran, Biskra, Setif
Ikram Bencherif knows what’s at stake. As GIZ Algeria’s Manager, she and her team member Nessrine Benamar aren’t just running workshops, they’re executing a strategic roadmap across four key cities. Annaba, Oran, Biskra, Setif. Each stop carefully chosen, each workshop building on the last. They’ve watched enough countries blow their innovation moment. Not Algeria. Not on their watch. The challenge Bencherif’s tackling is stark: that massive gap that represents billions of untapped potentials. The GIZ team isn’t just identifying problems, they’re systematically working through Algeria’s innovation hubs, one city at a time, making sure this country doesn’t miss its shot.
Algeria’s 30% Tax Break: The Ministry’s Bold Move to Make Innovation Mandatory
The timing couldn’t be more strategic. Algeria’s Ministry has introduced game-changing fiscal incentives never seen before: companies engaging in Open Innovation partnerships with labeled startups can claim a 30% tax deduction on their annual profits, capped at 200 million DZD (approximately $1.5 million USD). This positions Algeria as having one of the most aggressive innovation incentive programs in the MENA region. “Open Innovation is no longer optional in Algeria, it’s becoming mandatory,” Toupy told The Saudi Times. With the upcoming “Innovate or Pay” law in 2026, Algerian companies will be required to invest in innovation or face additional fiscal contributions, transforming innovation from a nice-to-have to a must-have.
The workshop showcased compelling success stories, including FarmAI by SevenG, an Algerian student startup that won second place in Huawei’s global Tech4Good competition for their AI-powered wheat rust detection system. These Algerian students are competing with Silicon Valley and winning proof that Algerian innovation can compete globally when properly supported.
Diaspora Success: How AI Ambassador Khaled Teimzit is Democratizing AI for Algerian Businesses
Among the fresh faces popping up in Algeria’s budding tech scene is Khaled Teimzit, 29, a French-Algerian who just opened Astrobia Algeria in Algiers. Named France’s AI Ambassador under the “Osez l’IA” plan, he’s hauling practical AI lessons home, aimed squarely at folks who’ve never typed a line of code. Within days he ran two packed workshops downtown ALG and already had local firms queuing for more. The Ministry’s push to thicken the innovation fabric helps, but the hunger is real: accountants, retailers, even café owners want tools that sort invoices or answer customers while they sleep. “AI isn’t an engineers-only club,” he told The Saudi Times. “If you can swipe a phone, you can teach it a trick.” Teach he does, plain language, live demos, zero slides full of jargon. One pharmacist left with a chatbot that re-orders stock; a tour guide automated nightly client questions. No fancy hardware, no hefty fees, just skills that stick. Today, diaspora expertise is flying home as everyday magic, seeding Algeria’s next chapter of innovation one copied-and-pasted workflow at a time.
Inside USTO University: The Incubator Empowering Algeria’s Future Talent
Professor Mehalla Kadda runs the USTO incubator where all this magic happens. He sat there listening to Sebastien explain what’s coming in 2026, basically, innovate or the government will make you pay anyway. No more Mr. Nice Guy from the state. He told The Saudi Times “ USTO is here to support our young talent and this GIZ workshop with special guest Sébastien Toupy is a great initiative to support our University and help us focus on promoting innovation and strengthening the digital transformation of green projects”. The collaboration also involved Nasreddine Sayad, Director of USTO’s Entrepreneurship Development Center, highlighting the comprehensive institutional support for Algeria’s entrepreneurial future.
From Marine Science to Startup Mentorship: Dr. Nacima Mesli’s Mission to Cultivate Algeria’s Innovators
The Saudi Times met with Dr. Nacima Mesli, a PhD in marine ecotoxicology turned passionate advocate for Algeria’s emerging talent. Through her work with the EU-funded Blue Economy Program and USTO’s Incubator, she’s shaping the next generation of innovators. On May 11, Dr. Mesli attended the GIZ workshop alongside Professor Mehalla Kadda (USTO Incubator Director) and Amira Senouci, a rising star in Algeria’s startup scene.
Having watched Algeria’s innovation ecosystem evolve for years, Dr. Mesli transitioned from studying marine toxins to cultivating startups at USTO. “These young entrepreneurs aren’t messing around,” she tells The Saudi Times. “Take Amira, she’s not waiting for permission to build something incredible.”
Her mission is clear: “We’re not just supporting projects; we’re building an ecosystem where young talents can thrive and transform Algeria’s economy through innovation and sustainable development.”
From Crazy Dream to Real Business: Amira Senouci’s LEÍOS SKIN Journey
And Amira Senouci? She’s exactly who Dr. Mesli’s talking about. This young entrepreneur took local Algerian plants and turned them into LEÍOS SKIN, a dermo cosmetics brand using innovative Algerian solutions. Not some knockoff brand, not imported anything, just straight-up homegrown innovation. When The Saudi Times asked Amira about her experience with USTO’s incubator, she laughed: “Honestly, I had no clue what I was doing at first. But the incubator people? They’d been through it all. Every step has allowed me to learn, evolve, and innovate. The coaches and mentors have been crucial in turning research ideas into a real business. They made my crazy dream feel… possible.”
Algeria’s Innovation Moment Has Arrived, and Oran Is Ready
The pieces are all there. The talent’s obvious, just ask Amira and Khaled. Infrastructure? Those 200+ incubators aren’t decoration. And that 30% tax break? That’s real Algerian money talking. What went down in Oran this week was bigger than a workshop. With GIZ’s development expertise, the Ministry’s governmental backing, substantial EU co-financing, and thought tech leaders like Sebastien Toupy investing their expertise in Algeria’s future, the message is clear: Algeria is open for innovation business and ready to compete on the global stage.
Oran, Algeria
Photo Credits: Boudou Gueffai | Editor-in-Chief | The Saudi Times
North Africa’s giant just announced it’s done watching from the sidelines. Sure, the workshop’s over. But for people like Dr. Mesli who’s cultivating the next generation, entrepreneurs like Khaled who’s proving it works, and partners like GIZ who brought the playbook, this is just getting started. As Oran emerges as a Mediterranean innovation hub, this workshop represents more than knowledge transfer. It’s a declaration that North Africa’s largest country is writing a new chapter in its economic story, one startup at a time. And honestly? It’s about time. After The New York times spotlight, The Saudi Times ranks Oran among the top emerging Arab tech cities to watch in 2026.
