Terna Innovation Zone is the name of the first innovation hub in Africa managed by Terna. This corporate social responsibility initiative, part of the Mattei Plan, aims to promote technological innovation and skill development in Tunisia’s energy sector. Inaugurated yesterday in Tunis, the Terna Innovation Zone will host open innovation and acceleration programs, enabling Tunisian startups to access resources, expertise, and opportunities from Terna’s global network. They will also benefit from technical know-how provided by the Italian group. The first such initiative will launch in February, featuring a startup call followed by a scaling program for innovative Tunisian startups in the fields of energy transition and digital transformation. In alignment with the principles of a just energy and digital transition, the Tunisian Terna Innovation Zone will focus on training and developing engineers and technicians in the energy sector. This will be achieved through collaborations between Terna and local universities, aiming to equip a new generation of professionals with technical skills and a culture of innovation. This initiative is linked to the Elmed infrastructure project, the first high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity interconnection between Europe and Africa. The project involves the construction of a 200 km undersea cable between Italy and Tunisia. Built by Terna and STEG (Tunisia’s electricity and gas network operator), the infrastructure will enhance renewable energy integration and serve as an energy bridge between the two continents, bringing benefits in security, energy supply diversification, and sustainability, in line with European decarbonization goals.