Algeria Launches AI & Cybersecurity Startup Cluster

Algeria's Ministry of Knowledge has launched the country's first startup cluster dedicated to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, bringing together universities, research centres and emerging companies within a single innovation ecosystem.

The cluster was inaugurated at the Abdelhafid Ihaddaden Scientific and Technological Pole in Sidi Abdellah under the supervision of the ministries responsible for higher education, knowledge economy and telecommunications.

The initiative is designed to close the gap between academic research and industrial application, with a focus on accelerating innovation across sectors including healthcare, agriculture, energy and digital services.

The hub forms part of a broader scientific complex spanning 87 hectares, which includes specialised national schools focused on mathematics, nanosciences, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence. The site also hosts the National School of Artificial Intelligence, established in 2021, and accommodates tens of thousands of students and researchers.

Officials said the cluster model may be extended to other campuses nationwide, with 2027 identified as a milestone for consolidating knowledge-driven economic growth.

Algeria currently has more than 7,800 registered startups and is targeting 20,000 by 2029, with the cluster positioned as a mechanism to channel academic talent into entrepreneurship and applied technology development.