Tunisia is looking at emerging countries to boost its scientific research rather than focusing on the developed world as it reforms its scientific strategy following the 2011 uprising that overthrew long-time president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Last week, Tunisia signed an agreement with India to create a US$8 million programme to fund collaborative research between the two countries, reports SciDev.Net. As part of the programme, there will be joint workshops and training, as well as exchange of scientists from laboratories in the two countries.

According to Mohammed Nejib Azhari, director of research programming and cooperation at the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, researchers from both countries are submitting joint research proposals for consideration. The programme, which will run for three years, will focus on biotechnology and medical sciences. The selected projects should start receiving funding in September of this year.

Tunisia is not the only Arab state reaching out to India. A report published in Nature Biotechnology in 2010 suggests that South-South science collaborations will increase in the near future, making drugs and vaccines much more affordable and accessible for millions of poor people around the world.

According to the report, the strongest research and development ties that Egypt has are with India.

You can read the full story on SciDev.Net.