Innovation Award

The SME sector in Algeria is facing many challenges that threaten its competitiveness, especially the progressive opening of Algeria to the world market (free trade agreement with the European Union, Arab free trade zone, African free trade zone), which has led to increased competition.

Faced with these challenges, the public authorities have adopted a proactive policy to improve the environment for SMEs and support the productive fabric, with a view to upgrading its productivity.

Among the important levers of competitiveness, innovation figures prominently in the design and conduct of public policies to support and assist the development of SMEs.

In fact, experience has shown that innovative SMEs are successful in many markets and are tangible sources of productivity, progress and resources for economies that encourage technical and technological innovation and the promotion of research and development (R&D) on a collective or individual basis for the benefit of these companies.

For this reason, the Ministry of Industry, pursuant to Executive Decree No. 18- 226 of 24 September 2018, has instituted a National Prize for Innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, the objective of which is to reward and encourage innovative SMEs that have implemented a product (good or service), a new or significantly improved production process, a new marketing method in the company's practices, in the organisation of the workplace or in external relations.

Objectives of the National Award for Innovative SMEs

The National Award for Innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprises aims to : 

  • Support innovation and the use of R&D in SMEs to improve their competitiveness;
  • Reward and encourage SMEs operating in industry and industry-related services that have achieved product, process or organisational innovations to bring them to excellence.

To participate in the competition for this award is to :

  • Choosing the approach that improves competitiveness;
  • Recognising and appreciating the efforts and innovations made by innovative SMEs
  • innovative SMEs;
  • Promote the company's brand image;
  • Making your innovations (product, process, organisation, etc.) known to customers;
  • Motivate and involve the company's managers.

The Ministry of Industry awards innovative SMEs

The Prize will put in competition the innovative SME activating in the industry and/or the services related to the industry and consists in the granting of medals, certificates of merit and pecuniary rewards, of the best innovative company.

The amounts of the prize are fixed by the first article of the executive decree 18-226 of 14 Moharram 1440 corresponding to September 24th, 2018 and are as follows:

The winning innovative SME having more than three (3) years of existence and operating in a sector that contributes to sustainable economic development will win a medal a certificate of merit and a monetary award, the amount of which is set as follows:

  • 2.000.000 DZD for the 1st prizewinner ;
  • 1,600,000 DZD for the 2nd prizewinner
  • 1.200.000 DZD for the 3rd prizewinner.

The winning SME having more than three (3) years of existence and operating in a sector of the green economy, will win a medal, a certificate of merit and a monetary award, the amount of which is set as follows :

  • 2.000.000 DZD for the 1st laureate;
  • 1.600.000 DZD for the 2nd prizewinner;
  • 1.200.000 DZD for the 3rd prizewinner.

The young innovative laureate SME operating in a sector that contributes to sustainable economic development will win a medal, a certificate of merit and a monetary award, the amount of which is set as follows :

  • 1,000,000 DZD for the 1st prizewinner ;
  • 800,000 DZD for the 2nd prizewinner
  • 600,000 DZD for the 3rd prizewinner.

The awarding of the prize will take place during the ceremony organised by the Ministry of Industry for this purpose. The date and place of this ceremony will be communicated to the participating SMEs at a later date.