Establishing high-tech industry: The Tunisian ICT experience

Although the high-tech sector in developed countries is well understood, there are considerable gaps in our knowledge about the high-tech sector in developing countries. This study addresses questions about the nature of high tech in Tunisia and about factors associated with information and communications technology (ICT) firms’ success as examples of the high-tech sector. The literature identifies the key characteristics of the sector to be human capital, access to appropriate finance and supporting institutions to provide synergy. Thus we address these factors to establish if they have led to success in Tunisian ICT high tech. We surveyed 60 Tunisian ICT firms and employing a multiple component analysis, supported by a multinomial LOGIT analysis, we found that research and development was negatively associated with firm success. This, we argue, indicates the early stage of high-tech development. Our findings also suggest a subordinate role in the global value chain.The paper concludes with some observations and recommendations.