Agence Thématique de Recherche en Sciences et Technologie

What Agence Thématique de Recherche en Sciences et Technologie does

The Agence Thématique de Recherche en Sciences et Technologie (ATRST) is a public research coordination agency of the Algerian government, established by executive decree N°19-232 of August 13, 2019 and operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) and the Direction Générale de la Recherche Scientifique et du Développement Technologique (DGRSDT). Headquartered in El Harrach, Algiers, the agency coordinates Algeria's national thematic research effort in science and technology by managing the Programmes Nationaux de Recherche (PNR), a portfolio of 10 thematic research networks covering Hydrogen, Photonics, Microelectronics, Electro-Technology, Water Security, Lithium and Rare Earths, Circular Economy, Sea Water Desalination, Major Risks, and Artificial Intelligence, and the quadrennial evaluation of approved research laboratories via the research.dz platform. The agency is led by Director General KOUADRI MOSTEFAI Soumia and operates with a core staff of 14 employees.

The agency's core technology stack consists of two interoperable digital platforms: the pnr.dgrsdt.dz platform, which manages submission, evaluation, and tracking of National Research Program proposals, and the research.dz platform, which supports laboratory evaluation, researcher registration, and scientific output tracking. Supporting services include the Presidential Prize for Innovative Researchers, scientific event subsidies and co-organization, reference textbook development, the ATRST scientific journal, and bilateral cooperation frameworks (notably with EU H2020, PRIMA, and the Italy-Algeria joint research program).

ATRST does not operate a commercial revenue model. Its funding flows entirely from the Algerian state budget through MESRS, and it distributes those funds as competitive research grants, laboratory budgets, and thematic network support rather than charging for services. Its principal beneficiaries are Algerian universities, approved research laboratories, individual researchers, and a defined set of socio-economic sector partners including CEVITAL, FERAAL, the National Desalination Agency, and Société Algérienne d'Energie. The 14-employee footprint, single-country geographic scope (Algeria, with regional Mediterranean cooperation), and grant-based distribution model position the agency as an administrative coordinating layer over a broader public research ecosystem rather than as a standalone operating business.

Name

Agence Thématique de Recherche en Sciences et Technologie

Legal name

Agence Thématique de Recherche en Sciences et Technologie

Website

https://atrst.dz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ATRST is Algeria's government thematic research agency for science and technology, coordinating National Research Programs, thematic research networks, and laboratory evaluations across Algerian universities and approved research laboratories under MESRS and DGRSDT supervision.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Research Administration

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAAAK

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Central/Federal Government Administration

Keywords

• Research funding administration
• Scientific research coordination
• Thematic research networks
• National research programs
• Laboratory evaluation services

Headquarters

HQ city

El Harrach, Algiers

HQ country

Algeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Subsidies: ATRST is a public research agency funded by the Algerian government through MESRS. The agency allocates funding to research projects, laboratories, scientific events, and thematic research networks.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ATRST is Algeria's government thematic research agency that coordinates and funds scientific research in science and technology under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS). It manages the National Research Programs (PNR) through a competitive funding platform, organizes thematic research networks across strategic sectors (Hydrogen, Photonics, Microelectronics, AI, Water Security, etc.), evaluates research laboratories via the Research.dz platform, and facilitates cooperation between academic research and the socio-economic sector.

Product overview

The Agence Thématique de Recherche en Sciences et Technologie (ATRST) operates as Algeria's thematic research coordination agency under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The organization functions as a research management platform rather than a commercial product company, managing a portfolio of interconnected services centered around the Programmes Nationaux de Recherche (PNR) - the core competitive research funding program implemented through the pnr.dgrsdt.dz platform. Supporting this core are Thematic Research Networks (Réseaux Thématiques de Recherche) which serve as collaborative frameworks in specialized domains including Hydrogen, Water Security, Desalination, Circular Economy, Microelectronics, Photonics, Rare Earths, and AI. The Research.dz platform enables laboratory evaluation and scientific publication tracking. Additional offerings include the Presidential Prize for Innovative Researchers, scientific event support, reference course development, and the ATRST Journal and Bulletins for dissemination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Programmes Nationaux de Recherche (PNR) [National Research Programs] Competitive research funding program that manages the submission, evaluation, and monitoring of national research projects across various scientific and technological themes, implemented through the pnr.dgrsdt.dz platform for Algerian universities and research centers.
• Réseaux Thématiques de Recherche (Thematic Research Networks) Collaborative frameworks connecting researchers across Algeria within specialized scientific domains including Hydrogen, Water Security, Desalination, Circular Economy, Microelectronics, Photonics, Rare Earths, Artificial Intelligence, Electro Technology, and Major Risks.
• Plateforme Research.dz Digital platform for research laboratory evaluation, quadrennial assessment submissions, human component updates, and scientific publication tracking for affiliated research laboratories.
• Prix du Président de la République pour le Chercheur Innovant (Presidential Prize for the Innovative Researcher) Presidential decree-established prestigious award recognizing scientific research excellence and innovation contributing to Algeria's scientific, technological, and socio-economic development.
• Scientific Events and Conferences Support Financial support and organizational assistance for scientific manifestations including international conferences, national symposiums, and thematic scientific days in science and technology domains.
• Cours de Référence (Reference Courses) National contribution program for developing reference textbooks and educational materials for fundamental subjects across first, second, and third year university programs in science and technology.
• Revue de l'ATRST (ATRST Scientific Journal) Scientific journal published by the agency featuring research articles and studies in science and technology domains.
• ATRST Bulletins Official bulletins documenting the agency's activities, publications, and scientific updates.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• École Nationale Polytechnique (ENP) AlgercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 August 2023Convention signed for thematic research projects in seawater desalination. Project title: 'Modélisation, contrôle et diagnostic des systèmes d'osmose inverse' (Modeling, control and diagnosis of reverse osmosis systems) led by Professor Chakir Massoud, in partnership with the National Desalination Agency and Société Algérienne d'Energie.
• AGIRE (Agence Nationale de Gestion Intégrée des Ressources en Eau)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2020Partnership for the 1st edition of the National Competition for Best Research Project in water resource management and innovation, organized for World Water Day 2020.
• Groupe CEVITAL - Pole IndustriecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2017Framework cooperation convention covering mechanics, electronics, electrotechnics and electromechanics, thermodynamics, telecommunications, IT, engineering management and R&D, and high-tech entrepreneurship. Aims to create bridges between research and the socio-economic sector.
• FERAAL (Société Nationale de Fer et de l'Acier)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2017Cooperation convention for creating a mixed research team focused on iron ore processing from Gara Djebilet mine, specifically addressing phosphorus extraction from the ore which is harmful to iron exploitation.
• H2020 European Research Program NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2017ATRST coordinates the Algerian network for promoting the European H2020 research and innovation program. Network includes researchers and socio-economic actors working on international collaborative research projects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico-chimiques (CRAPC): Algerian public research center specialized in physico-chemical analyses. Comparable as a peer public research institution in Algeria, though focused on analytical services rather than thematic research coordination.
• CNRST (Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique, Morocco): Morocco's national scientific and technical research center. Operates a similar public-sector research coordination role, though with broader geographic scope across all disciplines.
• Centre de Recherche en Biotechnologie (CRBt): Algerian public research center operating under MESRS. Comparable as a publicly funded research institution that interfaces with the same national research ecosystem, though focused on biotechnology rather than thematic coordination.
• Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research – DGRS: Tunisia's directorate general for scientific research. Comparable as a North African government body coordinating national R&D policy and funding programs in a similar institutional setup.
• ANRT (Agence Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie, Morocco): Moroccan national agency for research and technology funding, the closest functional analogue to ATRST in the Maghreb region. Comparable mandate of funding and coordinating national research across universities and industry.

Direct peers

• Direction Générale de la Recherche Scientifique et du Développement Technologique (DGRSDT): The parent supervising authority of ATRST under the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education. DGRSDT oversees all thematic research agencies in Algeria, making it the closest institutional peer in mandate and structure.
• Agence Thématique de Recherche en Sciences Humaines et Sociales (ATRSSH): Algeria's sister thematic research agency covering humanities and social sciences. Operates under the same decree framework as ATRST and shares institutional design, funding mechanism, and platform infrastructure (Research.dz, PNR).

Others

• PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area): International research funding program covering the Mediterranean. ATRST's involvement as an Algerian node (and PRIMA award recipient) makes it a peer in the same Mediterranean research coordination ecosystem.
• H2020 / Horizon Europe National Contact Point Network: European research program coordination network. ATRST coordinates Algeria's H2020 network, functioning as an analogous national contact node for international research funding facilitation.

Broad incumbents

• AUC (African Union Commission) – Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation: Continental body coordinating African research policy and frameworks. ATRST's participation in AUDA-NEPAD AI competitions indicates alignment with and participation in AUC-led science policy initiatives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atrst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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