Kickstarting businesses and development in emerging markets



The lab of tomorrow is one of the programmes offered by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to promote collaboration with actors in the private sector.
As of January 2024, all programmes will operate under the umbrella brand Partners in Transformation. This new title emphasises the partnership between the private sector and development cooperation, with the shared goal of achieving a social and
environmental transformation in BMZ’s partner countries.
The programmes work with companies, trade unions, chambers of commerce, associations and other interest groups.
Find out more at Private sector | BMZ (German only)
📢 Manuel disponibles en français!
Our track record
The lab of tomorrow has been the programme of choice by GIZ projects, the Austrian and the Swiss Development Agencies as well as companies to solve specific development challenges all over the world.
Your opportunities
Learn how you can benefit from the lab of tomorrow programme.
Solve your development challenge
The lab of tomorrow programme activates the private sector to achieve SDG impact. Your advantages of initiating a programme include:
- Let the private sector solve your development challenge – we help you identify unmet needs with business potential.
- As an initiator, you steer the programme and bring in all the people necessary for success.
- Benefit from our network and gain access to business partners, development agencies, investors, mentors and policy makers.
- The impact created by the lab of tomorrow programme goes beyond development cooperation project lifespans.
Develop your business in emerging markets
Expand into emerging markets together with new business partners! Your benefits of participating in the programme include:
- Business case sourcing: We identify business opportunities in emerging markets for you to choose from.
- Participant sourcing & matching: We match you with relevant local and international companies in interdisciplinary teams.
- As a team, you co-create a new product or service and benefit from business development coaching.
- Partner network access: you gain access to business partners, investors, mentors and policy makers.
Invest in solutions and support innovations
Gain access to impact investment opportunities in various markets and sectors! Your benefits in supporting our ventures include:
- Be the first to know about investment opportunities in untapped markets.
- You become part of our strong network of innovators and entrepreneurs.
- Receive access to invest in our ventures at different stages. We invite you to pitch sessions, demo days and share our dealbook.
- Bring in companies from your portfolio and offer them interesting business development opportunities.
How it works
Find out how sustainable and profitable business models are created in a lab of tomorrow programme and what’s in it for you.
Challenge in spotlight
Take a glance at our most recent lab of tomorrow business opportunities.

Energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in Tunisia
Ready to create impact?
Currently running challenges
Take a look at our currently running challenges and the potential business opportunities they present for you.

Energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in Tunisia
This challenge is in phase: Incubate business
How might we improve energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in industry and services in Tunisia?
Currently, Tunisia is heavily dependent on importing energy supplies (almost exclusively fossil fuels) from abroad, with a share of up to 60% of the total energy consumption. Increasing energy efficiency could thereby decrease energy demand and consequently reduce dependency on importing fossil fuels from abroad.
01
Understand
Tunisia has set itself the goal of covering around a third of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. In the new strategy, Tunisia committed itself to reduce energy intensity by 30% in addition to producing 35% of their electricity supply from renewable energies. Lastly, the topic of "green hydrogen" is increasingly becoming the focus of public discussion.
Considering these circumstances, the lab of tomorrow in Tunisia aims to create innovative solutions in the fields of energy efficiency and decentralized generation of renewable energies. These new business models, which are developed in a collaborative way between Tunisian and European companies, try to address the challenge of increasing energy efficiency e.g., in the sector of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), building insulation, the automotive industry, tourism, or the reusage of residual heat in industrial zones. These new business models can help in reducing the overall energy dependency of Tunisia, while simultaneously creating new and sustainable business opportunities for Tunisian and European companies. Lastly, the lab of tomorrow contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Business Opportunities
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Ideate Solutions
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Incubate business
7 ventures successfully entered the Incubation Phase.More information
Downloads

Energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in Tunisia
This challenge is in phase: Incubate business
How might we improve energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in industry and services in Tunisia?
Currently, Tunisia is heavily dependent on importing energy supplies (almost exclusively fossil fuels) from abroad, with a share of up to 60% of the total energy consumption. Increasing energy efficiency could thereby decrease energy demand and consequently reduce dependency on importing fossil fuels from abroad.
01
Understand
Tunisia has set itself the goal of covering around a third of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. In the new strategy, Tunisia committed itself to reduce energy intensity by 30% in addition to producing 35% of their electricity supply from renewable energies. Lastly, the topic of "green hydrogen" is increasingly becoming the focus of public discussion.
Considering these circumstances, the lab of tomorrow in Tunisia aims to create innovative solutions in the fields of energy efficiency and decentralized generation of renewable energies. These new business models, which are developed in a collaborative way between Tunisian and European companies, try to address the challenge of increasing energy efficiency e.g., in the sector of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), building insulation, the automotive industry, tourism, or the reusage of residual heat in industrial zones. These new business models can help in reducing the overall energy dependency of Tunisia, while simultaneously creating new and sustainable business opportunities for Tunisian and European companies. Lastly, the lab of tomorrow contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.