Focus on an innovation Enova Robotics, 100% “Made in Tunisia” robots
Enova Robotics manufactures 100% « Made in Tunisia » robots, exported to Europe mainly, with Africa in its sights. Its credo, E-health, distance education, security… or technology at the service of development.
Anis Sahbani was teaching robotics in Paris when he decided, in 2014, to create, in Tunis, Enova Robotics. Established in the SoftTech business incubator in Sousse, the company which, as its name suggests, manufactures robots, 100% Made in Tunisia! “Initially, we had to train the teams and the engineers on site,” Anis confided. We started with fairly simple products, including a robot dedicated to teaching and research. Then gradually we developed a series of robots… ”
PearlGuard, eTouch-Bot, Mini-lab… Robots that provide security, distance education or tele-medicine operations
PearlGuard, eTouch-Bot, Mini-lab… Robots that provide security, tele-teaching or tele-medicine operations. « We start with a blank sheet, from a drawing, it’s design, programming and then manufacturing. The integration rate is between 60 and 75% for all robots, ”says the founder of the startup.
To fight Covid-19
A know-how that the founder did not hesitate to put at the service of his country, at the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic. « We approached the Ministry of the Interior to provide it, free of charge, with robots for ensure controls during containment. Equipped with thermal cameras, with real-time data transmission to the operations room, from which it is controlled, the robot calls out to passers-by and ensures controls. This is what made it possible to respect the principles of distancing. Subsequently, we deployed another robot to Ariana, where the main hospital for the treatment of Covid was located, a tele-presence robot. The patient sees the doctor, he can talk to him, the robot is autonomous and can move from one room to another. The last one, deployed during the Covid, and in record time, was used to sort the entrance to hospitals. »
« Very quickly, in Africa, we will have a mature market to absorb this type of technology »
An innovation developed in the south, with Europe as its main market, with prospects in North America, while waiting to be deployed on the African market. “When we talk about robotics, the market changes very quickly. Today, sub-Saharan Africa is focused on infrastructure and digital, very quickly we will have a mature market to absorb this type of technology. We started working in Morocco, we have exchanges in Kenya, for robots ensuring security in parks against vandalism and poaching. Also in distance education. In particular, there is a European project in which we are participating, for what is called adaptive distance learning. In Africa for example, NGOs are working with doctors who cannot always travel to isolated areas. In Kenya, we collaborate with an NGO on tele-medicine for remote consultations.
Awarded several times, the company, which ranks among the 20 largest manufacturers of robots in the world, according to MarketDesk, raised funds of 4.5 million dinars (1.5 million €) in 2018.
