For several years, she has been working to transform the healthcare sector, convinced that innovation can improve everyday care. She is multiplying entrepreneurial initiatives to ensure that technological advances directly benefit patients.

Wafa B'chir (photo), a Tunisian entrepreneur and university lecturer specializing in entrepreneurial culture within the health sector, is the co-founder and senior partner of Connect’Innov, a key support structure for innovation in health and biology.

Launched in 2020, Connect’Innov focuses on identifying, supporting, and promoting innovative technological projects across e-health, medtech, and biotech. To achieve this, the organization provides a range of initiatives tailored to the specific needs of emerging project leaders.

Among its flagship offerings is Connect’Innov Prep, a training program designed to raise awareness about entrepreneurship and innovation for individuals in the pre-incubation phase. The organization also delivers general training on innovation and entrepreneurship and operates an incubation program for startups in the ideation stage. Through Connect’Innov Link, the structure fosters connections between innovative ecosystems, encouraging collaboration and the sharing of expertise. To date, Connect’Innov has implemented over 40 programs and events, supporting more than 100 startups.

In addition to her work with Connect’Innov, B'chir is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of World Bio Consulting. Based in France, her company offers scientific consulting and project support services in biomedical research, encompassing basic, preclinical, and clinical research across both therapeutic and diagnostic areas.

A strong advocate for women in technology, B'chir serves as a mentor for the Women TechEU project, an initiative backed by the European Union. This program aims to empower European women leading deep tech startups to become the tech leaders of tomorrow.

B'chir's academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in molecular genetics, obtained in 2007 from the University of Toulouse, followed by a master’s degree in pathophysiology in 2009. She further holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular biology, and nutrition, which she earned in 2013 from the University of Auvergne.

Her career began in 2017 at MRM Proteomics, a company specializing in proteomics, where she held successive roles as a proteomics technologies scientist and later as a project and product manager. In 2019, she joined the research center at CHU Sainte-Justine in France as a scientist in biochemistry and molecular medicine. From 2020 to 2021, she also taught at UPSAT, the Faculty of Health Sciences in Tunisia.

By Melchior Koba,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji