Adel BEN YOUSSEF is a Professor of Economics at Université Côte d’Azur and a permanent member of the CNRS research laboratory GREDEG (UMR 7321). He is also an associate researcher at the Economic Research Forum (Cairo) and the Global Labor Organization (Bonn). Internationally recognized for his work on ecological and digital transitions, he has made major contributions to advancing the concept of the twin transition—the synergy between digital innovation and environmental sustainability—as a key framework for public policy, industrial development, and climate strategies. With over two decades of academic and advisory experience, Professor Ben Youssef has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles in top international journals and contributed to numerous collective works, notably on Industry 4.0, smart cities, green finance, and labor market transformations. His recent works explore how AI, digital skills, and renewable energy are reshaping sustainability trajectories in both developed and emerging economies.
He has served as Tunisia’s climate finance negotiator at seven consecutive COP summits (COP23 to COP29), reflecting his long-standing engagement in global climate diplomacy. He also acts as a scientific advisor and expert for international organizations including the UNDP, UNIDO, UNEP, UN-Habitat and UNOPS. He is member of advisory boards of INCIT and MENAPAR. Moreover, he is a founding member of Alliance for Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing in Africa (AISMA). He is Editor-in-Chief of Platforms (MDPI) and Associate Editor of Development and Sustainability in Economics and Finance (Springer) and Green and Low-Carbon Economy. He has led more than 40 large-scale international projects and facilitated over 100 workshops on sustainable development, digital governance, and climate action.
He was awarded with the Auguste Piccard Award for being Distinguished Researcher in Digitalization and Sustainability from ICIEET and Swiss X Co Forum in Switzerland. Professor Ben Youssef is among the top 2% world scientists according to the ranking by Stanford and Elsevier 2025 and 1% of economists worldwide according to ScholarGPS, and has supervised numerous doctoral theses on digital transformation, energy transitions, and smart tourism strategies across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.