In a country where health challenges intersect with development ambitions, the creation of the Congolese Academy of Sciences (ACCOS) in March 2021 marks a historic milestone. Inspired by the world's leading national academies, this institution aims to be the voice of Congolese science, a bridge between research and political decision-making, and a lever for scientific sovereignty for the Democratic Republic of Congo. "Africa must cease being a testing ground and become a major player in knowledge," declared Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe Tamfum at the launch of ACCOS.

A mission at the heart of national development

Placed under the High Protection of the President of the Republic, ACCOS's mission is to promote science, technology, the arts and literature, and to sustainably develop the country's human and natural resources. It acts as an advisory body to the government, providing independent scientific opinions on key issues such as health, the environment, education, and technological innovation.

The Academy is organized around four major divisions:

• Physical and Applied Sciences
• Medical and Natural Sciences
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Literature and Fine Arts

Each section brings together distinguished academics – professors, researchers and experts – committed to producing knowledge in service to the nation.

Science and health: a concrete commitment

Public health is a priority for ACCOS. In partnership with the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), public universities, and several university hospitals, it works to monitor scientific developments, provide continuing education for researchers, and promote local innovation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several of its members played a key role on the Multisectoral Response Committee, contributing recognized national expertise.

Structural challenges to overcome

Despite its progress, ACCOS faces three major challenges: a legal framework still under development, limiting its institutional autonomy; insufficient funding, with research representing less than 0.2% of the national GDP; and a lack of visibility, as local scientific results are still undervalued by policymakers and the public. The Academy thus aims to make Congolese science more visible, useful, and accessible. “We want to build a science that serves human development,” states a member of the academic board.

An international opening

As a member of the International Science Council (ISC), ACCOS strengthens African scientific cooperation through partnerships with academies in Senegal, Ghana, Morocco, and South Africa. This dynamic contributes to the emergence of Congolese scientific diplomacy, positioning the DRC among the promising players in research on public health, biomedicine, and sustainable technology.

Towards Congolese scientific sovereignty

The Congolese Academy of Sciences embodies an intellectual renaissance and a source of hope for Congolese youth. By strengthening its institutional framework and mobilizing the necessary resources, it could become the central pillar of national research, where knowledge informs political decision-making and learning drives development. In a world facing health and environmental crises, the DRC—with its researchers and its potential—has everything it needs to become a nation of science, and ACCOS will be its beating heart.

Related Articles:

·         PROFESSOR JEAN-JACQUES MUYEMBE - THE AFRICAN HERO OF SCIENCE

·         A LIFE DEDICATED TO VIROLOGY AND EPIDEMIC CONTROL

·         AWARDS AND PRIZES AWARDED TO PROFESSOR JEAN-JACQUES MUYEMBE

·         10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT Jean-Jacques MUYEMBE TAMFUM

·         JEAN-JACQUES MUYEMBE: THIS INSPIRING PERSON (BY MICHEL MUVUDI)

·         PROFESSORS JEAN-JACQUES MUYEMBE AND JEAN NACHEGA: WHEN AFRICA PRODUCES ITS OWN RESPONSES TO MAJOR EPIDEMICS