Hybrid Conference on Catalyzing African Science through Scientific Partnership.

General Information

• Conference Name: “Catalyzing African Science through Scientific Partnership”.
• Date and Venue: The event took place on July 24-25, 2025 3at the Amphitheater of the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa, DRC.
• Key Organizers: The event was organized by a collaboration of institutions including the INRB, the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation (DRC), and various AU-EU partners like the Delegation of the European Union, the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), and the African Union Development Agency - New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD).
• Participation: The hybrid conference had 100 in-person attendees and 80 online participants on Day 1, and 60 in-person and 80 online participants on Day 2.

Objectives and Key Outcomes

The main goal of the conference was to present the progress of the ARISE-PP pilot program and highlight the launch of the second phase of the ARISE Program for Sustainable Development (ARISE SD) (2025-2030), aligning with the AU-EU Innovation Agenda (2023-2032).

Specific objectives included:

• Initiating a dialogue on strengthening collaboration between European and African partners in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI).
• Informing participants on the progress of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda (2023-2032).
• Exploring collaboration opportunities between the DRC and EU research stakeholders within the AU-EU framework.

Expected results focused on:

• Improving the DRC's preparedness for participation in the next cohort of funded researchers under the AU and EU Innovation Agenda priorities.
• Strengthening collaboration between the DRC and the AU and the EU through current frameworks.
• Improving the visibility of DRC researchers and institutions for joint projects.

Conference Overview and Activities
Day 1: High-Level Participation and Opening

• The event was inaugurated by the Minister of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, HE Prof. Dr. Gilbert Kabanda.
• Keynote speeches focused on the challenges and opportunities of EU-Africa/DRC STI cooperation and the DRC's research priorities.
• Discussions highlighted the DRC's participation in Horizon Europe (ranking among the top 10 recipients of AU Horizon Europe funding).
• A workshop provided practical advice on using EURAXESS Africa platforms for networking and identifying funding.

Day 2: Program Promotion and Research Presentations

• Presentations included the roadmap of the CNRS to expand collaborations with DRC researchers.
• The new research support and funding program, Horizon Africa III, was explicitly presented as part of the EU-AU cooperation agenda.
• The upcoming ARISE-SD edition was detailed, encouraging Congolese researchers to apply for these research funds.

Three ARISE beneficiaries presented their research results on diverse topics, including:

• Factors influencing the outcome of Ebola patients.
• Banana waste as a source of high-value nanoparticles.
• Impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Central Africa.

A final round table discussion focused on potential collaboration on projects of common interest, specifically on
hemorrhagic diseases and vaccine development.

Critical Analysis and Recommendations
Highlights

The conference was praised for its good organization, the number of participants, effective time management, and the importance of the themes covered.

Weaknesses and Preventive Measures

• Technical issues with Zoom connection, interpretation, and the online media team were reported.
  • Preventive Measure: In future conferences, the videoconference link should be generated and controlled locally to allow for prompt technical adjustments.
• Shortcomings in the sound system were noted.
  • Preventive Measure: All equipment must be tested the day before the conference.

Recommendations

• Encourage internal and external collaboration: Congolese scientists were encouraged to interact more frequently at the national level and to actively seek external funding while a national program is developed.
• Improve government support: The government was urged to ensure that the improvement in the budget allocated to scientific research becomes a reality in research centers across the DRC.
• Organize training workshops: Training for scientists on writing research proposals and for administrators on managing subsidized projects should be organized once or twice a year.