Highlights from the ARISE High-Level Scientific Convening in Hammamet, Tunisia

Last June, Dr. Taha Roubah, ARISE Fellow and CQTech’s PI , had the privilege of attending the ARISE High-Level Scientific Convening in Hammamet, Tunisia. Hosted by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) in collaboration with the Institut Pasteur de Tunis, this event brought together leading young scientific minds, policymakers, and thought leaders from across Africa. The conference highlighted the transformative impact of the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) programme, which is becoming a reference of successful research and innovative projects empowering the continent.

The ARISE Programme: Catalyzing African Scientific Excellence

Launched in June 2022, the ARISE programme is a groundbreaking initiative designed to bolster research and innovation across Africa. With support from the African Union Commission, the European Commission, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, ARISE provides a platform for early- to mid-career researchers to collaborate, innovate, and contribute to sustainable development. The programme currently supports nearly 600 researchers across 38 African countries, led by 47 principal investigators, known as ARISE Fellows.

The ARISE Fellows.

The African Academy of Sciences - All rights reserved.

A Week of Discussions, Presentations, and Collaborations

The event was a whirlwind of activity, featuring deep discussions with fellow ARISE grantees, strategic dialogues with the ARISE project management team, and a range of presentations, including one where Dr. Taha Rouabah shared the progress of our projects on topological quantum computing and quantum algorithms for material sciences and chemistry. Our works at CQTech on the Heisenberg model on Kagome lattices, applications for molecules such as the hydrogen (H₂) and the beryllium hydride (BeH₂) molecules, optimization techniques, and quantum machine learning were all well received and sparked valuable conversations about the future of these technologies.

Dr. Taha Rouabah's talk in Hammamet, Tunisia.

The African Academy of Sciences - All rights reserved.

One of the significant discussions during the event was with the EU Commission’s education department, where the administrative challenges that African scientists face when collaborating with their European counterparts were addressed. This issue is crucial as it impacts the ability of African researchers to fully engage in global scientific exchanges.

CQTech’s PI also had the opportunity to present our project to deeptech international investors taking part in the event The interest from the VC community is a promising sign of the broader recognition of the value and applicability of the work done within the ARISE programme.

One of the highlights of the week was a technical discussion between Prof. Cherif Matta and Dr. Taha Rouabah, following a day filled with presentations. The conversation was both stimulating and insightful, particularly as they discussed his new book, “Electron Localization-Delocalization Matrices”, and its implications for advancing quantum chemistry.

The ARISE High-Level Scientific Convening was more than just a conference; it was a platform for meaningful engagement, collaboration, and inspiration. The discussions and connections made during this event will influence the direction of our work and contribute to the broader goal of fostering scientific excellence across Africa. We look forward to the continued progress of the ARISE programme and the opportunities it will bring for research and innovation in the continent.