Following the First Congress of Men of Science in Africa held in Brazzaville from 25 to 30 June 1987, the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU), in its Resolution 1121, invited Member States to celebrate the Day of Scientific Renaissance of African on 30 June each year. To mark the occasion, conferences on science and technology, visits to research centres and institutions, exhibitions and scientific competitions are organised.

The purpose of the First Congress of African scientists was (and still is) to mobilise the African scientific community to play an active part in Africa's development.

However, the development of Africa by scientists will only be effective if the critical mass of scientists on the continent is increased.

The promotion of science in Central Africa.

Following the First Congress of Men of Science in Africa held in Brazzaville from 25 to 30 June 1987, the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU), in its Resolution 1121, invited Member States to celebrate the Day of Scientific Renaissance of African on 30 June each year. To mark the occasion, conferences on science and technology, visits to research centres and institutions, exhibitions and scientific competitions are organised.

The purpose of the First Congress of African scientists was (and still is) to mobilise the African scientific community to play an active part in Africa's development.

Since 2009, the Congolese Foundation for Medical Research has been coordinating the Central African Network for Clinical Research (CANTAM, www.cantam.org). This network includes institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (University of Kinshasa), cameroon (University of Yaoundé 1 (UY1), University of BUEA (UB), Centre de Recherche sur les Filarioses et autres Maladies Tropicales (CRFIMT)), Gabon (Centre de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Faculté de médecine université des sciences de la santé (USSA), Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL)), and Zambia (Herpez Limited (UNZA-UCLMS)).

During the previous phase (2009-2019), the CANTAM network conducted 28 training workshops and published over sixty original articles. Many of these involve several authors representing CANTAM consortium partner institutions, hence a demonstration of dynamic collaborations. These publications include peer-reviewed journals with a high impact factor (e.g. The Lancet, Science, Nature), reflecting both the quality of the research and conducted training. Of all publications to date, 54% have come from doctoral students as first authors. Publications cover a wide range of topics, including tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, ethics and health research capacity building/development. In addition, CANTAM is collaborating with the EDCTP-funded PANDORA-ID-NET One-Human-Animal-Health consortium (https://www.pandora-id.net/), aligning research and capacity development with a multiplier effect. The gender dimension is very important in the CANTAM network and 8 out of the 17 PhD students recently trained, are women.
The CANTAM network collaborates with partners in Europe, the United States and Asia.

The purpose of the First Congress of African scientists was (and still is) to mobilise the African scientific community to play an active part in Africa's development.

Due to the low level of involvement of scientists in Central Africa and with the need to increase the critical mass of researchers, the FCRM, with the support of the BAYER Foundation, is organising the first sub-regional edition of the "Women in Science" bursaries for doctoral students and women scientists in Central Africa.