The proceedings of the first meeting of the Higher Council of the National Scientific Community Abroad began today, sunday, September 27, 2026, in Algiers, in implementation of the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 26-293 dated 25 Rabie El Aouel 1448, corresponding to September 7, 2026, establishing this higher advisory body, placed directly under the President of the Republic, endowed with legal personality and financial autonomy, with its headquarters located in the wilaya of Algiers.
In his keynote address during the opening session, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research praised the strong sense of national commitment demonstrated by Algerian scientists and highly qualified professionals abroad, who have responded to the call of the homeland and placed their expertise and capabilities at the service of its scientific and economic development.
Mr. Kamel Baddari stressed that the establishment of this Council reflects the political will of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to establish a permanent and structured institutional framework for mobilizing Algerian expertise across different countries and making it an active partner in the national development process. This includes connecting Algerian scientific expertise abroad with the national higher education, scientific research and innovation system, drawing on their expertise to provide scientific and technological advice, supporting a rapid and effective transition towards a knowledge-based economy, and advancing the development of modern technologies.
He added that the establishment of this Council aims to move from occasional relations and scattered contacts towards a permanent and structured institutional partnership, thereby ensuring continuity of cooperation and the optimal mobilization of Algerian expertise residing abroad.
He further noted that Algeria has a rich pool of internationally recognized expertise, talent and knowledge capable of providing strong momentum to institutional and technological modernization and strengthening the capacities of the national system in the fields of science, innovation and technology.
For his part, the Council’s Coordinator, Mr. Elias Zerhouni, outlined in his address the strategic dimensions of the missions entrusted to this body. He emphasized that the Council will work to put forward proposals and perspectives concerning projects of national importance, assess their scientific and technological viability, contribute to the country’s development process, strengthen knowledge exchange and strategic foresight in advanced and emerging technologies, and promote national and international scientific dialogue on current issues and challenges.
The inaugural session was attended by the Council’s President and members of the General Assembly, which comprises 28 members, including 27 scientists and experts from the National Scientific Community Abroad, selected on the basis of their international scientific standing and their priority strategic areas of expertise, in addition to six representatives of strategic ministerial sectors and three executives of economic institutions abroad involved in research and development activities.
During this session, participants are examining and adopting the Council’s draft internal regulations, setting the agenda, establishing specialized committees, and preparing the annual work plan, with a view to coordinating efforts and examining projects of national importance through an institutional and methodological approach.
The proceedings are expected to result in recommendations, studies and comprehensive annual reports to be submitted directly to the Presidency of the Republic. These outputs will contribute, in particular, to assessing the scientific and technological feasibility of major projects and providing the analyses and expertise needed to inform public policy, in support of the country’s sustainable development objectives.