2nd National Symposium on Natural Products: an opportunity to generate scientific knowledge (a professor)

Kinshasa, May 14^th, 2026 (CPA), – The 2^nd National Symposium of the Natural Products Research Network for East and Central Africa (Napreca), organised from May 14^th to 15^th in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has been considered on Thursday as an opportunity to generate scientific knowledge in the field of natural products. « The present symposium therefore comes at a particularly important time. It symbolises not only the dynamism we have found in Africa, but also the willingness of our community to produce scientific and high-quality knowledge in the fields of natural products,” has declared Professor Pius Mpiana, a chemist. For this panellist, science is one of the fundamental pillars of the world and of the nation. “No country has ever aspired to sustainable development without investing seriously in scientific management, innovation and the training of current and future human resources,” he has added. Professor Mpiana has explained that DRC possesses natural resources and must now further strengthen its scientific capabilities in order to transform its wealth into prosperity for its progress. “This symposium can be seen as a call to action: a call to strengthen our laboratories, a call to support our researchers, a call to protect our long-standing tradition of translating ideas into action, and a call to promote science that serves the genuine needs of our society. We must further encourage collaboration between universities, research centres, the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare organisations, local communities and the public sector so that the knowledge generated by our research can be transformed into innovation that is accessible and beneficial to all,” he has emphasised. He has urged the young researchers and students in the room to believe in science, and to continue generating scientific knowledge and ambition through their commitment, creativity and perseverance. “Together, let us foster scientific excellence, innovation and social transformation. Together, for the organisation that brings our natural resources to bear for the benefit of our people and future generations,” he has specified.  The 2^nd National Symposium of Napreca-DRC has been held under the theme: “Natural products, research, innovation, economy and entrepreneurship in the age of artificial intelligence”. The Natural Products Research Network for Eastern and Central Africa (Napreca) is a network of researchers working in the field of natural products in East and Central Africa.  It brings together individuals and organisations that promote the resources of useful biodiversity that can be applied to human and animal health, as well as to agriculture in the region, in collaboration with the rest of the world. This network, launched in 1988, has been conceived by scientists from East and Central Africa participating in the 14^th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products, held in Poland in 1984.