Algeria Installs Scientific Council for Artificial Intelligence

Algiers – Algeria has officially installed the Scientific Council for Artificial Intelligence (CSIA), a consultative body tasked with guiding the nation’s research, training, and governance in artificial intelligence. The installation ceremony, reported by the Algerian Press Service (APS), was presided over by Kamel Baddari, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Yacine El-Mahdi Oualid, Minister of the Knowledge Economy, Start-ups and Micro-enterprises.

According to APS, the Council is composed of 27 experts in AI, including Algerian researchers working in the country as well as specialists from the diaspora. This inclusion of international expertise reflects Algeria’s determination to connect its scientific ecosystem to global research networks while reinforcing national sovereignty in critical technologies.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) explained that the Council will function as a scientific advisory body. Its mission includes: assessing Algeria’s human and material resources in AI; proposing training programs adapted to national needs; and encouraging AI applications in health, education, administration, and industry (MESRS).

Key Messages from Officials

During the installation, Minister Kamel Baddari stressed that the Council is a pillar of Algeria’s broader digital transformation and its National AI Strategy 2024–2030, saying Algeria must “anticipate technological advances to avoid falling behind” (APS).

Minister Yacine El-Mahdi Oualid added that artificial intelligence is both a technological and economic challenge, highlighting the need to safeguard Algeria’s sovereignty while mobilizing start-ups and scientific institutions to make AI a driver for innovation (APS).

Mandate and Structure

As reported by El Moudjahid, the CSIA is intended to guide educational reforms, strengthen research, and open pathways for cooperation with international partners.

IT Mag further noted that the Council’s responsibilities include diagnosing available resources, updating curricula, and ensuring that Algeria remains competitive amid global technological shifts.

Academic and Ethical Perspectives

Coverage by Al-Fanar Media highlighted that the Council is designed to bridge academia and policymaking. Researchers interviewed stressed the importance of ethical and governance frameworks to regulate AI adoption, noting that technological progress must be accompanied by safeguards.

Strategic Significance

The creation of the CSIA consolidates Algeria’s AI governance framework, complementing initiatives such as the launch of high-performance computing centers and the adoption of the National AI Strategy 2024–2030. By mobilizing both national and diaspora expertise, Algeria aims to foster innovation, expand AI applications, and position itself as a regional hub for artificial intelligence.

International Experts

The CSIA also includes a significant number of Algerian experts from the diaspora, working in some of the world’s leading institutions:

Mourad Ouzzani – Qatar Computing Research Institute (HBKU)
Kamal Youcef-Toumi – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Mohamed Lachemi – Toronto Metropolitan University
Rachid Benlamri – University of Doha for Science & Technology
Boualem Benatallah – Dublin City University
Raouf Yousfi – Entrepreneur & Investor
Karim Djouani – University of Paris-Est Créteil
Djamila Aouada – University of Luxembourg (SnT Center)
Tahar Kechadi – University College Dublin
Ladjel Bellatreche – ISAE-ENSMA / University of Poitiers
Mérouane Debbah – Khalifa University (6G Center)
Hamid Bouchachia – Bournemouth University
Amine Abdaoui – Senior Applied Scientist at Oracle Corporation
Fouad Bousetouane – Founder of Interspect.ai
Seif Hateb – Co-founder of Cybears
Benaoumeur Senouci – North Dakota State University (NDSU)
Riyadh Baghdadi – New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) / New York University (NYU) / Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Mourad Bouache – Intel AI Academy (Intel)