Patras, Greece – From April 22 to 24, 2025, the 16th edition of the International Conference on Ambient Systems, Networks and Technologies (ANT 2025) was held in Patras, bringing together researchers, experts and industry professionals around technological advances. This prestigious conference, indexed in Web of Science (WoS), plays a key role in the dissemination of the most innovative scientific research.

Among the researchers who contributed to this advance, the Professor Doctor Selain Kasereka, although he went to the conference alone, carried out this work in collaboration with several Congolese researchers, notably Assistant Alidor Mbayandjambe, Professors Kyandoghere Kyamakya and Christian Bope, as well as PhD students Godwill Ilunga (New Horizons University) and Katya Muhambya (Ganpat University, India), accompanied by several students from New Horizons University.

In addition, several foreign researchers also participated in this research, including Professors Ho Tuong Vinh (Vietnam National University and IFI) And Tasho Tashev (Technical University of Sofia), who supervises the work of Professor Kasereka at the same university, as part of a project supported by the European Union, as well as Dr. Soufian Ben Amor (University of Versailles – Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines).

A scientific event of international scope

Organized in parallel with the 8th International Conference on Emerging Data and Industry (EDI40), ANT 2025 is an essential platform where researchers and industrialists exchange on the latest advances in ambient systems, networks and technologies. Under the direction of the Professor Dr. Elhadi Shakshuki from Acadia University (Canada), this conference allows the publication of scientific articles in the series Procedia Computer Sciencefrom Elsevier, guaranteeing international distribution via ScienceDirect And Scopus.

Thanks to this collaboration between Congolese and international researchers, these studies offer valuable perspectives for scientific innovation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond.

The three scientific articles presented

1) Artificial Intelligence and Mental Disorders: Towards a Digital Revolution

In this first article, Professor Kasereka explores how artificial intelligence can transform the diagnosis and management of mental health disorders. Drawing on machine learning models and medical data analysis, this study highlights the potential of AI in the early detection of psychiatric disorders and the improvement of personalized treatments.

• Scientific impact:An innovative approach that paves the way for digital solutions to strengthen patient care and facilitate the work of healthcare professionals.

Link to the full article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2025.03.087

2) Building Safety: Optimizing Fire Evacuations Using Agent-Based Models

This second project focuses on modeling the behavior of individuals during an emergency evacuation. Using agent-based simulations, Professor Kasereka demonstrates how building design and evacuation routes can be improved to reduce fire risks.

Practical repercussions: An advancement that could directly impact safety standards in urban infrastructure and high-traffic buildings.

Link to the full article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2025.03.086

3) Towards Better Recognition of Lingala: AI at the Service of African Languages

Professor Kasereka's third article highlights a key issue: optical character recognition (OCR) for low-resource languages, particularly Lingala. Using convolutional neural networks, this study represents a major advance in natural language processing to promote the preservation of African languages.

Future prospects: Expanding AI solutions to support linguistic diversity and encourage digital inclusivity globally.

Link to the full article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2025.03.017

A call for the involvement of the Congolese state in supporting researchers

While these advances demonstrate the potential of Congolese researchers on the global scientific scene, it is essential that theCongolese State plays a more active role in supporting research. Technological and scientific innovation constitutes a major lever for development, and greater government involvement would enable researchers to benefit from funding, modern infrastructure and institutional support.

Faced with contemporary challenges such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, it is imperative to promote Congolese knowledge through significant investments. Grant programs, research fellowships, and strengthened international collaborations are opportunities to position the DRC as a key player in scientific progress in Africa and around the world.

An enriching conference and prospects for collaboration

The participation of the Professor Selain Kasereka ANT 2025 provided an opportunity to engage with experts in the field, receive constructive feedback, and open avenues for interdisciplinary collaboration. This work contributes significantly to the advancement of artificial intelligence research and demonstrates how new technologies can address major societal challenges.

With these advances, Professor Kasereka continues to chart a promising path in the field of applied AI, and his work could influence future developments in health, security, and digital linguistics.