The Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa was created in 2015 through a partnership of the African Academy of Sciences, the African Union Development Agency, the founding and funding global partners, and through a resolution of the summit of African Union Heads of Governments. The mission of AESA is to shift the centre of gravity for African science to Africa through agenda setting, mobilizing Research & Development funding, and managing continent-wide Science, Technology and Innovation programmes that promote the brightest minds, strengthening the best possible science environments in Africa, fostering scientific excellence, inspiring and mentoring emerging research leaders, and accelerating and translating research & innovations into products, policies and practices that will improve and transform lives in Africa.