Where Curiosity Meets Capability: Inside Angola’s Luanda Science Center

If you haven’t been yet to the Luanda Science Center, you’ve probably missed one of the leading science museums in Africa today, standing on the front line with the world’s most advanced centers of learning and discovery.

When the Centro de Ciência de Luanda (CCL) opened its doors to the public in January 2025, it marked a national commitment to knowledge, innovation, and opportunity. Conceived and delivered in partnership with Mitrelli, the Center stands as one of Africa’s most ambitious education and cultural infrastructures, built to international standards, powered by technology, and designed for impact.

The Luanda Science Center features 6,000 square meters of interactive exhibitions, with nine thematic galleries and six experiential zones exploring astronomy, biology, energy, health, and digital innovation. It houses Angola’s first Planetarium, a 4D Cinema, and a Maker Space that turns curiosity into creation. Through the Butterfly Pavilion and Stories Under the Baobab, local heritage meets global science, linking Angola’s cultural identity with universal knowledge.

We designed the Luanda Science Center to be more than a landmark, it is a living system of education, technology, and local capacity-building. Behind every exhibit there is a network of engineers, scientists, teachers, and local professionals who make science accessible to everyone. It takes precision, training, and passion to run something at this scale.

That partnership continues today. Mitrelli is working alongside the Government of Angola to ensure the Center’s long-term success, supporting its day-to-day operations for the benefit of the Angolan people and future generations.

In less than a year, the CCL has welcomed nearly 130,000, partnered with 600 schools, and reached nine provinces through its Science on Wheels initiative, bringing mobile labs and telescopes to children in remote communities. A team of 50 trained Angolan professionals, 40% of them women, now leads its daily operations, research, and outreach programs.

Angola’s young generation is increasingly eager to learn and engaged, with many students choosing to stay and explore once they visit the Luanda Science Center. Through the Center, the country is investing in local talent and research, demonstrating that knowledge is a vital national resource.

What sets the Center apart is its ability to connect Angola to the world. Partnerships with Universciences (France), Ciência Viva (Portugal), SESI-Lab (Brazil) and international networks like ECSITE and SAASTEC place it among the international community of leading science institutions. The Center also integrates cutting-edge projection, digital simulation, and AI-supported exhibits, powered by partnerships with global technology innovators.

“International institutions now look to us for collaboration,” explains Fabio Silva, the Head of Programming and Science Communication. “We’re using immersive digital environments and smart technologies that make learning interactive and inspiring. But most importantly, we’ve built an African model of science engagement that others want to learn from.”

Beyond its walls, the Luanda Science Center is already reshaping Angola’s knowledge economy. It contributes to tourism, creative industries, and education reform, helping shift the nation’s growth from resource-based to talent-based.

For Mitrelli, the CCL is a reflection of our broader mission, using infrastructure to lead development. Across all our projects, innovation is not an option; it is the foundation of sustainability. By integrating design, engineering, training, and community engagement, we transform complex national visions into real, lasting impact.

If you haven’t been yet to the Luanda Science Center, it’s time to go. And if you work in science, education, or development, come and learn, collaborate, or partner.