Winner. Scientist of the Year 2026

Kossi Bollanigni Amey

Academic title, degree: Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences
Fields of science: Civil Engineering; Materials Mechanics; Structural & Bioclimatic Design; Infrastructure & Hydraulics; Sustainable Materials; Project Management
Research interest: Development and valorization of sustainable construction materials using local resources and recycled waste, aimed at resilient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly construction in Africa; Analysis, modeling, and mapping of wind regimes for structural safety and bioclimatic building design, adapted to African climatic contexts; Optimization of labor productivity and cost modeling in construction projects to improve the economic and social performance of infrastructure in Africa; Advanced modeling of structural pavement design methods, integrating traffic effects, climate, and local geotechnical characteristics; Development and application of Intensity–Duration–Frequency (IDF) rainfall models for reliable hydraulic structure design and climate risk management
Career Development: Senior
Organization: Université de Lomé / Institute FORMATEC
Position: Lecturer-Researcher / President, Director General
City: Lomé
Country: Togo

Prof. Dr. Kossi Bollanigni Amey is a Togolese civil engineering scholar, academic leader, and institutional architect whose career integrates scientific research, higher education development, and policy advisory. Born in Agbandi, Togo, he holds a Doctorate in Engineering Sciences (Civil Engineering) from the University of Lomé, complemented by a Design Engineering Diploma and a Postgraduate Specialization Diploma in Applied Computer Science. This multidisciplinary foundation informs his work at the intersection of structural engineering, materials science, and applied systems modeling.

He serves as a Lecturer-Researcher and has built a long-standing academic and executive career, notably as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the FORMATEC Institute, which he has led for over 27 years. Under his leadership, FORMATEC has evolved into a multi-disciplinary institution structured around technological, economic, and administrative sciences, offering Bachelor’s, Master’s, Technician Diplomas, and continuing education programs to a diverse student body representing 17 nationalities.

Prof. Dr. Amey has held several high-level roles within academia and public administration. His experience includes serving as Technical Advisor to the Prime Minister of Togo, Deputy Director and Head of Department at the School of Engineers of the University of Lomé, and Director of the Higher School of Technology. He has also contributed to governance and quality assurance through active participation in academic and institutional management committees.

At the continental level, he has played a strategic role in advancing private higher education. He served as President of the Council of Private Higher Education Institutions of Togo (CEPES) from 2021 to 2025 and currently holds the position of Second Vice-President of the African Confederation of Private Education Institutions (CAEPE). These roles position him within broader African frameworks of educational policy, institutional coordination, and capacity building.

Within research ecosystems, Prof. Dr. Amey directs the Research, Innovation, and Development Structure (SRID) at FORMATEC and oversees research activities at the Laboratory of Structures and Materials Mechanics (LaS2M) at the University of Lomé. He is also the organizer of the International Scientific Days on Engineering and Systems Modeling (JSIIMS), a recurring platform for scientific exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration, with expanded international engagement planned for 2026.

His academic output includes two scientific books published by European University Editions and 38 peer-reviewed articles. He regularly contributes as a reviewer for scientific journals and has supervised numerous Doctoral and Master’s theses. In parallel, he has developed twelve teaching modules for higher education programs, reinforcing knowledge transfer and curriculum development in engineering disciplines.

Prof. Amey's broader professional recognition includes distinctions such as Scientist of the Year (2021), World Champion in Civil Engineering, Honorary Professor, Name in Science, Best Manager of the Year (2021), and Best Development Actor (2022), reflecting both scientific and managerial excellence.

Prof. Amey’s recognition is grounded in a coherent body of work addressing structural resilience, sustainable construction, and infrastructure performance in African contexts.

His research advances the development and valorization of sustainable construction materials, with a specific emphasis on integrating local resources and recycled waste into engineering applications. This work contributes directly to cost-effective, environmentally responsible construction practices tailored to regional constraints and resource availability.

In structural and environmental engineering, Prof. Amey has conducted advanced analysis and modeling of wind regimes, enabling improved structural safety and the design of bioclimatic buildings adapted to African climatic conditions. This research supports both risk mitigation and energy-efficient architectural design.

He has also developed methodologies for optimizing labor productivity and cost modeling in construction projects, addressing a critical gap in aligning engineering performance with economic and social efficiency in infrastructure delivery.

In transport infrastructure, his work includes advanced modeling of structural pavement design, integrating variables such as traffic loading, climate dynamics, and local geotechnical conditions. This contributes to more durable and context-sensitive road systems.

A further area of contribution is in hydraulic engineering and climate adaptation, through the development and application of Intensity–Duration–Frequency (IDF) rainfall models. These models enhance the reliability of hydraulic structure design and support risk-informed planning in the context of increasing climatic variability.

Beyond individual research outputs, Prof. Dr. Amey has demonstrated measurable institutional impact. Under his leadership, FORMATEC implemented a continuous quality management system, achieving dual international certifications (ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 21001:2018). The institution has received multiple national distinctions, including the Togolese Quality Prize (2016, 2021) and recognition as one of the most dynamic universities in Togo (2021, 2024). It has also secured funding for the development of a reference laboratory for technological and communication experiments, strengthening applied research infrastructure.

Collectively, these contributions demonstrate a sustained and system-level impact on civil engineering research, education, and infrastructure development, justifying his designation as a leading figure in the field.