Academies of Belgium
In Belgium, academies are publicly funded learned societies, often divided by academic discipline or linguistic group. Besides holding meetings, many publish academic monographs, peer-reviewed journals and hold conferences. Membership is usually by election and non-Belgians are usually admitted only as corresponding members. Originating during the Enlightenment, the concept can be traced to the Imperial and Royal Academy of Brussels which was the first academy in Belgium, founded in 1772 by the Empress Maria Theresa when the country was under Austrian rule.
The principle academies in Belgium are interdisciplinary but divided linguistically. Both trace their origins to the original academy of 1772 and are based in the Academy Palace in Brussels, which also houses three others. They are:
Collectively, the two academies frequently collaborate under the umbrella organisation of the Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium, founded in 2001.
There are two literary academies, also divided linguistically:
There are two academies of medicine, divided linguistically and with the same names:
- Académie royale de médecine de Belgique
- Koninklijke Academie voor Geneeskunde van België
Other subject-specific bilingual academies exist:
- Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
- Royal Academy of Archaeology of Belgium
- Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
