An academy is an organization established to advance knowledge, scholarship, and research in a particular field, such as the basic sciences, medicine, arts, culture, or social sciences. Its activities may include supporting research, organizing conferences, providing education, recognizing scholarly achievement, and publishing research. Depending on its mandate and jurisdiction, an academy may also contribute expert advice to institutions or public authorities.

Academies are often organized around membership or fellowship, with scholars and experts selected on the basis of their achievements and contributions to a field. The structure, legal status, membership criteria, and public role of academies vary considerably between countries. In some jurisdictions, national academies have substantial influence in science, culture, education, and expert policy advice.

Academies have a long historical tradition, with roots in scholarly communities established to promote learning and intellectual exchange. Traditionally, academies have supported scholarship, cultivated expertise across disciplines, and recognized individuals for significant academic or scientific contributions.

Research institutes, by contrast, are generally organizations whose primary purpose is conducting research, often in defined areas such as biomedical science, environmental studies, engineering, or technology development. The distinction is not absolute: some academies conduct substantial research, while some research institutes also provide education, professional recognition, or policy advice.