Jammu, Aug 7 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday launched the J&K Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI CoE) and dedicated Project Phoenix, an AI-enabled digital commerce platform, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu.
The initiatives aim to strengthen technology-driven governance, promote innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhance economic opportunities through artificial intelligence and improved digital market access.
Addressing faculty members, students, entrepreneurs and officials, Abdullah said artificial intelligence should be leveraged to improve governance and deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
“Artificial Intelligence must ultimately translate into better outcomes for people. The Centre of Excellence will help us build more efficient, responsive and citizen-centric governance, while Project Phoenix will create new opportunities for artisans, self-help groups, startups and MSMEs to access wider markets,” he said.
The chief minister said AI should be deployed in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education and disaster management to improve public service delivery and bridge the urban-rural divide.
Referring to recent cloudbursts in Rajouri and Poonch, Abdullah stressed the need for AI-based early warning systems to identify localised risks and issue timely alerts. He also said AI could help farmers and horticulturists by providing timely information on crop diseases, treatment and scientific use of agrochemicals.
He said Project Phoenix would complement the government’s flagship Mission YUVA by improving market access, mentorship and incubation support for startups and local enterprises.
The AI Centre of Excellence, established at IIT Jammu with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Jammu and Kashmir Information Technology Department, will function as a hub for AI research, solution development, technology evaluation and deployment support.
The Centre will collaborate with government departments, academia, startups and industry to develop AI-enabled solutions in governance, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and disaster management.
Project Phoenix is designed to connect artisans, self-help groups, cooperatives, startups, brands and MSMEs from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with national and global markets through a digital commerce platform.
IIT Jammu Director Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur said the institute remains committed to translating research into solutions with societal impact and strengthening collaboration with the government, industry and startups to build an innovation-led ecosystem.(NVI)
