Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today launched the J&K Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI CoE) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu and dedicated Project Phoenix, an AI-enabled digital commerce platform at IIT Jammu.
The initiatives are aimed at promoting technology-driven governance, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and expanding economic opportunities through the adoption of emerging technologies and enhanced digital market access.
Addressing faculty, students, entrepreneurs, artisans and officials, the Chief Minister said Artificial Intelligence should be harnessed 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.
Highlighting the practical applications of AI, the Chief Minister said the technology should be deployed in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education and disaster management to bridge the urban-rural divide and improve public service delivery.
Referring to recent cloudbursts in Rajouri and Poonch, he stressed the need for AI-enabled early warning systems capable of identifying localised risks and saving lives through timely alerts. He also said AI could assist farmers and horticulturists by providing timely information on crop diseases, treatment and scientific use of agrochemicals.
The Chief Minister said Project Phoenix would complement the Government’s flagship Mission YUVA initiative by strengthening market access, mentorship and incubation support for startups and local enterprises. He called for close collaboration between the Government and IIT Jammu to build a vibrant innovation ecosystem capable of generating employment and attracting investment.
The J&K Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence, established at IIT Jammu with the support of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, and the Information Technology Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, will serve as a hub for AI research, solution development, benchmarking, technology evaluation and deployment support.
The Centre will work with government departments, academia, startups and industry partners to develop AI-enabled solutions for real-world challenges across sectors including 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 offering simplified onboarding, product discovery and market access.
Earlier, Director IIT Jammu, Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur, said that the institute’s commitment to translating research into solutions with tangible societal impact and strengthening collaboration with the Government, industry and startups to build an innovation-led ecosystem for inclusive development.
The event was attended by Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary, Information Technology Department Saurabh Bhagat, senior officers, faculty members, students, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.