CS discusses proposal with stakeholders for establishing CoE in AI

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo on Wednesday chaired an extensive meeting with Nasscom to deliberate on the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Jammu & Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Secretary IT; CEO JaKeGA; Chief Innovations Officer, IIT Jammu; senior leadership from Nasscom including its Head and Director for AI; and other officers of the IT Department.
During the deliberations Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of close coordination among stakeholders for the effective operationalization of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the Union Territory (UT). He advocated for a well-defined governance framework that clarifies roles, responsibilities, and collaborative mechanisms among participating institutions. The CoE is expected to start with a focused yet ambitious roadmap, leveraging J&K’s unique strengths, including rich datasets and diverse inputs, to enhance the initiative’s success. The transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) was highlighted, particularly in sectors such as education, startup development, governance, and planning. The Chief Secretary noted the necessity of utilizing AI to foster technological self-reliance and diminish reliance on major global players. Dr. Piyush Singla, Secretary IT, reported that a preliminary Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been developed in collaboration with IIT Jammu, adhering to the guidelines set by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for the CoE scheme. This DPR serves as a foundational blueprint for establishing a CoE that meets the specific needs of the UT, in partnership with leading educational institutions and industry leaders. Prof. N.T. Arvind, Chief Innovations Officer at IIT Jammu, stressed that the CoE must be designed to address real industrial needs to ensure its sustainability and facilitate the transition of research from laboratory settings to market applications. Additionally, representatives from Nasscom expressed their commitment to providing comprehensive technical support for the initiative, including assistance in establishing digital infrastructure, ensuring data readiness, offering skill development programs, promoting private sector participation, scaling projects, and supporting monitoring and evaluation frameworks essential for the CoE’s success in J&K.