SRINAGAR, Sept 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has initiated the process to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre of Excellence as part of a phased roadmap to develop an AI ecosystem and advance digital transformation across the Union Territory.
The Government stated this in a written reply to Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, saying AI and other emerging technologies are being promoted as part of its broader technology-enabled development initiatives.
According to the reply, a phased and coordinated approach has been adopted covering technological infrastructure, capacity building, skill development, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and deployment of AI-based solutions across various sectors.
The Department of Information Technology, the nodal department for IT and digital initiatives in J&K, is facilitating these efforts in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, IIT Jammu, Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics, academic institutions, industry and other stakeholders.
“The Department has initiated the process for establishment of an AI Centre of Excellence in J&K,” the Government said, adding that the proposed facility would have an advanced AI laboratory and computing infrastructure, incubation and innovation facilities, besides supporting research, skilling and development of AI-based solutions.
The Government said a whole-of-government approach was also being adopted to identify and implement suitable AI use cases across departments, with focus on improving efficiency, evidence-based decision-making and citizen-centric service delivery.
It is also exploring IT/ITeS infrastructure and an IT Park in the UT while leveraging existing institutional facilities, including ITIs and polytechnics, for imparting AI skills and providing access to laboratories and learning centres.
AI Labs, AI Learning Centres and Centres of Excellence are proposed to be developed at suitable institutions and locations in a phased, need-based and resource-specific manner, subject to availability of infrastructure, technical expertise and funds.
The initiative, the Government said, would focus on optimal utilisation of existing facilities and creation of sustainable AI capabilities across J&K.