CM Omar Abdullah launches J&K AI Centre of Excellence, dedicates Project Phoenix at IIT Jammu
Blazing Tales News Service
JAMMU, AUGUST 7: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday launched the Jammu and Kashmir 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, aimed at strengthening technology-driven governance, innovation, entrepreneurship and digital market access.
The Chief Minister said Artificial Intelligence should be harnessed to improve governance and deliver tangible benefits to citizens, adding that the newly established Centre of Excellence would help build a more efficient, responsive and citizen-centric governance system.
“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 while addressing faculty members, students, entrepreneurs, artisans and government officials.
Highlighting the transformative potential of AI, Omar Abdullah said the technology should be deployed across key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education and disaster management to bridge the urban-rural divide and improve public service delivery.
Referring to the recent cloudbursts in Rajouri and Poonch districts, he stressed the need for AI-enabled early warning systems capable of identifying localised risks and issuing timely alerts to save lives. He also underlined the role AI can play in supporting farmers and horticulturists through timely information on crop diseases, scientific treatment methods and the appropriate 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, artisans, self-help groups and local enterprises. He called for stronger collaboration between the Government and IIT Jammu to build a vibrant innovation ecosystem capable of generating employment and attracting investment.
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 and Kashmir, the J&K Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence will serve as a hub for AI research, solution development, benchmarking, technology evaluation and deployment support.
The Centre will collaborate with government departments, academic institutions, startups and industry partners to develop AI-driven solutions for real-world challenges in governance, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and disaster management.
Project Phoenix has been designed as an AI-enabled digital commerce platform to connect artisans, self-help groups, cooperatives, startups, brands and MSMEs from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with national and global markets through simplified onboarding, product discovery and enhanced market access.
Earlier, IIT Jammu Director Manoj Singh Gaur highlighted the institute’s commitment to translating research into practical solutions with tangible societal impact and strengthening collaboration with the Government, industry and startups to promote an innovation-led ecosystem for inclusive development.
