The Ministry of Science and Technology and Alibaba DAMO Academy held an initial high-level meeting to explore potential areas of collaboration in Artificial Intelligence (AI), scientist exchange programs, and digital healthcare initiatives, including prospective cooperation in advanced AI-enabled healthcare solutions.
The meeting was led by Federal Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Shahid Iqbal Baloch, and marked the beginning of a promising engagement between the two sides aimed at identifying avenues for joint research, technological development, and strategic scientific cooperation.
During the discussions, the MoST team—comprising senior scientists and technologists—played a key role in shaping the dialogue by:
• Providing strategic guidance aligned with national priorities in AI, digital transformation, and emerging technology ecosystems.
• Offering technical inputs in areas such as AI research, cloud computing, high-performance computing, and health innovation.
• Facilitating inter-agency perspectives to ensure that potential collaboration aligns with Pakistan’s national R&D capabilities and long-term innovation strategies.
Both sides discussed the potential for deeper collaboration in AI, particularly in machine learning, intelligent systems, high-performance computing, and AI governance frameworks. The dialogue emphasized the importance of jointly addressing technological challenges and accelerating AI adoption across priority national sectors.
A key area of discussion was the establishment of a structured scientist and researcher exchange mechanism. The proposed framework would support joint research initiatives, cross-institutional placements, capacity-building programs, and collaborative innovation projects—strengthening global scientific connectivity and knowledge exchange.
Foundational Discussions on Digital Healthcare
The meeting also included preliminary discussions on potential collaboration in digital healthcare solutions. Areas highlighted for future cooperation included AI-assisted diagnostics, remote patient monitoring, smart hospital systems, digital health data platforms, and predictive healthcare models. Both sides recognized digital health as a significant area of mutual interest with strong potential for transformative impact.
MoST reaffirmed its commitment to advancing innovation through strategic global partnerships and fostering research-driven economic growth. The meeting concluded with a shared understanding to continue structured engagements, establish working-level coordination, and develop follow-up actions to translate the dialogue into practical next steps.
Both MoST and Alibaba DAMO Academy expressed optimism about building a productive and forward-looking long-term partnership in emerging and frontier technologies.
