Following on from the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) in September 2020, the two institutions have announced the establishment of the MBZUAI-WIS Joint Programme for Artificial Intelligence Research (AI Programme).
The new scheme will promote collaborative initiatives in fundamental AI research and will explore AI applications in domains such as healthcare, genomics and more.
Drawing upon the combined expertise of MBZUAI and the Weizmann Institute, the AI Programme will carry out both basic and applied research in Machine Learning, computer vision, natural language processing, computational biology, neural sciences and towards the vision of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Joint research projects conducted by teams from both institutions will form the core of the programme. The collaboration will encompass joint research projects, joint training programmes, mutual visits, AI conferences and workshops and, student and staff exchange programmes. The agreement will also seek to recruit highly qualified researchers and staff to support and facilitate the AI Programme’s central mission.
Professor Eric Xing, President, MBZUAI and Professor Alon Chen, President, Weizmann Institute inked the new partnership agreement during a virtual ceremony in the presence of officials from both establishments.
HE. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of the MBZUAI Board of Trustees, attended the event and said: “The collaboration between MBZUAI and WIS aligns with our leadership’s vision of extending and strengthening bridges of collaboration in the service of our nation and humanity and seeks to enable socio-economic progress through AI innovation.”
Professor Chen said: “The implications of AI are vast and will affect every aspect of our lives. Through the MBZUAI-WIS Joint Programme for AI we are bringing together some of the greatest minds in the fields of AI, natural and exact sciences, with the ambition of extending boundaries and empowering our scientists with access to exceptional resources.”
Professor Xing added that: “Collaborative efforts amongst leaders in the field of AI will enable us to achieve significant progress. The establishment of the AI Programme further strengthens our partnership with the Weizmann Institute, laying the foundation to enhance the global AI ecosystem and further advance in areas of science, technology and higher education. This will provide our students and faculty with access to world-class resources beyond our own university, fostering a culture of international partnership and knowledge-sharing.”
