Data and digital innovations 
for accelerating CGIAR’s 
science and impact

Ram Dhulipala & Jawoo Koo



Our digital transformation and AI strategy is anchored for three main objectives.

Overarching goal of CGIAR’s digital 
transformation strategy

Drive organizational 
efficiency, operational 
excellence and innovation 
using digital and AI.

Foster global public goods 
and partnerships to 
promote equitable, 
gender-inclusive digital 
transformation in the agri-
food system.

Mainstream AI and digital 
innovations to accelerate 
CGIAR science and 
innovation. 

1 2 3



Cybersecurity

Institutional 
Digital Systems 

Shared
Infrastructure

Collaborative 
partnerships & 
Ecosystems Digital Core

Data Strategy & 
Governance 

Solution 
Development 

Digital
Research 

Cross-center 
Collaboratives



AI AssistantCybersecurity Geospatial Analysis

CGIAR-wide cybersecurity 
service contract led to cost 
reduction and improved 
security services across 
Centers.

CGIAR-wide subscription to 
the industry-leading 
geospatial analysis 
software led to cost saving 
and significant value of gift 
in services and training.

Microsoft awarded a grant 
for CGIAR to test the 
capability of an AI assistant 
in enhancing productivity 
across operations and 
research.

Shared Infrastructure
Centralized procurement to streamline operations and reduce costs



Amazon Web ServicesAI71 Allen Institute for AI

AI71 is developing AgriLLM 
by leveraging CGIAR’s data 
and domain expertise.

Ai2 accelerates CGIAR’s 
geospatial research by 
providing Earth System 
platform with AI models.

CGIAR is partnering with 
AWS/Pariveda to design 
and develop AgPile, a 
federated data platform.

Collaborative partnerships & Ecosystems
CGIAR’s domain expertise and partners’ technical expertise in AI



Center 

Center

Partner
SO

SP/Accelerator

CGIAR AI Hub@AbuDhabi

Digital assets/ 
Shared 

Team/capacity / 
Service 

provider/ Best 
Practise 

• Key output under Collaborative partnerships and 
Ecosystems (AOW 4/Enabling environment)

• Objective : Digital innovation hubs to help CGIAR and 
partners

– Plug into the global AI and digital innovation 
community (CG staff posted) 

– Benchmark with global best practices
• Methodology : Identifying and co-creating cross-center 

flagship AI powered digital products/assets
• First set of flagship products : 

• AgriLLM
• AI Water Factory
• Genebanks*
• Breeding*

• Future plans : Newer hubs ; Modalities for subsequent 
flagship products



Digital innovation 
hub for biodiversity 
conservation 
Lima

UM6P 
Hub, 
Morocco

Livestock 
Digital 
Innovation 
Hub, Nairobi

AI Hub, Abu 
Dhabi 

Digital 
fisheries Hub
Penang

Concept Notes under development



Summary
• Strong team and committed leadership

• Plan for next 6 months

– DTA operationalization and AI Hub setup

• More consolidation and cost efficiency opportunities

– Digital transformation strategy by Dec 2025

– Digital accelerator 5 - year blueprint plan (City Map analogy)

• Identify foundational blocks – some exist & some dont



Value Proposition & Business Case  

“City Map”5-year Blueprint Plan(Q4 2025)

Team of experts Across Centers 

Digital Accelerator 5-Year Blueprint Plan

The “City Map Concept”



Thank you


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