As the UAE positions itself as a global hub for AI, a new partnership between the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing signals a major step forward in AI-driven scientific progress. With governments and institutions worldwide racing to harness AI’s transformative power, this cross-continental alliance aims to lead by example, prioritizing not only technological advancement but also societal impact.

Announced today, the MIT–MBZUAI Collaborative Research Program will bring together top researchers, faculty, and students from both institutions to accelerate innovation in three high-impact areas: scientific discovery, human wellbeing, and the health of the planet.

Jointly led by Professors Le Song (MBZUAI) and Philip Isola (MIT), the program will fund and guide research that explores AI applications in digital health, robotics, and sustainable computing. The initiative reflects MIT’s commitment to interdisciplinary computing and MBZUAI’s growing global role in foundational AI research and real-world deployment.

“This agreement unites the expertise of two world-class institutions,” said MBZUAI President Professor Eric Xing. “Together, we’ll push the frontiers of responsible AI—developing breakthroughs in healthcare, robotics, and environmental sustainability.”

MIT Schwarzman College of Computing Dean Professor Daniel Huttenlocher added: “Our collaboration with MBZUAI reflects a shared vision of AI that is inclusive, ethical, and globally beneficial.”

Professor Sami Haddadin, MBZUAI’s Vice President for Research, noted the partnership’s ambition to build large-scale biological foundation models, accelerating healthcare innovation while cutting costs and data dependency.

The partnership not only supports the UAE’s national AI strategy but also underscores its growing influence in shaping the future of responsible, high-impact AI research on a global scale.