IEEE Engineering Summit Supports Bhutan’s Digital Transformation

IEEE, in collaboration with the Kingdom of Bhutan government, held its Engineering Education, Research, and Innovation Summit on 9 and 10 June in Paro to support Bhutan's digital transformation, focusing on integrating artificial intelligence into higher education and developing application-based engineering curricula. IEEE offered Bhutanese universities, government institutions, and industries a six-month complimentary trial of two key technical resources. Mary Ellen Randall, 2026 IEEE president and CEO, said, 'IEEE is proud to collaborate as a catalyst for progress in higher education as AI shifts the technology landscape and Bhutan prepares for its next era of innovation and resilience.'

In collaboration with the Kingdom of Bhutan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan government, IEEE recently introduced its Engineering Education, Research, and Innovation Summit. Held on 9 and 10 June in Paro, in the eastern Himalayas, the event was designed to help Bhutan navigate its digital transformation by focusing on the critical intersection of digital transformation, engineering education, and sustainable development. The summit brought together global academic leaders, technology experts, and Bhutanese government officials to discuss how modern engineering curricula can evolve from theory-centric models into application- and skills-based frameworks. Discussions focused on how to build high-value research capabilities in the country, integrate artificial intelligence into higher education https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-online-mini-ai-mba , and address foundational infrastructure challenges to ensure equitable, nationwide digital readiness. “IEEE is proud to collaborate as a catalyst for progress in higher education as AI shifts the technology landscape and Bhutan prepares for its next era of innovation and resilience,” Mary Ellen Randall https://spectrum.ieee.org/u/maryellen-randall , 2026 IEEE president and CEO, said at the event. “Our goal is to support local universities and students as they develop trusted, future-ready technology that honors the nation’s commitment to sustainability and human well-being.” The event featured an address by Bhutanese Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck https://www.bhutanwiki.org/articles/princess-chimi-yangzom-wangchuck , who emphasized the importance of aligning technological innovation with the nation’s philosophy of gross national happiness https://ophi.org.uk/gross-national-happiness GNH , which prioritizes well-being, sustainability, and ethics. “The question before us is not whether technology will shape the future; it certainly will,” the princess said. “The more pressing question is whether we can shape technology according to our values.” The summit helped establish a collaborative blueprint for a high-value knowledge economy in Bhutan through several key focus areas: To help promote the effort, IEEE offered Bhutanese universities, government institutions, and industries a six-month complimentary trial of two key technical resources: