(Yicai Global) June 12 -- Alibaba Innovative Research, the global scientific research collaboration program that Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding instituted, has initiated its project solicitation for this year.

The deadline for proposals will be July 10, according to the official site of the DAMO Academy, which is the e-retailer’s affiliated research institute.

It will embark on collaboration in 12 sectors, among them quantum technology, storage, security, micro-processors, deep-learning and human-computer interactions, with the cooperation available to global entities, Hangzhou-based Alibaba said, adding it will continue to promote world scientific and technological innovations by building an academic community.

Launched in 2017, the AIR program has enabled scholars and front-line engineers to jointly explore computer science and other related fields and to detect, define and solve problems together by funding research, providing business scenarios and other needed aid.

Over 100 top universities and scientific research institutes from both home and abroad have participated in the AIR scheme during its three-year existence. Nearly 30 of the world’s top 100 universities have partnered with Alibaba, including Princeton University, the University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, ETH Zurich and the University of Toronto.

Editor: Ben Armour