Think Tank Labs

A Virtual Lab for Open Science by Ikhlaq Sidhu, Faculty Chair

  • Implications of AI, data, cryptographic algorithms, and exponential technologies

  • Synthesis by global faculty, tech ventures, executives, and policymakers

Current Projects under Acceleration:

  • Elysium with Project-Based Learning

  • EU Supply Chain, Security, and Sovereignty Investment

  • Good Human Index

  • AI-driven Investment with MEFIC

  • AI Strategy with the Qatar Foundation, Best Practices in AI Strategy

  • AI and Power Consumption

  • Truth and Information Integrity

Collaborations:

  • UC Berkeley, Berkeley Institute of European Studies,
    Berkeley SCET, Berkeley MSOL

  • IE Science & Technology, IEX Think Tank Faculty

  • Rise Europe, Qatar Foundation

  • Applied Innovation Institute

Lab Projects Types:

  • Investment theses, paradigm shifts, red-flag policy briefs

  • Accelerated venture building & venture teams

  • Tech Prototypes and Platforms

Latest Reports and Publications

Afifi, Subramanian, Koul, Sidhu (PI), et al, “Truth and Information Integrity in a Digital and AI-Powered World” Think Tank Lab Report, June 2025 (download)

Given the increasing concerns regarding truth and information integrity, this technical brief considers the issue, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence, as technologies that utilize AI systems have amplified this issue.

Okoro, Ünal, Sidhu (PI), AI Strategy Development: A Guide to How and Why, Think Tank Lab Report, June 2025 (download)

As a guide to developing an effective AI strategy, grounded in real-world experience and shaped by lessons from a major institutional project, this report highlights common pitfalls, emerging best practices, and the value of collaborative, cross-university insight.

Student Research Fellows:

2025

  • Omar Afifi, University of Michigan

  • Aswin Subramanian Maheswaran, IE University

  • Abhishek Koul, University of Wisconsin

  • Victor Okoro, University of Ottawa, UC Berkeley

  • Sara-Nel Ünal, IE University, University of Edinburgh

Commonplace Book Style Related Technical Briefs and References:

AI & Power:

AI Health and Medicine:

  • Please take a look at this article on the IE-HBKU Health Technology Collider Summary.

  • See how digital biomarkers are part of the future of healthcare. In this case example, medical testing is done at home instead of using medical resources and hospital staff.   Onera Health (see post)

Education and Future of Work:

AI and Clean Tech


AI Data & Crypto Tools:

AI, Truth and Trust

Financial and Mobile Systems

AI and New Energy Sources

Think Tank Lab Areas

  • AI and Power Consumption

    Power Consumption from AI, and Blockchain. Implications on the future of Data Centers.

    AI Architectures - beyond assistants: AI control and interfaces for resources from IOT to calendars to robots

  • AI and Digital Biomarkers

    What opportunities and limits in using AI

    and digital biomarkers for predictive

    medicine, clinical trials, and new medicines? What infrastructure will be required?

  • AI in Education & more

    Exponential technology implications for academics, work, business, and society.

  • AI, Climate & Economy

    Climate change, economy, and data/AI inference.

  • AI and Digital Tool Trends

    What are the AI, Data, & Crypto tools and trends?

  • Quantum with AI and Exp Tech

    How does Quantum computing relate to Data/AI/Blockchain? What parts of Quantum are happening?

  • AI, Truth & Trust

    How will we have societal trust given deep fakes, social media, and AI? And, how will we achieve cyber security in an AI-driven world?

  • AI Financial and Mobility Systems

    Exponential Technologies and Financial Systems and Mobility

  • AI and New Energy Sources

    How do exponential technologies affect the possibility of Controlled Fusion and other new energy solutions