Inside Alibaba’s DAMO Academy: 10 Top Scientists Powering AI & Quantum Research

Alibaba’s DAMO Academy Overview

At the 2017 Cloud Expo, Alibaba announced the creation of the global research institute “DAMO Academy,” committing 100 billion RMB over three years to fundamental and disruptive technology research.

Historical and Cultural Reference

The name “DAMO” references the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma, founder of Shaolin’s Zen tradition, symbolizing deep contemplation and martial practice.

Scientific Leadership

The Academy’s Academic Committee consists of ten leading scientists, including three members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, five U.S. National Academy of Sciences members, and experts in fields such as digital media, chip design, data science, and genetics.

Gao Wen – Director of Peking University’s Digital Media Institute, Chinese Academy of Engineering member.

Mei Hong – Co‑founder of Qingniao Systems, Vice President of Beijing Institute of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences member.

Wu Zhaohui – President of Zhejiang University, Vice‑Chair of Zhijiang Laboratory.

Huang Ru – Youngest female academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, expert in nano‑scale semiconductor devices.

Michael I. Jordan – World‑renowned AI researcher, member of three U.S. academies.

Li Kai – Princeton professor, IEEE Fellow, pioneer of distributed storage design.

Zhou Yizhen – Director of Columbia University’s Data Science Institute, defined “computational thinking.”

Henry M. Levy – Dean of University of Washington Computer Science & Engineering, member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.

George M. Church – Leader of the Human Genome Project and pioneer of personal genomics.

Avi Wigderson – Israeli mathematician and computer scientist, member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

Research Focus

The Academy is organized into three parts: global laboratories, university‑partner research institutes, and frontier innovation programs. Its research agenda covers quantum computing, machine learning, core algorithms, network security, computer vision, natural language processing, next‑generation human‑machine interaction, chip technology, sensor technology, and embedded systems, spanning AI, IoT, and fintech.

Strategic Principles

1. Longevity – The DAMO Academy must outlive Alibaba itself. 2. Impact – It aims to affect at least 2 billion people worldwide. 3. Self‑sustainability – While Alibaba will invest 100 billion RMB in the first three years, the Academy is expected to generate its own revenue.

Vision and Goals

Founder Jack Ma envisions the Academy as a lasting contribution to humanity, hoping it will survive even if Alibaba does not. He stresses that research should solve real societal problems, combining profit with purpose, and aims to surpass the research capabilities of Intel, IBM, and Microsoft.

Global Presence

DAMO labs are being established across Asia, the Americas, and Europe, with locations in Beijing, Hangzhou, Singapore, Israel, San Mateo, Bellevue, Moscow, and others, initially recruiting about 100 top scientists.

Key Quotes

Jack Ma: “If Alibaba only wants to make money, it is a company without ambition.”

CTO Zhang Jianfeng: “Machine intelligence differs from artificial intelligence; we pursue true machine‑level understanding.”