CMED Health Among Global Innovators at Gates Foundation Grand Challenges AI Convening
On April 2, 2025, Prof. Khondaker Abdullah Al Mamun, Founder of CMED Health and Director of IRIIC at United International University, joined a global gathering of over 100 innovators in Kigali, Rwanda, for the Grand Challenges AI Community Convening, hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The event brought together AI pioneers, global health leaders, and policymakers to explore collaborative pathways for leveraging artificial intelligence to address the world’s most pressing health and development challenges.
The convening featured a day-long workshop filled with strategic learning, knowledge sharing, and future-oriented collaboration. It included high-level participation from ministers and senior leaders across Africa, including the Minister of ICT and Innovation of Rwanda, the Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation of Togo, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria. They were joined by the Director of Global Health and the Director for Africa at the Gates Foundation in a powerful panel discussion.
Reflecting on the experience, Prof. Mamun wrote:
“It was a very effective day with great learning and collaboration for scaling AI solutions. I was highly impressed by the ministers’ knowledge and understanding of AI development, implementation, and government transformation through AI. Their collaborative approach, both within and between countries, is truly commendable. Africa is rapidly evolving into a new development landscape that can serve as a global model. Let’s democratize the world together using AI.”
CMED Health was among the select group of AI-powered innovations showcased during the event. With its AI+IoT platform enabling remote and preventive health services across Bangladesh, CMED exemplifies the type of impactful, scalable technology the Gates Foundation aims to accelerate through its Grand Challenges initiative.
Prof. Mamun’s engagement at the convening emphasized the need for inclusive innovation and global collaboration. His contribution highlighted how South-South learning, particularly between regions like South Asia and Africa, can unlock new opportunities to use AI not just for technological advancement, but for equity, access, and sustainable development.
The convening stands as a milestone in CMED Health’s global journey and reinforces IRIIC’s mission to drive collaborative, responsible innovation that transforms lives at scale.
