Dr. Syed Iftikhar H. Shah leads the Digital Research Lab at the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), driving research and innovation for an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. With over 20 years of experience across government, industry, research, and international development, he specializes in digital transformation, AI and GenAI, digital space, fintech and financial inclusion, digital identity, data ecosystems, digital economy trends, and digital public policy.
He holds a Ph.D. in Data Science from the International Hellenic University, Greece, and has contributed to European Commission H2020 research projects. Previously, he held senior leadership roles in Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology, digital government, and technology-export sectors, bringing extensive expertise in evaluating innovation, emerging technologies, and their societal and economic impact.
