Background and experience
Ishita Barua is an Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the University of Agder and also a medical doctor, author and tech entrepreneur. She holds a PhD in AI in Medicine from the University of Oslo and has been a visiting researcher at Harvard Medical School. In 2024 she was the recipient of His Majesty the King of Norway's Gold Medal. In 2023 she was the recipient of the NORA Award for Distinguished Early-Career Investigator and also the Fulbright Norway Young Researcher Award. In 2022 she was named one of Norway's Top 50 Women in Tech by Abelia/ODA and Top 30 Women in Norway changing the field of Artificial Intelligence by NORA in 2021.
She is the author of the book "Artificial Intelligence Saves Lives" and a regular columnist for E24 - Norway's leading digital business newspaper, where she writes about technology and innovation. Barua is also the co-founder of a healthtech company specializing in AI and health data. In 2025, Barua was named one of Kapital’s "40 under 40", highlighting her as one of Norway’s most influential young talents in business and innovation.
Barua is widely regarded as one of Norway’s foremost experts on the use of AI in healthcare. She frequently appears in the media to comment on AI, health technology, innovation, and the application of AI across public and private sectors.
She has been appointed by the Norwegian government to serve on an official Innovation Committee (NOU Innovasjonsutvalget) and as a deputy member of The Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board (Bioteknologirådet), where she contributes her expertise in AI and healthcare innovation.