Tap into Emerging AI Talent to Solve Real-World Challenges
Through a Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative (WAIAI) Student Research Partnership, your organization gains access to talented student teams working alongside faculty and industry mentors to tackle complex challenges in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and business analytics.
Why Engage in a Student Research Partnership?
How it Works
Join the AI & Analytics Accelerator
Secure your spot by becoming a Student Research Partner.
Scope Your Project
Identify the business challenge, objectives, and datasets.
Prepare and Share Data
Securely transfer data or provide access to your company’s secure environment.
Launch Your Project
Meet your student team and discuss project objectives and expectations.
Meet Regularly
Attend weekly meetings with your student team and Wharton mentor.
Participate in the Summit
Experience student presentations with insights, models, and solutions.
Evaluate Impact
Discuss project recommendations and business implications with the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative.
Current Student Research Partners
How IKEA is Leveraging AI & Analytics for Strategic Innovation
IKEA Retail (Ingka Group) collaborated with the Wharton AI & Analytics Accelerator to explore AI-driven solutions for strategic decision-making. A team of Wharton and Penn students analyzed IKEA’s business data, developing machine learning models to enhance operational efficiency and improve customer experience. The project resulted in data-backed recommendations for streamlining supply chain operations and optimizing inventory management, demonstrating the real-world impact of AI in retail.
Fall 2025 AI & Analytics Accelerator Projects
Agentic AI Workforce Impact
Project Details
Accenture aims to examine how the adoption of agentic AI is reshaping workforce demand, job roles, and skill requirements across industries.
Client Insights and Engagement
Project Details
Penn Vet aims to identify patterns in client satisfaction, loyalty, and giving potential to enable smarter segmentation, more timely and personalized solicitations, and targeted marketing strategies.
Pharmaceutical Forecasting and Market Impact
Project Details
RxSense aims to forecast pharmaceutical utilization and pricing trends to help clients anticipate the impact of new drug launches, generic transitions, and broader category shifts.
Data-Driven Rate Optimization
Project Details
Shiftkey’s first project will develop a data-driven model to recommend optimal base rates for new facilities by leveraging regional benchmarks, historical shift fill rates, and specialty-specific demand patterns.
Dynamic Pricing Intelligence
Project Details
Shiftkey’s second project focuses on developing intelligent pricing tools to enhance shift fulfillment and optimize marketplace efficiency.
Additional Partnership Advantages
Dedicated WAIAI Corporate Engagement Officer to facilitate connections and maximize partnership value
Exclusive networking with Wharton faculty, WAIAI Members, Corporate Research Partners, and Penn/Wharton students actively engaged in AI and analytics research
Be among the first to access AI and analytics industry reports, white papers, and research briefings
Priority access to WAIAI’s flagship conferences and convenings, faculty research symposiums, specialized workshops, members-only engagements, and faculty-led webinars
Insights on ethical AI governance and policy from leading Wharton faculty straight to your inbox
Recognition as a Corporate Partner on WAIAI’s website
Opportunities to engage as judges, panelists, or speakers at WAIAI high-impact events
Invitation to be a sponsor of WAIAI events and programs
Access to a private LinkedIn group for direct engagement with WAIAI Members, Corporate Research Partners, Wharton faculty, and industry experts
Case Studies
Get Started
Accelerate your company’s AI and analytics capabilities while supporting the next generation of data-driven business leaders. Complete the form, and a dedicated WAIAI Corporate Engagement Officer will be in touch to discuss partnership opportunities.
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