The Mack Institute’s Collaborative Innovation Program (CIP) is a unique experiential learning program that brings Wharton graduate students into our partner companies to solve real innovation challenges. Under the guidance of a Wharton faculty member, teams of students spend a semester working in consultant roles, completing projects on innovation-based issues.
Corporate partners propose a current business challenge they’d like to address; the Mack Institute will select students who will work on the project under faculty guidance. Our team works to identify and develop appropriate and mutually beneficial projects.
Projects will span a full academic semester with regular meetings between corporate partners and student teams. Students recieve academic credit for participating in this course.
Examples of Past Projects
- Developing market positioning strategy in the AI economy
- Disrupting the mortgage title industry through blockchain technology
- Telematics and big data strategy for the connected vehicle
- Green and sustainable AI adoption
- New growth areas to serve Gen Z consumer behavior
- Crowdsourcing for open innovation
What Our Partners Say About It
“The team took on a technology topic that was relatively nascent and outside their domain of expertise, yet managed to conduct the necessary research and synthesize the large amounts of information into actionable recommendations. They demonstrated the requisite diligence, methodology, and strategic mindset that is critical for the success of such a project. In the end, what they produced was a business analysis of a key set of vertical opportunities that allows us to make future investment decisions.”
“Students are always inquisitive and organized, and I appreciate the energy they bring. They met the challenges of the project very well. I’ve particularly enjoyed speaking with them and they always come super prepared to meet-ups.”
Interested in participating in the Collaborative Innovation Program? Inquire about partnership here.