The globalization of markets, economic and industrial developments, the advancement of increasingly sophisticated and diversified technologies, and intense competitive pressure are generating vast amounts of data. These changes have highlighted the need for companies to develop competencies capable of dealing with various transformations, handling large volumes of data, reducing risks, and making informed decisions.

Indeed, in the face of growing competition, a constantly evolving and complex environment, and the rise of big data, new demands have emerged. These include product differentiation, process control, and the organization and exploitation of data to extract essential insights. As a result, companies are compelled to question themselves and evolve, as their future heavily depends on their ability to innovate and make data-driven decisions.

Recognizing the potential of data, these companies seek ways to exploit it and extract the maximum amount of useful information to support strategic and operational decision-making. Therefore, they expect their managers to have a solid and comprehensive foundational education and, above all, to be prepared to understand business situations, manage their complexity, propose innovative solutions to business challenges, and lead various projects within the company.

This is the context in which the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence specialization, offered by the Department of Industrial Engineering, was developed.

Situated at the intersection of computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, business, and optimization, this multidisciplinary training provides a global vision of the engineer’s role within a company. It enables the AI and data science engineer to acquire knowledge and develop the open-mindedness essential for engineers in today’s modern companies. Proficient in both material and information flows, they are prepared to understand business contexts, manage complex systems, lead teams, motivate them, adapt, and help them grow.

Flexible, responsive, and with a strong understanding of business operations, such engineers are essential assets in guiding companies toward performance and competitiveness.

Attuned to the needs of socio-economic and industrial sectors, the Department of Industrial Engineering has always worked to establish strong ties with the industrial world, composed mainly of SMEs. Nearly all engineering projects are based on real-world business challenges. This relationship has made it possible to identify a significant demand for skilled professionals in industrial and socio-economic sectors. The Data Science and Artificial Intelligence engineering specialization was conceived and designed in direct response to this need.