Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute
Milwaukee
Innovation: Higher education/corporate partnership
As the region faces a growing demand for data science talent, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. has partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University to provide a supply of employees.
The academic institutions and Milwaukee-based insurance company announced in June 2018 plans to launch the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute, a $40 million initiative aimed at developing data science talent and fostering research.
Over the next five years, Northwestern Mutual will contribute $15 million to support an endowed professorship at each university, fund research, expand university curriculum, and develop K-12 STEM learning opportunities and pre-college programming. The company is also providing classroom and office space in Cream City Labs, its new innovation lab in downtown Milwaukee.
“The unique partnership between Northwestern Mutual and not one, but two universities – Marquette and UW-Milwaukee – demonstrates our joint commitment to advancing Milwaukee as a hub for technology, research, business and talent development,” said Keri McConnell, senior director of the NMDSI.
The universities have each committed more than $12 million to data science education and research. Classes in the institute will launch next academic year.
“The Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute is advancing southeastern Wisconsin as a hub for technology, research and business development,” said Michael Lovell, president of Marquette University. “At the same time, we’re creating a local pipeline of talent in the high-demand field of data science.”
