This document discusses applying AI innovation in business and partnering with academia to do so. It explains that while tech giants can hire AI experts and acquire startups, non-AI companies struggle due to rare and expensive AI talent. However, partnering with academic AI labs provides a shortcut, allowing companies access to research, networking, and collaborative projects on demand. The document uses the Natural Computing and Machine Learning Laboratory (LCoN) as an example, detailing its achievements, partnership process, and benefits for partner companies.

1. Applying AI Innovation in Business:
Why and How
Leandro Nunes de Castro
Lnunes@mackenzie.br
@lndecastro
Informatics and Computing Faculty (FCI)
Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering and Computing (PPGEEC)
Natural Computing and Machine Learning Laboratory (LCoN)
www.mackenzie.br/lcon.html
November 2016 1

2. The Perspective on the Subject
Academic Entrepreneur Intrapreneur
LSIn
@Unisantos
@Mackenzie
2002 2006
2010
2016
2006
2010
2016
2004
2009

3. http://mattturck.com/2016/09/29/building-an-ai-startup/

4. < year 2000
> year 2010
AI researchers as weirdos!
AI researchers as
rock stars!

5. Who’s been doing AI nowadays?
Tech Giants
s
Tech
Companies
AI-based-

6. AI
Trends
Specific Solutions
Big Data
Video/Voice/Signal
Recognition
HCI
General
Intelligence

7. Why do non-AI-based Tech Companies Struggle?
• AI professionals are usually prepared in a Ph.D. level
• And thus are rare ... and expensive.
• AI Teams are usually multidisciplinar: engineers, computer
scientists, mathematicians, etc.
• And thus are expensive and hard to assemble.
• AI teams are a novelty within the companies
• And thus most companies still don’t know how to deal with them.
• AI products/solutions are designed and deployed differently
• And companies need to learn how to deal with them.
• Usually require top engineers to productize and deploy AI.
• Ideally must do both.

8. The Tech Giant Way
• They hire AI RockStars and
Acquire AI Startups
• They make products to improve
their businesses, but also
platform level products
Andrew Ng

10. A Shortcut to non-AI-based
Companies to harness the power of
AI is to partner with academia.

11. Founded in 2009, the
Natural Computing and
Machine Learning
Laboratory (LCoN) aims at
promoting and performing
R&D and Technology
Transfer in AI, emphasizing
the design and application
of computer models and
algorithms to solve
complex problems in a
wide range of areas.
• Data/Text/Image/Web
Mining
• Web Semantics
• Multivariate Data
Analysis
• Pattern Recognition
• Logistics and Operations
Research
• Inverse Problems
• Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles Autonomous
Navigation

12. • Over 300 scientific papers published
• 12 books published
• 1 Patent deposited
• 39 R&D projects written, approved and developed (4 under
development)
• 29 M.Sc. and 07 Ph.D. students graduated
• 15 awards/certificates of academic merit
• 3 spin-offs
LCoN in Numbers
Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net
12

13. There is a generic “Technical-Scientific Agreement” to be
signed between the company and Mackenzie
-> Interest in collaboration.
The realization of collaborative projects will demand an
“Addendum”.
-> Workplan, timelines, deliverables, involvement,
expenses, etc.
Start working!
13
The Partnership Process Flow
Long term projects: 1 year+
Medium term projects: ½ year+
Small Jobs: on demand

14. Benefits to the Partners
• Full access to all the research performed within the lab;
• Full visit priviledges to the lab;
• One day a month fully dedicated to the company;
• Student recruitment;
• Networking;
• Development of projects dedicated to the company;
• Possibility of having a collaborator intern in the lab;
• Possibility of having lab members intern in the company; e
• Full access to all lab events, such as LCoN Meetings, Study
Groups, Workshops, etc. 14

15. Become a Partner!
Contact us and schedule your visit!
Contact: Lnunes@mackenzie.br
/lcon.mack
@lcon_mackenzie
Leandro Nunes de Castro
13 – 981.261.184
11 – 2114.7529