The Analytics Society of INFORMS, in partnership with BCG X, Adelphi University and Georgia Tech, has named the winners of the 2026 Innovative Applications in Analytics Award (IAAA), recognizing groundbreaking applications of analytics that deliver significant impact for organizations and society.
The first, second, and third-place winners of the 2026 competition are:
- Analytics for Better Urban Cycling at the City of Toronto.
- National University of Singapore: Bo Lin
- University of Toronto: Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, Shoshanna Saxe, and Timothy Chan
- Hierarchical Spatio-Temporal Uncertainty Quantification for Distributed Energy Adoption.
- Carnegie Mellon University: Wenbin Zhou and Shixiang Zhu
- Argonne National Laboratory: Feng Qiu
- Pedernales Electric Cooperative: Xuan Wu
- AES: Patrick Maguire, Victoria Cooper, and Ryan Yang
- AI & Big Data Brand Intelligence: Sales-Correlated Social Metrics and Market-Valuation Signals.
- eBrandValue, Inc. and Özyeğin University: M. Tolga Akçura
- eBrandValue, Inc.: Ayşe Akçura
The IAAA sponsors also recognize the outstanding applications submitted by the following finalists:
- Designing Novel Adsorbents for Removing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORMs) from Produced Waters of Oil & Gas Industries using Computer-Aided Molecular Design.
- Stochastic Research Technologies LLC: Urmila Diwekar, Sanjay Joag, Daniel Kestering, and Rajib Mukherjee
- Vishwamitra Research Institute: Narendra Boppana
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Detecting Illicit Massage Businesses from Mobility Patterns.
- The Institute of Data and Analytics, Culverhouse College of Business, The University of Alabama: Nick Freeman, Roya Shomali, Greg Bott, and Iman Dayarian
- The Network: Jason Parton, Louis Wilbrink, Jesus Lopez Lugo, Carlos Garcia
- Stabilizing Compensation for a Service-Oriented Business.
- Colorado School of Mines: Kat Tomon Veidmark and Alexandra Newman
These submissions highlight the transformative power of analytics across diverse fields and the significant contributions of individuals and teams in pushing the boundaries of analytical innovation. The winners and finalists were recognized at a luncheon held during the 2026 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference in National Harbor, Md. for their rigorous methodologies, impactful results and creative problem-solving.
About INFORMS
INFORMS is the world's largest association for professionals and students in operations research, AI, analytics, data science and related disciplines, serving as a global authority in advancing cutting-edge practices and fostering an interdisciplinary community of innovation. With a network of more than 12,000 members spanning academia, industry and government, INFORMS connects thought leaders, experts and emerging professionals who advance and apply AI, mathematics, analytics and other sciences and technologies to solve complex challenges and drive impactful decision-making.
Through its prestigious peer-reviewed journals, world-class conferences, industry-leading certification programs and a suite of professional resources, INFORMS empowers its community to enhance operational efficiency, elevate organizational performance and promote smarter decisions for a better world. Discover more at www.informs.org.
About the INFORMS Analytics Society
The Analytics Society is a INFORMS community with over 1,800 members dedicated to promoting the development and application of analytics to solve complex problems and improve decision-making.
About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders-empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage and drive positive societal impact.
Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.
About Adelphi University
Adelphi University, located in Garden City, New York, is a nationally recognized doctoral research university serving more than 7,300 students through 200+ undergraduate, graduate, and professional certificate programs across eight schools and colleges. Just miles from New York City, Adelphi combines academic excellence, personalized education, close faculty mentorship, experiential learning, and strong career connections to prepare students for meaningful impact in their fields and communities.
About Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech is a leading public research university committed to advancing technology and improving the human condition. Founded in 1885, the Institute combines rigorous academics with a culture of innovation, service, and global impact. More than 53,000 students from all 50 states and over 146 countries study here, preparing to shape industries and strengthen communities. Georgia Tech's interdisciplinary Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) degree teaches Analytics, Data Science, and AI to thousands of students worldwide, offering both fully-online and fully-in person instruction. MSA is the winner of the 2026 INFORMS UPS George D. Smith Prize for its innovative and effective training of analytics professionals.
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Contact:
Rebecca Seel, Public Affairs Specialist, INFORMS
443-757-3578
rseel@informs.org
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