SAS and NC State Launched AI Think Tank

The two organizations have established a new pilot program focused on artificial intelligence in healthcare and agriculture.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

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SAS Institute and NC State University have partnered to create a new artificial intelligence think tank. The collaboration aims to develop responsible AI systems that improve research efficiency and reduce early-stage development costs.

Why it matters

By merging university research with private data expertise, the project seeks to establish reliable analytical models that can be scaled for use by other institutions. The effort focuses on practical applications within healthcare and agriculture to streamline scientific discovery.

The pilot program is scheduled to run for a two-year period. It leverages analytical models that originated from foundational research developed at NC State five decades ago.

The players

SAS Institute

Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, this multinational company specializes in analytics software and data intelligence.

NC State University

Located in Raleigh, this research institution provides the academic foundation for the analytical models used by SAS.

Jim Goodnight

He serves as the CEO of the SAS Institute and announced the partnership.

The details

Researchers plan to integrate studies of living organisms with organoid laboratory research to identify new therapies. The initiative aims to build systems that prioritize responsible AI usage while helping scientists optimize their early-stage research processes.

October 8, 2026: SAS CEO Jim Goodnight announced the new partnership.
Two-year period: The think tank will operate as a pilot program.

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The Tech Race

This initiative updates the historical analytical models developed at NC State for modern artificial intelligence applications. It represents a broader industry trend of tightening the integration between academic research and commercial data technology.

For researchers and industry professionals, the project may provide new open-access analytical models for early-stage therapy development. Successful implementation could lead to reduced costs and more efficient outcomes in pharmaceutical and agricultural research.

The takeaway

The partnership highlights the potential for university-led research to directly influence commercial AI development. Practitioners can monitor these findings for new methodologies that may eventually reduce the time required to bring scientific research to market.