The University of Utah announced Monday night a $12 million gift from Andrea Pignataro and the ION Foundation to establish the ION Management Science Lab within the David Eccles School of Business. 

The ION Management Science Lab is envisioned as an interdisciplinary, globally-oriented institution focused on advancing fundamental research in scientific management. Its mission is to produce impactful and rigorous studies that help managers, entrepreneurs, and business owners adopt a scientific approach through theory development and evidence-based experimentation. The Lab prioritizes building strong academic foundations, designing practical tools for decision-making, and fostering collaboration between industry and academia. 

Dr. Todd Zenger, the Presidential Professor of Strategy and Strategic Leadership and the N. Eldon Tanner Chair at the Eccles School, will serve as the director of the ION Management Science Lab. 

“I am pleased to see this partnership between the University of Utah and the ION Foundation come to fruition. This initiative provides an invaluable opportunity to shape the direction of research at the David Eccles School of Business,” said Zenger. “The ION Management Science Lab aims to foster collaboration among a community of dedicated international scholars, pushing the frontier of knowledge in a field we believe holds tremendous importance.” 

The Lab will closely collaborate with the existing ION Management Science Lab at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, led by co-directors Arnaldo Camuffo and Alfonso Gambardella. 

The establishment of the ION Management Science Lab marks a significant milestone for the University of Utah and the broader business community, promising to deliver research that will transform managerial practices and contribute to the global body of knowledge in management science. 

“I am honored to support the creation of the ION Management Science Lab at the University of Utah, an investment in the future of management science research,” said Pignataro, founder and CEO of ION Group and ION Foundation. “By fostering a collaborative environment between scholars and industry leaders, we aim to drive forward a new era of management research, bridging the gap between academic research and practical business application. I am excited to see the collaborations and breakthroughs that will emerge from this initiative, benefiting both academia and industry.”