Objective

The Data Challenge is organized as a competition between several student groups around a data project spanning the entire academic year. Several companies, in collaboration with the school’s faculty and researchers, propose a statistical, economic, or financial topic and provide the data on which multiple student groups work from October to May. The goal is to address a specific problem defined for each company. To do so, students use data provided by the company and apply the full range of knowledge acquired at ENSAE.

Once enrolled in the course, students rank the companies/topics according to their preferences and are then assigned to a group and a topic (with several groups working on the same topic for a given company).

Throughout the year, the groups are guided and supported in their work. Experts from the sponsoring companies are available to answer questions about the data and business challenges. In addition, each group is supervised by faculty members from the school. The projects are evaluated, and for each topic, the best work may be awarded a prize.

The work students carry out in this project focuses on economic, statistical, or financial analysis, modeling, and the implementation of data science techniques (econometrics and machine learning) on real-world data provided by the sponsoring company.

By taking on this challenge, students will confront real-life corporate questions. The project should be seen as an intensive research-oriented data study, aimed at exploring and testing new ideas to improve the company’s strategy in one or more areas on a large scale.

Companies participating in the 2025–2026 Data Challenge:

• Alptis: machine learning, healthcare, insurance (recommended for 3A-DSBD, MS-MQDE, 3A-DSSA, and MS-DS)

• APICIL: machine learning, healthcare, insurance (recommended for 3A-DSBD, MS-MQDE, 3A-DSSA, and MS-DS)

• Carmignac: asset management (recommended for 3A-FRD, 3A-DSSA, and MS-DS)

• CNP Assurances: actuarial science, macroeconomics, risk management (recommended for 3A-A, 3A-FRD, 3A-DSSA, and MS-DS)

Planning

This course runs throughout the entire academic year (October 2025 – May 2026). Enrollment is mandatory for both the first and second semesters.

Assessment for the first semester is based on a mid-project report, while the second semester is evaluated through a final report and oral defense.

Key Dates:

• End of October 2025: Kick-off

• Early December 2025: Milestone 1 – Data exploration and problem definition

• End of January 2026: Milestone 2 – Chosen methodology and mid-project report

• End of February 2026: Milestone 3 – Progress review

• Early April 2026: Milestone 4 – Pre-delivery presentation

• End of April / Early May 2026: Final jury presentation + possible award ceremony