La Trobe University, a forward-thinking institution, sought to leverage generative AI (gen AI) to both enhance research operations and expedite go-to-market strategies. However, this can sometimes be challenging. Accessing and using university-approved knowledge for research can be time consuming, and the lack of development capabilities drastically slows down the ability to bring research findings to market efficiently. The university needed a solution that could streamline knowledge access and enable rapid application development for market entry.

Working closely with IBM, La Trobe University identified two key opportunities to leverage gen AI. First, researchers implemented a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architecture using IBM Watson^® Discovery, IBM^® watsonx Assistant™ and IBM watsonx.ai™ to streamline research operations. This system, a proof of concept using over 100 papers on autism, allowed them to efficiently access university-approved knowledge, saving valuable time in the research process. Second, they co-designed an application that leveraged existing expertise and the IBM watsonx™ portfolio of AI products to expedite go-to-market operations. This application showcased how researchers could easily transform their data into market-ready solutions.