Budapest Corvinus University and UNIQA Biztosító have begun a collaborative research project to identify the organisational, leadership and human prerequisites for the responsible and effective adoption of AI-based operating models. The cooperation agreement was signed on 2 September 2026 at Budapest Corvinus University by Kurtisz Krisztián, CEO of UNIQA Biztosító, and Bruno van Pottelsberghe, Rector of Corvinus.
Research objectives
The project examines how artificial intelligence can transform corporate operations and what new organisational, leadership, HR and governance solutions are needed to implement AI-based operations successfully. The research starts from the premise that AI’s impact goes beyond technical developments: it affects processes, leadership roles, job profiles, required competencies and overall work organisation.
The collaboration, realised with the involvement of Corvinus–SEED (the university’s executive education centre), aims to strengthen links between academic research and corporate practice and to apply scientific methods to practical challenges.
NiQA as a practical focus
One highlighted area of the study is UNIQA’s NiQA, an AI-powered virtual assistant. NiQA supports automation in claims handling, participating in stages from claim intake and document processing through claims calculation and decision support to certain payment-related steps. The research does not limit itself to analysing the technology alone; it also investigates how job roles, competency requirements and managerial responsibilities evolve in organisations where AI appears in an increasing number of processes.
Researchers are looking for the conditions that enable effective human–AI collaboration and how AI can be used to boost operational efficiency, improve customer experience and support better cooperation among employees.
Comments from leadership
Bruno van Pottelsberghe, Rector of Budapest Corvinus University, noted that researching the effects of AI is an important task for universities and that Corvinus intends to be a leader in this area. He said the project’s findings could offer lessons for how future workplaces will function and help better understand the conditions for successful AI-driven organisational transformation.
Kurtisz Krisztián, CEO of UNIQA Biztosító, emphasized that AI implementation is primarily an organisational and leadership issue rather than only a technological one. Based on UNIQA’s experience with developing and deploying NiQA, he argued that success depends not just on the technology itself but on how processes are redesigned and how leaders and employees are prepared for new modes of operation, which is why the partnership with Corvinus is particularly valuable.
Methods and timeline
Preparations for the project began in April 2026. The first data collection phase started in June 2026 and continued until mid-August 2026. The researchers employ multiple methods: literature and company document analysis, leadership interviews, employee focus groups, a questionnaire survey and business impact analysis. Reports summarising the research findings are expected in autumn 2026.
The planned analyses are intended to inform corporate decision-making on issues such as governance models for AI-based operations, identification of necessary managerial competencies, and effective management of organisational change.
Strategic fit
The collaboration fits with UNIQA’s long-term digital transformation ambitions: simplifying processes, enhancing customer experience, and developing innovative operating models where technology and human expertise jointly create value.
For Budapest Corvinus University, the project advances the institution’s aim to connect academic knowledge with corporate experience, offering scientifically grounded answers to real business challenges and creating value for students and corporate partners through combined academic and practical insight.
