On 6 May 2008 SMU entered into a major collaboration with SAS, a market leader in business intelligence and analytical software and services since 1976, to build up the University’s research and teaching capabilities in the field of business intelligence. The new SAS Enterprise Intelligence Laboratory (SEIL) is powered by an IBM System p server and is equipped with a comprehensive suite of business intelligence software and backend hardware sponsored by SAS and IBM. The combined value of this sponsorship is approximately $660,000. In addition, SAS has contributed $180,000 to SMU to establish scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Information Systems Management, with special emphasis on business intelligence technology and applications.

SEIL will become a key facility for the School of Information Systems at SMU to further develop its existing academic strengths in business information technology and for expanding its teaching and research activities in business intelligence. Built primarily for the use of SMU faculty and students, SEIL will provide access to infrastructure and a wide range of software for business intelligence solutions. SEIL will function as an important teaching laboratory for SMU students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Information Systems Management. The laboratory will be utilised by students who choose to examine and explore knowledge and application in business intelligence as part of their specialisation or research projects. It will also facilitate the development of new analytical methods, building of large scale datasets and create prototypes of effective business intelligence solutions specially tailored for individual industries.