The research group, led by Yulia Vakulenko and based at REAL – the Centre for Retail and Logistics at Lund University – has received a Token of Appreciation from OpenAI. The symbolic token is given to accounts affiliated with organisations that have reached significant milestones in the use of OpenAI’s generative AI models. During the summer/autumn of 2025, only 141 recipients worldwide were recognised.
The project Generative AI in Retail Logistics was funded through Campus Helsingborg’s pioneer grants, a 100,000 SEK initiative aimed at encouraging researchers to test new ideas and approaches. With this support, the project explored how generative AI can be used to analyse big data in retail logistics and to develop new strategies for more efficient and sustainable supply chains.
“We worked with OpenAI to explore how the latest AI-based solutions could contribute to our research and to the field of retail logistics. This type of ‘token of appreciation’ has never been given before, so it was a surprise for our entire team. Thanks to the support from Campus Helsingborg, we were able to experiment with new methodologies and types of data that would otherwise not have been possible. That is very exciting. The physical token is a cute cherry on top." says Yulia Vakulenko.
Pioneering spirit is one of Campus Helsingborg’s focus areas. Over the past three years, dedicated pioneer grants have been awarded to support innovative projects and early-stage ideas. This project perfectly illustrates the purpose of the initiative – giving researchers space to try something new and gain unexpected results in return.
