The University of Luxembourg has inaugurated a new interdisciplinary initiative focused on addressing the technological challenges and opportunities of the financial industry.
The National Centre of Excellence in Financial Technologies (NCER-FT) is led by researchers from the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) and the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF).
It implements a singular interdisciplinary research and innovation approach, combining expertise from technology, finance, and law.
The initiative, which was created with co-financing from the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), and with the support of the higher education and research ministry and the finance ministry, is expected to strengthen Luxembourg’s position as an innovative financial hub by attracting talents and providing world-class research and education for the sector in the grand duchy.
The NCER-FT research roadmap focuses on four topics: new frontiers for digital and automated finance, regulatory technology (RegTech) and compliance by design, financial inclusion, as well as trust and security. The projects that make up the NCER-FT provide a framework to develop high quality research, novel ideas, products and services for the financial industry of tomorrow.
To quick-start the initiative, 14 interdisciplinary projects are being launched in the ramp-up phase of two years.
“ICT solutions that are secure, compliant, and trustworthy are a core component of the financial asset management and insurance sectors,” said Prof. Yves Le Traon, leader of the NCER-FT and vice-director of SnT, adding: “SnT and FDEF bring together expertise in these topics, including cybersecurity, blockchain, decentralised finance, Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, law, and finance. Together we will introduce exciting new directions for the financial industry to explore.”
The NCER-FT initiative is dedicated to fostering the growth of digital finance in Luxembourg by leveraging advanced technologies. The initiative will strive to maintain an equilibrium between demand-driven research initiatives, real-world testing of research outcomes, and fundamental research endeavors that offer significant contributions towards long-term innovation.
“The University of Luxembourg is looking to bring talent and ideas from around the world to the financial institutions of Luxembourg,” said Prof. Jens Kreisel, Rector of the University, adding: “Facilitating collaborations among all stakeholders with diverse expertise will expedite the development of this crucial national sector by introducing a varied knowledge base into the country.”
