The first of a series of workshops designed to give applicants the opportunity to discuss our funding opportunities, develop project ideas, and ask any questions they might have.
The launch of the UKFin+ funding workshop series took place Monday the 9th of October at InSpace, an events and exhibitions space which is part of the Institute of Design Informatics at the University of Edinburgh. Attendees were engaged and enthusiastic about the project and keen to discuss wicked problems in financial services.
The event commenced with an overview of the UKFin+ network by Project Manager Sheena Robinson and Professor John Vines, one of the directors of UKFIN+. This provided attendees with valuable insights into the aims and objectives of UKFin+ and how the funding will be distributed.
The workshop proceeded with Professor John Vines, leading the ‘Futures Thinking’ activity which was featured at the Birmingham launch. This focused on thinking about how the weight of history, the push of the present and the pull of the future impact different challenges.
Examples of these challenges and potential funding areas included:
- Cyber Security
- Trust
- Quantum Finance
- Decentralised Finance
- Financial Inclusion
- Open Banking and Finance
- Financial Resilience
Breaking up into roundtable discussions on these topic areas allowed attendees to network with those who were interested in similar research areas, as well as exploring the challenges impacting financial services.
This session saw lively discussions, fresh and inspiring takes on tackling these key issues. Each attendee brought a unique perspective to the discussion, and it was fascinating to hear their thoughts on the challenges facing the industry and their ideas for the future.
These workshops provide a valuable opportunity to network with other professionals and academics in FinTech and improve your chances of a successful funding application. There are several more workshops coming in the near future, keep an eye on our social media and website for updates on upcoming workshops.
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