Manchester’s fintech presence grows with new specialist centre 

As Manchester continues to thrive as a hub for fintech, Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) has confirmed the launch of a new specialist centre to accelerate research into financial technology. 

The plans also aim to develop real-world solutions to new challenges in the sector, as it plays a pivotal role in boosting transaction efficiency during a turbulent economic period.

The Centre for Financial Technology Studies (CFTS) will become a knowledge and research hub for digital advancements in finance, including open banking, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and artificial intelligence in financial services.

The Centre builds on the extensive financial technology expertise within the current AMBS team led by Professor Markos Zachariadis, Chair of Financial Technology (Fintech) & Information Systems at AMBS, which has played a pioneering role in Fintech research over the past 15 years. It has developed strong industry links and is already a strategic partner to independent industry body Innovate Finance. 

Zachariadis said: “The rate at which digital innovation is shaping the financial services sector has accelerated dramatically, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. The Centre for Financial Technology (Fintech) Studies will ensure we can continue to lead on pioneering research that helps businesses to keep up with these ongoing developments.

“At AMBS we’ve always prided ourselves in being at the forefront of Fintech studies. The Centre will bring our experts closer together and enable us to combine our knowledge to accelerate research into new areas. By working closely with industry partners, we will ensure our studies relate to present issues and will have maximum real-world impact.

“The financial services industry needs new talent to drive the sector forward, and we hope we can play a key role in supporting future Fintech leaders.”

The new Centre will officially open at a launch event on the 23rd November. The event will comprise panel talks from AMBS academics and industry leaders, as well as representatives from the FCA and Innovate Finance.