The Centre for Innovation and Technology (CINTEC), Faculty of Engineering, and the Centre for Financial Engineering held a Conference on Financial Technology (FinTech) titled "When Wall Street Met Main Street – The Human & AI Brainwave Resonance" today (30 October 2018), drawing over 500 industry practitioners, experts, researchers and government officials to explore the trends driving the FinTech revolution and future collaboration opportunities.

The forum was officiated at by Dr. David CHUNG, JP, Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government and chaired by Professor CHEN Nan, Director of the Bachelor of Engineering Programme in Financial Technology and Associate Professor of the Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, CUHK and Prof. WONG Kam Fai, Associate Dean (External Affairs) of the Faculty of Engineering and Director of CINTEC, CUHK.  Speakers from CUHK included Professor Jimmy LEE Ho Man, Assistant Dean (Education), Faculty of Engineering and Programme Director of The Master of Science in Financial Technology, and Professor Calvin CHAN Chun Kwong, Professor of Practice in Fintech.  Other featured guest speakers included Mr. Andrew FREYRE-SANDERS, Managing Director - Trading, Haitong International Securities Group Limited, Mr. Adam WIELOWIEYSKI, Senior Platform Strategist, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mr. Henri ARSLANIAN, FinTech & RegTech Lead, PwC, Mr. Mikaal ABDULLA, CEO & Co-Founder, 8 Securities, Dr. Florian M. SPIEGL, Co-Founder & COO, FinFabrik, Dr. James LEI, Acting Director, Intelligent Software and Systems, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, Dr. Alfred MA, Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer, CASH Algo Finance Group Limited, and Mr. Michael LEUNG, Chief Information and Operations Officer, China CITIC Bank International and Distinguished Alumni of the Faculty of Engineering. 

Professor Rocky S. TUAN, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK said, "In recent years, FinTech has gained tremendous momentum and applicability in the finance industry.  It is also presenting a crucial challenge in understanding and analysing its social benefits and risks economically, technologically, and legally, which is critical to its healthy development.  CUHK is a pioneer in FinTech education in Hong Kong. We believe that it is beneficial for both our students and the industry practitioners to engage in interactive discussions, and to explore opportunities for collaboration."

Professor CHEN Nan, the Co-Chairman of the Conference's Programme Committee said, "2018 marks the first anniversary of the Bachelor of Engineering programme in FinTech launched by CUHK, the first ever FinTech undergraduate programme in Hong Kong.  This is also a crucial year for the Master of Science programme in FinTech, which will be launched in September 2019.  With the talented people in these programmes and the innovative ideas in the market, we see a situation of mutual advantage in building bridges between the University and the industry.  It is beneficial for the students to widen their exposure and have more interactions with the industry.  Faculties can share their research results and seek partnership with Fintech corporations.  Industry practitioners can use the forefront of research to take their Fintech businesses some steps further."

The Centre for Innovation and Technology (CINTEC) is the technology transfer arm of the Faculty of Engineering, CUHK.  Serving as a key bridge between the Faculty and the industry, CINTEC promotes communications, facilitates collaboration and fosters technology transfer and commercialisation through a wide variety of meetings, conferences, exhibitions and discussion forums.

The Centre for Financial Engineering (CFE) is a strong group of experts in the quantitative aspects of finance including statistics, mathematics, computer science and finance.  Established in 2013, CFE has achieved some remarkable progress in assembling research teams and in organising regular seminars, conferences, distinguished lectures and short courses.  It is currently offering a Master of Science programme in Financial Engineering. Its vision is to develop a multidisciplinary centre in financial engineering renowned for the quality of its people and research, and train the next generation of leading academics and industrial leaders in the area.  Professor CHEN Nan is currently the Director of CFE.