A Centre for Financial Technology Innovation and Artificial Intelligence

The Digital Finance Institute provides thought leadership at the nexus of digital finance, AI, regulation, innovation, and financial inclusion.

A strategic link

The Digital Finance Institute represents a strategic link among industry, academia, financial regulators and policymakers to promote sector vibrancy, resilience and responsible finance.

Education

The Digital Finance Institute is a recognized voice in global FinTech and AI, providing education sessions in finance and AI. It has presented twice at the United Nations’ UNCITRAL on blockchain and the legal risks of AI, and testified numerous times before the Canadian Senate on finance, regulation and technology. The Institute has taught blockchain for energy and smart cities systems with THNK in Amsterdam, and authored chapters for United Nations publications and a chapter for the bestselling The RegTech Book.

Conferences and Events

The Institute creates numerous events to support the ecosystem and connect those with capital and influence to innovators reinventing finance and technology. These include the FinTech Cup with Payments Canada, a partnership with SWIFT for their banking conference, the Canadian FinTech and AI Awards, Canada FinTech Week, FinTech Nigeria, and Canada’s AI World Forum. The Institute has also produced sessions on financial inclusion with MasterCard, open banking with the Senate of Canada, blockchain for Holocaust asset recovery, and AgTech in Africa.

Research and Reports

The Institute conducts research and releases reports in furtherance of AI and financial technology. Examples include Canada’s first national FinTech report, a study on finance titled Bridging the Gender Gap with SWIFT, and Canada’s first benchmark report for commercial AI. To recognize Canadian innovation leadership, the Institute also compiles and publishes the annual Top 50 FinTech Companies and Top 50 Women in FinTech reports.

Consulting on Policy

The Institute provides consulting on technology and finance, and has worked on policy development with international and national agencies. It has participated in central bank roundtables on finance, and contributed to the development of new payment rails and open banking systems. Institute leadership participates in a global banking standards group based in the UK aimed at providing standards advice for banking in emerging markets.

Inclusive AI and Finance

The Institute has long believed that financial innovation and AI must serve everyone. It created FemTech Leaders to support and profile women in finance, and worked with SWIFT and other partners on refugee payment initiatives so that displaced populations can access safe, dignified financial services. In 2015, the Institute began advocating for inclusive, ethical and responsible AI, and delivered the first speech on AI in Nigeria, opening new conversations in Africa.

Thought Leadership

The Institute’s experts lead the way in shaping forward-thinking ideas and driving meaningful discourse. The Institute has been invited by the White House to speak at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, and by the offices of President Macron and His Majesty the King of Morocco to speak on FinTech. It has also spoken at APEC, FATF, Singapore FinTech Week, the Asian Development Bank, SWIFT, Hong Kong FinTech, Asian Banker, Money 20/20, Consensus and the Milken Institute.

Reports

The Digital Finance Institute researches and writes in-depth reports on FinTech and AI, and also produces reports to recognize leaders in AI and finance in Canada. We prepared Canada’s first national FinTech report, a landmark report with SWIFT on women in financial technology, a report on commercial AI, and participated in THNK’s report on Reinventing Capitalism.