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CUHK Faculty of Engineering holds Financial Technology Conference 2022 on new developments in the digital economy: metaverse, web3 and beyond
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Engineering hosted the 2022 CUHK Conference on Financial Technology (FinTech) in hybrid mode today (3 November). The conference, “New developments in the digital economy: metaverse, web3 and beyond”, attracted more than 700 attendees, including industry practitioners, academics, researchers, government officials and financial regulators, to explore the potential of the metaverse and web3 technologies. The event was supported by CUHK Business School, CUHK Engineering FinTech Applied Research Academy (CEFAR Academy), Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, Centre for Financial Engineering, and The Asia-Pacific Institute of Business, and sponsored by Hang Seng Bank, CASH Financial Services Group and HKT.
Officiating guests at the conference were Professor Rocky S. Tuan, CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President, Mr Joseph Chan, the Hong Kong government’s Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Ms Rebecca Pun, its Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Laurie Pearcey, CUHK Associate Vice-President (External Engagement and Outreach), Professor Martin D.F. Wong, Dean of CUHK’s Faculty of Engineering, Professor Zhou Lin, Dean of CUHK Business School, and Ms Vivien W.M. Chiu, Hang Seng Bank’s Chief Operating Officer.
CUHK scholars and experts from the banking, technology and insurance services delivered three panel discussions, a series of featured talks and a fireside chat, giving their insights on the metaverse ecosystem and its industry applications, the transformation of industries in the age of web3, innovation in the digital economy, risks and opportunities, and other related topics (please see appendix for the guest speaker list).
Professor Rocky S. Tuan, CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President, said, “This conference is part of the FinTech Education Series, which is a satellite event of the Hong Kong FinTech Week 2022, as well as the sixth annual FinTech conference hosted by CUHK. FinTech is an essential area of Hong Kong’s future economy, and is a great example of where the city can serve as the connective tissue between the rest of the world and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. If FinTech is to realise its full potential, universities have a critical enabling role in powering discoveries and adding technical and education know-how and making industry more competitive.”
Mr Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, said, “Hong Kong is Asia’s leading international financial centre, leading on various league tables in the region. FinTech companies can enjoy tremendous access to potential clients, investors and business partners. With the advantages of our international network and preferential access to the mainland market, as well as our friendly and supportive measures for FinTech development, Hong Kong is the destination choice for FinTech companies to start up and scale up.”
Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, said, “To embrace the opportunities, Hong Kong must further enhance its I&T ecosystem and this process would surely be facilitated with the country’s full support as illustrated in the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Government’s firm commitment to foster Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T centre. We are going full speed ahead to consolidate our strengths in research and development capabilities and facilitate collaboration among industry, academic and research sectors.”
Professor Martin D.F. Wong, CUHK’s Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, added, “CUHK is keen to strengthen its educational exchanges and cooperation with industry and the government, and to explore new opportunities in FinTech development. Talent, to be sure, is crucial in capturing FinTech’s promise, today and tomorrow. In CUHK’s Faculty of Engineering, we have launched FinTech programmes at undergraduate and master’s levels, developing a steady pipeline of FinTech talents equipped with strong applied research capabilities to meet industry demands.”
Ms Vivien Chiu, Hang Seng Bank’s Chief Operating Officer, said, “FinTech is a major theme in the future development of banking. Hang Seng’s early and ongoing investments in technology have made us a pioneer in digitising our banking services in Hong Kong. Through the smart use of technologies and innovative digital solutions, we are continually enhancing our ability to provide customers with greater convenience, more secure experiences and personalised choices. Hang Seng will continue to support and enable Hong Kong’s FinTech development by participating in industry projects and applying our expertise in serving the community.”
For more details of the conference, please visit: https://conference.cefar.cuhk.edu.hk/.
Professor Rocky S. Tuan, CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President delivers a welcome speech.
(From left) Professor Zhou Lin, Dean of CUHK Business School, Mr Laurie Pearcey, CUHK Associate Vice-President (External Engagement and Outreach), Professor Rocky S. Tuan, CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President, Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Professor Martin D.F. Wong, Dean of CUHK’s Faculty of Engineering, Ms Vivien Chiu, Hang Seng Bank’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Bankee Kwan, Chairman and CEO, Celestial Asia Securities Holdings (CASH Group), and Mr Steve Ng, Head of Commercial Solutions and Marketing, Commercial Group, HKT.
Mr Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau delivers his speech at the conference’s opening ceremony via a pre-recorded video.
Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology addresses at the conference.
Professor Martin D.F. Wong, Dean of CUHK’s Faculty of Engineering says that CUHK is keen to strengthen its educational exchanges and cooperation with industry and the government, and to explore new opportunities in FinTech development.
The conference attracted more than 700 attendees, including industry practitioners, academics, researchers, government officials and financial regulators, to explore the potential of the metaverse and web3 technologies.
