£1.4 million grant from Research England to develop East Midlands fintech hub on Castle Meadow Campus

Professor Meryem Duygun

The University of Nottingham’s Inclusive Financial Technology Hub (INFINITY) has been awarded a new £1.4 million grant from Research England to develop a fintech hub at the heart of the city.

The Hub will contribute to developing the next generation of financial technology start-ups and firms by creating a pathway for university-inspired research to give rise to early-stage commercialisation ventures in financial services. Provided by Research England’s Connecting Capability fund, the grant is designed to support levelling up and contribute to the UK’s tech sector. The Hub aims to become a focal point for Nottingham’s thriving financial services sector.

The award will fund the creation of an agile pathway for commercialisation of financial technology research, taking early-stage research-inspired commercial propositions on a journey to being realised as live commercial prospects.

Alongside this, it will provide training and support for academics at an early stage in the commercialisation journey, overcoming the barriers to engagement. The Hub brings together an existing ecosystem of three leading Midlands-based universities with financial technology expertise (Nottingham, Birmingham and Warwick).

Situated on the University’s new Castle Meadow Campus, the hub will be located near Nottingham University Business School and local businesses, including KPMG, who are relocating their Nottingham office to the new campus. Castle Meadow Campus will create a unique environment in which students and businesses creatively engage and innovate together.

Professor Meryem Duygun, the Co-Director of INFINITY, said:

"INFINITY aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, nurturing the next generation of financial technology startups and ventures. It's an incredible opportunity to leverage our research and expertise to drive innovation and create a vibrant ecosystem for collaboration between students, academics, and local businesses."

More information on INFINITY can be found on the website: https://www.inclusivefintech.ac.uk/about