AI in Digital Finance
Swiss partners
- BFH: Jörg Robert Osterrieder (main applicant), Lennart John Baals
MENA partners
- American University of Sharjah: Dr. Stephen Chan (main applicant), Dr. Yuanyuan Zhang, Dr. Hana Sulieman
Other partners
- Renmin University of China: Dr. Jeffrey Chu
Presentation of the project
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are fundamentally transforming digital finance. From algorithmic trading systems and robo-advisors to credit scoring models and anti-money laundering tools, AI-powered technologies are reshaping how financial services are delivered, regulated, and consumed. Large language models are now being deployed for sentiment analysis, regulatory document processing, and customer service automation. Meanwhile, fintech companies are leveraging deep learning for real-time fraud detection, personalized financial products, and alternative credit assessment. This three-day academic workshop brings together researchers and practitioners from Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates to advance responsible AI and machine learning adoption across the digital finance ecosystem.
The workshop, hosted at American University of Sharjah (April 21-23, 2026), represents a collaboration between the University of Applied Sciences Grisons (FHGR) in Switzerland and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in the UAE. Building on a seven-year research partnership with significant findings on blockchain analytics, cryptocurrency markets, and AI-driven fraud detection, the event will gather 80-100 participants from academia, banks, and fintech companies to share knowledge and develop new collaborative projects.
The program addresses three key themes. Day one focuses on research frontiers in AI and machine learning for financial markets, featuring presentations on large language models, predictive analytics, and algorithmic decision-making. Day two bridges research and practice through fintech case studies from leading financial institutions and hands-on workshops on explainable AI for regulatory compliance. Day three builds research capacity through doctoral training on advanced machine learning techniques for finance and establishes working groups on emerging topics including generative AI in banking, decentralized finance, risk modeling, and financial inclusion through technology.
By connecting Switzerland's expertise in financial technology and quantitative finance with the UAE's rapidly evolving fintech ecosystem and innovation-friendly regulatory environment, this initiative contributes to developing global best practices for AI governance in digital financial services.