Why it matters

Financial innovation and digital transformation in the marketplace are progressing at unprecedented speed and scale, driven by the rapid diffusion of technologies such as blockchain, cloud and artificial intelligence (AI), and the entry of technology companies into finance. Yet the pace of regulatory innovation continues to lag in comparison, constrained by resources, capacity, institutional silos and blurred agency boundaries.

To harness opportunities such as growth, competitiveness and financial inclusion, while safeguarding consumers and financial markets from harm, policymakers and regulators need to explore new ways of regulating, innovating and cooperating across sectoral and jurisdictional boundaries.

C:\>DIR aims to make an impact in four key areas.

  • Narrowing the ‘Innovation Delta’ between innovators and regulators:
    Fragmented regulatory mandates, sector-based rules and limited technological capabilities slow regulatory innovation. We provide global thought leadership, shared resources and peer learning to help shape financial and digital regulation, by finding commons approaches and co-create common solutions.

  • Elevating EMDE perspectives:
    Jurisdictions in the Global South sometimes are more agile and advanced in the adoption of technology-enabled financial innovation (e.g. digital payments and mobile money) yet remains underrepresented in global policy fora. We hope to facilitate the sharing of actionable insights and lived experience from the Global South, so that stakeholders and jurisdictions from around the world can benefit.

  • Facilitating coordination across sectors and jurisdictions:
    Research on institutional models and mechanisms for cross-sectoral and cross-border coordination remains scarce. We seek to advance a coherent vision for digital governance across sectors and jurisdictions.

  • Providing a neutral platform to effect change:
    An independent, academically anchored initiative is essential in a shifting geopolitical landscape. We provide a trusted space for dialogue, experimentation and collaboration, serving as an ‘intellectual commons’ and a global accelerator for innovative digital policy and practice.