Fintech has been gaining prominence in the contemporary business landscape, particularly since the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2008. In its broadest meaning, Fintech is the application of technological innovations to financial services and processes. According to some industry analysts, the cumulative investment in Fintech globally is now approaching US$100 billion, and Fintech businesses and start-ups may stand to take away about US$4.7 trillion in revenue from established financial institutions in the long run. Start-ups, large technology firms and banking institutions have emerged as key players in this growing sector. Policymakers and regulators are supporting the growth of Fintech as a gateway to a more efficient financial system. They have also identified Fintech as capable of addressing grand challenges around financial exclusion by providing the poor access to financial services such as payments, savings, credit and insurance. A vision of fintech-led financial inclusion appears to have burst on the global scene, one that takes to heart the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially: SDG1 (no poverty); SDG2 (no hunger); SDG8 (decent work and economic growth); and SDG10 (reduced inequalities). At the same time, the failure rate of Fintech businesses has been noted to be extremely high and the Fintech phenomenon has raised important questions about how financial innovations can balance the commercial potential of digital technologies with its risks. Fintech’s drivers and enablers, management and strategic deployment, and the economic and societal implications are promising areas of research. This track welcomes both conceptual and empirical research on the economic, technological and social dimensions of Fintech.

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