What is the OFFTI?

The Oxford Future of Finance and Technology Initiative (OFFTI) is a collaborative effort between Saïd Business School and industry to explore global changes in business, policy and society in relation to technology disruption in the finance industry.

The finance industry has started to undergo a dramatic change in the past few years, with the rise of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, and implementation of new regulations such as open banking. The goal of this research initiative is to generate cutting edge findings, policy lessons and best industry practices regarding innovation in the financial sector.

Key research questions

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Perspective:

  • What are the strategies and challenges of fintech firms entering the financial industry to improve consumers’ financial wellness and reduce inequality?
  • How do these fintechs overcome the financial, regulatory, and cultural barriers that prevent them from reaching their market potential? 
  • Are there business model and regional policy differences that enable easier growth?
  • How are successful entrepreneurial business models using AI in finance?
  • What unique challenges does AI pose for entrepreneurial firms in finance?

Corporate Renewal Perspective:

  • How are industry incumbents responding to open banking and open finance initiatives around the world?
  • What are the ways in which local and global incumbents collaborate versus compete with innovative market entrants in finance?
  • What are the IT and organisational differences across incumbents that enable a smoother shift to more innovative services?
  • How are big tech platforms entering regulated markets such as finance, and how does this affect the competitive landscape?

Policy Perspective:

  • Which government policies and implementation schemes help fintech firms and incumbents innovate to improve financial wellness in society?
  • How can cross-country initiatives spread best practice in policy and implementation to enable a smoother transition to open banking around the world?
  • How do varying customer data regulations have implications for AI-based innovation?
  • What are best practices in establishing data and regulation sandboxes for AI start-ups?

Research team

Core research team

Led by Professor Pinar Ozcan, the following faculty members actively manage research projects within the initiative.

Pinar Ozcan

Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation/ OFFTI Academic Director

Thomas Hellmann

DP World Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Alan Morrison

Professor of Law and Finance

Eero Vaara

Professor in Organizations and Impact

Supporting faculty and associates

The following members of the Oxford Saïd academic community support the initiative via participation in research projects or dissemination of teaching and research content.

Martin Schmalz

Associate Professor of Finance

Michael Smets

Professor of Management

David Shrier

Associate Fellow

Peter Tufano

Peter Moores Dean and Professor of Finance

Marc Ventresca

Associate Professor of Strategic Management

Nir Vulkan

Associate Professor of Business Economics

University-wide collaborators

Vili Lehdonvirta

Associate Professor, Oxford Internet Institute

Gina Neff

Associate Professor, Oxford Internet Institute

Partners

Invitation to partner with Saïd Business School

We invite your organisation to engage with this ambitious research programme around the future of finance and technology. This is a unique approach to applied research that will create strong and lasting partnerships between academics and industry.

If you have any questions about how to get involved as a partner with us on this initiative, please contact tom.childs@sbs.ox.ac.uk.