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(Hong Kong, 3 November 2021) The University of Hong Kong - Standard Chartered Hong Kong 150th Anniversary Community Foundation FinTech Academy (HKU-SCF FinTech Academy), Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), and Cyberport jointly announced today at the Hong Kong FinTech Week 2021 a partnership to conduct a FinTech Talent Study (the Study), examining the current and upcoming demand of FinTech talents for financial services industry in Hong Kong. The Study will also explore the challenges and supports needed from the market related to FinTech talents, and provide an overview of its current supply.

To echo with the “Fintech 2025” Strategy unveiled by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Study will certainly double down the efforts to chart the route to a FinTech future and maintain Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international financial centre.

This industry-wide Study is expected to engage over 200 organisations ranging from large enterprises to SMEs, covering not only “traditional” financial sectors such as Banking, Payment Solution and Cybersecurity, but also digital-native FinTech companies such as InsurTech, RegTech, FinTech for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) companies and start-ups, and virtual banks. It will also conduct deep-dive focus groups with industry professionals and company executives to identify employers’ needs and support required for FinTech talent development, as well as their perception and preference to local FinTech talents.

FinTech is not only driving innovation in financial services globally, but also changing the talent requirement and driving demand for FinTech talents. In light of the rapid technological advancement and shortage of talents in the sector, acquiring the right talent and expanding the talent pool become more essential to business growth. The Study is expected to offer in-depth insights into the importance of technical and professional competencies to the FinTech talent development in the city. It will also serve as a guide for the financial industry and education sector to set up long-term talent development strategy and give direction to address the FinTech talent gap.

Professor Tak-Wah Lam, Executive Director of the HKU-SCF FinTech Academy and Head of Department of Computer Science in HKU, said, “HKU has a world-class research team in FinTech and is devoted to groom FinTech talents through interdisciplinary FinTech programmes and the HKU-SCF FinTech Academy. This Study will enable us to deep dive into the core competencies in FinTech as demanded by the Financial industry and to gain the insights to develop better FinTech curricula and shape the future for FinTech talents.”

Mr Edmond Lai, Chief Digital Officer of HKPC, said, “FinTech has evolved as one of the most impactful digital transformation financial trends. Financial SMEs and start-ups have to reorient their strategies to attract, retain and nurture FinTech talents in order to benefit from this trend and seize opportunities for business growth. Through this Study, HKPC aims to facilitate Hong Kong’s FinTech talent development and transformation into a global FinTech hub. HKPC is also committed to nurturing talents, providing FutureSkills development courses and training programmes for employees to achieve self-enhancement for innovation and transformation, and for companies to cope with future talent demand.”

Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport, said, “Cyberport is committed to fostering the FinTech development of Hong Kong and supports FinTech talent nurturing. Our talent cultivation initiatives include the ‘Cyberport University Partnership Programme’, ‘Financial Practitioners FinTech Training Programme’, ‘FinTech Anti-epidemic Scheme for Talent Development’ as well as internship and training programs. This Study will help the industry identify FinTech talent needs and ensure effectiveness of our talent cultivation effort to better serve the industry. We are delighted to see that the Study will cover start-ups. The insights will help higher education institutions and professional bodies develop respective curriculums. It will facilitate the talent acquisition of start-ups for their scale up journey.”

The report of the Study is targeted to be completed in the first quarter of 2022. For more information, please contact the HKU-SCF FinTech Academy at fintechacademy@cs.hku.hk.

The second HKU-SCF FinTech Academy Scholarship Presentation Ceremony also took place at the same occasion. This year, a total of 11 HKU students with outstanding academic performance in Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Financial Technology [BASc(FinTech)] , Master of Science in Financial Technology Data Analytics [MSc(FTDA)] and Master of Science in Computer Science (Financial Computing Stream) [MSc(Cs) Financial Computing Stream] have been awarded with scholarships from the Academy. Undergraduate students will receive an entrance scholarship of HK$50,000, while postgraduate students will receive HK$60,000. These scholarships in FinTech is one of the initiatives of the HKU-SCF FinTech Academy established in April 2020 with a HK$60M support from the Standard Chartered Hong Kong 150th Anniversary Community Foundation.

About The University of Hong Kong - Standard Chartered Hong Kong 150th Anniversary Community Foundation FinTech Academy
The University of Hong Kong - Standard Chartered Hong Kong 150th Anniversary Community Foundation FinTech Academy ("the HKU-SCF FinTech Academy") was established in April 2020 with a mission to make a sustainable impact in FinTech by grooming world-class talents and leading innovative research to further strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre. Through a commitment of HK$60 million from the Standard Chartered Hong Kong 150th Anniversary Community Foundation, the HKU-SCF FinTech Academy is steered by Faculty of Engineering, with support from Faculty of Law as well as Faculty of Business & Economics of The University of Hong Kong.

For more information about the HKU-SCF FinTech Academy, please refer to this website: https://fintechacademy.cs.hku.hk

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Edith Yiu, Executive Manager, HKU-SCF FinTech Academy (tel: 2859 2183, email: edithyiu@cs.hku.hk)
Ms Melanie Wan, Communication and Public Affairs Office (tel: 2859 2600, email: melwkwan@hku.hk)

About Hong Kong Productivity Council
The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a multi-disciplinary organisation established by statute in 1967, to promote productivity excellence through relentless drive of world-class integrated advanced technologies and innovative service offerings to support Hong Kong enterprises. Being a key enabler and catalyst of innovation, applied technology and value creation, HKPC facilitates Hong Kong’s reindustrialisation empowered by Industry 4.0 and Enterprise 4.0, as well as to develop smart and green living applications for bolstering Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub and a smart city.

The Council is a trusted partner with comprehensive innovative solutions for Hong Kong industries and enterprises, enabling them to achieve resources and productivity utilisation, effectiveness and cost reduction, and enhance competitiveness in both local and international marketplace. It offers SMEs and startups immediate and timely assistance in coping with the ever-changing business environment, accompanying them on their innovation and transformation journey. Moreover, a variety of FutureSkills training are offered for enterprises to upskill and nurture talents with digital capabilities and STEM competencies to enhance their competitive edge.

In addition, HKPC partners and collaborates with local industries and enterprises and world-class R&D institutes to develop applied technology solutions for value creation. It also benefits a variety of sectors through product innovation and technology transfer, with commercialisation of multiple market-driven patents and technologies, bringing enormous opportunities abound for licensing and technology transfer, both locally and internationally.

For more information, please visit HKPC‘s website: www.hkpc.org.

Media Enquiry
Corporate Communications Unit
Corporate Development Division
Hong Kong Productivity Council
Tel:  (+852) 2788 5833
Email: mediacentre@hkpc.org

About Cyberport
Cyberport is an innovative digital community with over 800 on-site start-ups and technology companies. It is management by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, which is wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government. With a vision to be the hub for digital technology thereby creating a new economic driver for Hong Kong, Cyberport is committed to nurturing a vibrant tech ecosystem by cultivating talent, promoting entrepreneurship among youth, supporting start-ups on their growth journey, fostering industry development by promoting strategic collaboration with local and international partners, and integrating new and traditional economies by accelerating digital transformation in the public and private sectors.

For more information, please visit www.cyberport.hk.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr Billy Ng, Senior Manager, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, Hong Kong Cyberport (Tel: 3166-3613, email: billyng@cyberport.hk)