key laboratory

Introduction

The Ningbo Key Lab of FinTech Governance and Innovation Mechanisms is a high-level research platform established in response to the national FinTech strategy, the requirements for building Zhejiang Province into a demonstration zone for Common Prosperity, also serves the “Golden Torch” FinTech initiative. The lab focuses on compliance and technological bottlenecks in areas such as cross-border finance and digital innovation, and is committed to solving real-world challenges such as data silos, credit assessment, risk pricing, and financial security through cutting-edge research, providing key intellectual support for the development of regional FinTech.The core mission of the lab is to bridge the gap in collaborative innovation among government, industry, academia, and research, deeply integrating national strategy of "Five Key Areas of Finance" with local practices. By researching cutting-edge technologies such as regulatory technology and privacy computing, the lab focuses on strengthening financial risk prevention and control capabilities, optimizing financial services for technology-based enterprises throughout their entire lifecycle, thereby empowering Ningbo's development as a "Global Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Hub" while improving the FinTech ecosystem of the Yangtze River Delta.

The core strengths of the lab lie in its internationalization, interdisciplinary nature, and strong practical application. Leveraging the global network and research capabilities of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, we have assembled an elite team that integrates local policy experts with international scholars, ensuring that our research combines an international perspective with local insights. The team possesses solid policy-making experience and a rich foundation in social science research, providing long-term policy advice to governments at all levels. Simultaneously, the laboratory is deeply integrated into local industries, promoting the efficient transformation and application of research findings through substantive cooperation with leading enterprises and financial institutions, as well as innovation and entrepreneurship incubation practices.

The Ningbo Key Lab of FinTech Governance and Innovation Mechanisms is committed to becoming a FinTech think tank and innovation hub with significant influence in the Yangtze River Delta region. It aims to drive high-quality decision-making through high-level research, serve local development with international resources, and continuously contribute wisdom and strength to the modernization of the national FinTech governance system and the high-quality development of the regional economy.

Research Positioning

Ningbo FinTech Governance and Innovation Mechanisms Key Laboratory closely aligns with the national strategy of "Five Key Areas of Finance" and focuses on cutting-edge initiatives such as Ningbo's "Golden Torch" FinTech Special Action. It is dedicated to addressing core challenges in regional FinTech development, including financing difficulties, risk prevention and control, cross-border compliance, and digital regulation, aiming to build a regional FinTech ‘think tank engine’.

Research Objectives

The lab focuses not only on the development of financial technology itself but also emphasizes its deep integration with scientific and technological innovation mechanisms. Through explorations in financial data governance, intelligent risk control models, and platform-based resource orchestration, the laboratory aims to break down barriers between technological elements and financial services, achieving a virtuous cycle of "promoting finance through technology and fostering innovation with finance." This interdisciplinary integration mechanism not only drives the intellectualization and inclusiveness of financial services but also injects new momentum into local industrial upgrading and the development of the digital economy.

Research Foundation

In terms of hardware infrastructure, the lab leverages the Nottingham Fintech Lab, the Digital Business and Analytics Lab, the Microsoft Imagine Academy program Membership, and the Digital Future Lab. It is equipped with high-performance computers, Bloomberg Terminals, AR/VR setups, and AI computing platforms, establishing itself as a nationally leading interdisciplinary research platform. These facilities not only support the collection, modeling, and empirical research of financial data but also enable rapid translation of scientific research into applicable innovative solutions.

Experts 

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Prof Martin J. Liu

Director of the Lab

Professor in Marketing and Innovation

Research areas: digital innovation, market strategy

PI of Natural Science Foundation Projects from national, provincial and municipal levels

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Prof Xiaolan Zheng

Chief Specialist of the Lab

Professor of Finance

Research areas: capital structure, corporate governance, bank credit, digital innovation, international finance

PI of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Project

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Dr Yuxin Zhang

Secretary General of the Lab

Associate Professor in Finance

Research areas: Household Finance, FinTech, Macro Finance

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Projects

  • Research on Platform-based FinTech and Digital Resource Orchestration Mechanism  
  • FinTech Facilitates Innovation in Corporate Financing Models and the Construction of Intelligent Platforms
  • Policy Experimentation and Regional FinTech Ecosystem
  • FinTech-Driven Financial Market Forecasting and Risk Assessment
  • Research on the Global Supply Chain Transmission Mechanism of China's Institutional Innovation Empowered by FinTech