The highly anticipated Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) 2024 officially kicked off today with a powerful focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Technology. Now in its ninth edition, the festival is showcasing groundbreaking advancements in financial technology, creating a collaborative space for policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to explore how these technologies are reshaping the financial landscape and addressing global challenges.
This year, the festival is highlighting critical themes such as decarbonization, scaling digital assets, enhancing cross-border payment efficiency, and promoting financial inclusion. Through these focus areas, SFF 2024 is emphasizing how FinTech can provide solutions to today’s most pressing economic, environmental, and social issues.
In the lead-up to today’s main events, SFF hosted the exclusive Insights Forum from 04 to 05 November 2024, where prominent figures from both the public and private sectors gathered to discuss the future of financial infrastructure and sustainable development. The forum featured the inaugural Layer One Summit, which promoted dialogue on advancing financial infrastructure, as well as the Green Circle Climate Forum, which brought together corporate leaders, NGOs, and financial experts to address the challenges of building high-quality carbon markets. The forum also included public-private roundtables, generating actionable insights into sustainability, finance, and innovation.
The Innovation Lab Crawl, held from 04 to 05 November 2024, provided attendees a firsthand look at pioneering projects from 16 FinTech organizations, such as the Visa Innovation Centre, Bank Julius Baer Launchpad, and NUS FinTech Lab. These labs showcased emerging technologies that could redefine the financial sector, giving attendees a taste of what’s to come throughout the festival.
Today’s conference sessions are diving into six major themes that capture the festival’s commitment to driving change in FinTech. One key theme, the AI and Quantum Roadmap, focuses on responsibly advancing AI and quantum technology for financial services, including discussions on managing associated risks. The Blueprint for Digital Assets theme will explore the growth of digital assets, focusing on scalability, interoperability, and secure regulatory frameworks.
The theme Next-Gen Transactions examines global payment gaps and highlights tech-driven innovations that facilitate efficient cross-border payment solutions. Meanwhile, Sustainability in Action brings discussions on climate technology, climate data, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings, emphasizing the role of FinTech in global decarbonization efforts. The Bridging the Financial Inclusion Gap theme will tackle strategies for improving financial access in underserved communities by leveraging technology, policies, and partnerships. Finally, Talent of Tomorrow is addressing how Generative AI is reshaping roles, skill sets, and career paths within financial services, with expert panels discussing essential skills and the evolving talent landscape in FinTech.
SFF 2024’s exhibition halls are bustling with activity, hosting over 600 exhibitors and 41 international pavilions across five thematic zones: Technology, Founders and Investors, ESG, Regulation, and Talent. Each zone showcases innovative solutions and hosts dialogues that are essential for shaping the future of financial services.
For attendees looking to build on their expertise, SFF 2024 has introduced six new certification programs from Elevandi Education and various professional development partners. Among these is the Leadership in the Future of Finance program, created by BondbloX, Elevandi Education, and the Singapore FinTech Association. This program provides executives with insights into AI, digital assets, and sustainability, guiding them through the key forces shaping the future of finance.
Opnendu Mohanty, Chief FinTech Officer of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and CEO Designate of the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) commented on the festival’s significance, stating, “SFF 2024 is a vital platform for uniting innovators, industry leaders, and policymakers to architect a resilient and inclusive digital economy.”
Paul Lee, Chief Executive of Markets at Constellar, also emphasized the timeliness of the event, saying, “With AI solutions doubling in presence this year, SFF 2024 offers attendees an extensive showcase of tools for building business resilience in today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape.”
Organized by MAS, GFTN, and Constellar in partnership with the Association of Banks in Singapore, SFF 2024 continues through 08 November 2024.