The Luxembourg School of Finance hosted its third annual Finance & Technology Symposium on 4 June, focusing on numerous topic related to technology-enhanced data analytics.
The symposium generated a lively and constructive discussion on whether and to what extent innovative technological solutions can assist in finding the information we actually need from the big quantity of data that we have available.
The first keynote presentation was given by Prof. Ulf von Lilienfeld-Toal (LSF). It provided a detailed introductory lecture on the practicalities of machine learning (ML) techniques, concluding that ML applications for data analytics need to be carefully considered and designed. Depending on the analytical context, ML techniques can reinforce learning from existing data patterns. They could, however, also strengthen self-fulfilling prophecies, leading toward discriminating potentially valid results. The following panel discussion therefore led the debate toward exploring ways to distinguish between “good” and “bad” information, putting emphasis on the usage and validation of different data sources. The panel discussion was moderated by Julian Presber (LSF) and supported by Ziv Baida (Sales Leader, Dun & Bradstreet Benelux), Luc Neuberg (CEO of BCEE Asset Management), and Radu State (Senior Researcher, Head of SEDAN Group, SnT).
The keynote presentation was given by Kris Wulteputte (CRO & SVP, State Street Bank International GmbH), driving the discussion toward a practice-oriented view on data management and on the role of big data in decision making. As Mr Wulteputte stressed, using alternative data sources and artificial intelligence techniques to support decision making is not a new phenomenon at all. It is the pressure that is generated by the exponentially increasing amount of information that paralyzes the decision making. Industry needs skilled knowledge in data governance to leverage the true potential of the available, multiple data sources. The following panel discussion illustrated these findings with concrete examples, with special emphasis on cases taken from wealth management and private banking. The discussion was moderated by Mark Boeschen (manager magazin) and supported by Simon Hayotte (Project Manager, Finologee), Olivier Merlan (Deputy CEO of iDetect), and Achim Unger (Head of Advisory, Deutsche Bank Wealth Management, Luxembourg).
The event was chaired by Dr Zsofia Kräussl who specialises in finance and technology at the LSF. We would like to thank all of our speakers and guests for their interest and participation. The third edition of the Finance & Technology Symposium was yet another milestone for the LSF’s long-term strategy on starting a constructive and scientifically-grounded discussion on the impact and consequences of financial innovation.
Further events on this topic will follow in future.
Group picture: Radu State (SnT), Olivier Merlan (iDetect), Ziv Baida (Dun & Bradstreet), Simon Hayotte (Finologee), Julian Presber (LSF), Zsofia Kräussl (LSF), Luc Neuberg (BCEE), Ulf von Lilienfeld-Toal (LSF), Mark Boeschen (Manager Magazin), Kris Wulteputte (State Street Bank International).