As a top financial hub of Canada and one of the 10 best financial centers in the world The Grand Toronto Region is positioned to be a leader in financial technology or financial technologies, innovations that quickly reshape the financial services sector.
Companies such as Fundthrough, Koho, Purpose Investments and Onevest – all founded or co -founded by the alumni of the University of Toronto – contribute to the Fintech ecosystem in the region and provide a range of services for businesses and customers.
Now in its seventh year at the Rotman School of Management of the U of T, The Financial Innovation Hub in Advanced Analytics (Finhub) Provides an ideal forum for researchers, students, startups and industry to develop the expertise necessary to stimulate continuous innovation in the sector and take advantage of advanced research to meet the practical challenges of the industry.
Susan Christoffersen, dean of the Rotman School, spoke with the business leaders of the University’s contribution to the region’s financial services sector at the Toronto Région Board of Trade (TROb) February 4. Fintech summit .
U of T News recently met Christoffersen before the event to find out more about the evolution of the sector, the importance of collaboration, how Rotman and Finhub prepare for ready -to -use students – and what comes next.
What is fintech and what impact on consumers and businesses?
Fintech uses digital technologies to provide financial services. It can be seen in two ways. First of all, as a customer -oriented technology that provides a range of services and opportunities for users and banking customers. For example, the mobile bank allows customers to manage their bank accounts on a mobile device. Robo-advisers use algorithms to manage investments. Open Banking gives customers control their financial data.
Second, Fintech concerns the development of new technologies and the transformation of the financial services sector. Artificial intelligence (AI) resumes the sector by improving efficiency, improving decision -making, managing risks and stimulating innovation. Although technology has always played an important role in the sector, there has been a significant acceleration in the past decade.
There are more changes on the horizon. The way in which financial transactions will be carried out as financial institutions and the emergence of intermediate service providers. So that students wish to work in commercial banking services, capital markets or in fintech, Rotman and Finhub companies prepare them for technologies that will come, the tools they need and the structural changes they will see, so that ‘They can adapt and succeed.
Toronto being the second largest financial center in North America, what does Rotman benefit-and does it contribute to the Fintech sector in the region?
Being in a large financial center as Toronto has an important opportunity to create a robust fintech ecosystem. This is particularly true when you associate the expertise of the industry of our financial institutions with exceptional talents, research and innovation from universities.
Due to our location, our researchers can easily connect with academics and professionals in a wide range of fields to meet industry challenges. Thanks to Finhub, we were able to associate with several banks, Optrust, the Bank of Canada and the Global Risk Institute to name just a few.
While the Toronto financial services sector faces many technological and economic challenges, Rotman has incredible instructors who are both technologically informed and have a deep understanding of the financial markets. A large part of the Toronto AI and technology talents have been maintained and trained in U regulatory organizations of T.
Finhub is a collaboration between three divisions of the U of T – Rotman, the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Engineering and the Department of Computer Science at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Why is collaboration critical for researchers, students and industry partners?
Finhub is intentionally collaborative because the technological problems we are trying to solve are complex, requiring multiple facets expertise. We provide a forum for academics, researchers, students, investors and the industry with many disciplines to converge and collaborate. This collaborative culture helps us to carry out the highest aspirations of a business school, which consists in solving real problems.
Recent projects by Finhub researchers Include the use of large languages models to scan news for financial markets in order to predict macro trends. It also includes the improvement of coverage options with AI, the redesign of the payment markets with the blockchain and the Banque de Canada advice on a digital currency issued by the bank.
THE Creative destruction laboratory (CDL) is another example of an initiative launched at Rotman according to this spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration. The CDL contributes considerably to the Toronto Fintech ecosystem by focusing on innovation and helping businesses to evolve. The proximity of Finhub with CDL helps to arouse collaboration between researchers, industry and innovators in AI and blockchain. It also helps attract people to the ecosystem, which generates new ideas. This is where magic occurs.
As vice-dean, you have led the creation of the Rotman financial risk management program. How does this program evolve to meet the needs of industry and students?
OUR Master in Financial Risk Management (MFRM) was created in response to the 2008 financial crisis. A few years after the launch of the program in 2016, AI took off and the Fintech also emerged. Guided by our advisory advice including industry specialists, we have joined AI, automatic learning (ML), blockchain, regtech and coding in the program. Although a relatively new program, it was important that we adapt the program to meet the needs of industry and students. In 2025, The program was classified first in Canada and 18th in the world by QS .
Internships are a key element of the MFRM program. Students can work with risk managers in regulatory organizations, banks and pension funds, to support their apprenticeship. Recently, Fintech companies have shown interest in working with our students on specific problems, stressing the demand for talent.
The Board of Trade in the Toronto region claims that the region is ready to become an even more important financial center on the world scene. What is necessary to achieve this ambition?
Toronto is a solid financial center, the expertise and talent necessary to stimulate the continuous growth of the sector. However, we cannot be complacent. Other jurisdictions are investing strongly in AI and other emerging technologies, making Fintech services available to customers and integrating technology into market design.
To maintain the Robust Toronto Fintech Fintech Fintech, decision -makers must work to eliminate obstacles and advance policies that encourage investments, keep and build our local talents and support entrepreneurs to stay in Canada.
For those who want to know more, Finhub hosts ” Unlock the future of finance “March 31 to explore how AI, ML and other emerging technologies transform the sector.
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