NTU Singapore Unveils Global Institute to Bridge AI, Finance and Society
Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University has established a new university-wide research hub dedicated to exploring the complex interplay between artificial intelligence, financial systems and broader societal dynamics. The Global Institute of Finance, Technology, and Society, known as GIFTS, was formally launched on 30 May 2026 during the finale of the Nanyang Business School’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
The institute, jointly founded by NTU’s Nanyang Business School and College of Computing and Data Science, positions the university as a leading Asia-based platform for interdisciplinary inquiry into how AI agents, regulators, firms, households and investors interact under conditions of market stress, regulatory change, supply-chain disruption and emerging digital risks.
Leadership and Institutional Structure
Professor Lin William Cong, President’s Chair Professor of Finance at Nanyang Business School, has been appointed to lead GIFTS. The institute operates as a university-wide entity, drawing faculty affiliates from across data science, computer science, economics, finance, law, sustainability, entrepreneurship and engineering.
Its governance framework emphasises collaboration between NBS and CCDS while maintaining strong links with external partners in industry, government and academia. Short-term priorities include the appointment of core staff, the launch of flagship research initiatives and the establishment of an annual GIFTS Summit.
Research Priorities and Flagship Initiatives
GIFTS organises its work around three broad clusters: AI and economic systems, digital assets and fintech governance, and the societal implications of technological change in finance. A central project is the Economic World Model, an ambitious effort to simulate complex interactions among economic agents in real time.
Additional laboratories will examine AI-driven market microstructure, regulatory technology, digital-asset ecosystems and the behavioural responses of households and firms to algorithmic decision-making. The institute also plans an Eminent Scholar Lecture series and a winter institute in partnership with the Asian Bureau of Finance and Economic Research.
Context Within Singapore’s Higher-Education Landscape
The launch reinforces NTU’s strategic emphasis on interdisciplinary research that aligns with national priorities in digital economy development and financial-sector resilience. Singapore’s Ministry of Education and regulatory bodies have long encouraged universities to produce applied research that informs policy and industry practice.
GIFTS joins a growing portfolio of NTU centres focused on sustainability, quantum technologies and biomedical innovation, further strengthening the university’s position in global rankings for research impact and industry collaboration.
Implications for Talent Development and Policy Engagement
Beyond pure research, GIFTS will contribute to curriculum development, executive education and talent pipelines in AI-augmented finance. Programmes are expected to equip students and professionals with skills in algorithmic trading, regulatory compliance technology and ethical AI deployment.
Policy engagement forms a core mandate. Researchers will provide evidence-based input to Singapore’s Monetary Authority, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and international bodies on topics ranging from stablecoin regulation to AI-induced systemic risk.
Global Partnerships and Comparative Positioning
The institute has already begun conversations with leading universities in Asia, Europe and North America, as well as fintech firms and multilateral organisations. These collaborations aim to create shared datasets, joint PhD tracks and cross-border policy dialogues.
By situating itself in Singapore, GIFTS benefits from the city-state’s role as a global financial hub and its reputation for regulatory foresight, offering a distinctive vantage point compared with institutes based primarily in the United States or Europe.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Building a truly interdisciplinary institute requires sustained investment in shared infrastructure, data governance frameworks and mechanisms for translating academic findings into actionable policy recommendations. GIFTS will need to navigate tensions between open scientific inquiry and the proprietary nature of financial data.
At the same time, the rapid evolution of generative AI and decentralised finance creates a timely window for the institute to shape emerging standards rather than merely react to them.
Stakeholder Perspectives
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who officiated at the launch, highlighted the importance of understanding AI’s effects on market stability and consumer protection. NTU President Professor Ho Teck Hua described GIFTS as a strategic investment in the university’s long-term research excellence.
Industry observers note that the institute’s location within a leading business school provides direct channels to practitioners, while its computing and data-science partnership ensures technical depth.
Photo by Nitin Mathew on Unsplash
Future Outlook
Over the next three to five years, GIFTS is expected to produce a steady stream of peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs and open-source modelling tools. Its success will be measured not only by academic citations but also by measurable influence on regulatory frameworks and industry standards in Singapore and the wider region.
The institute’s emphasis on societal impact aligns with broader national goals of building a trusted, inclusive digital economy that harnesses AI while mitigating its risks.
