IA opens applications for FinTech accelerator programme
The Investment Association (IA) today opens applications for its annual Engine Innovator Programme, an accelerator programme launched in 2018. Engine is the IA’s specialist FinTech accelerator and innovation hub for the investment management industry.
The programme supports FinTech firms, developing solutions for investments, operations and distribution. Artificial intelligence and tokenisation are just two of the technologies transforming our sector as we provide expert mentoring and connectivity through the Engine Advisory Panel (as well as support from IA policy experts. The programme culminates with a showcase opportunity at our Global Emergent Technology conference in March 2024.
The Engine Innovator Programme runs alongside the SPARKS programme, that supports the advancement of pre-seed, early-stage initiatives and will open for applications later this month.
In its seventh cohort of the Innovator Programme and the third cohort of SPARKS, Engine has so far supported 34 FinTech firms both nationally and internationally.
Due to the strength of our international relationships and global appetite for innovation, we have already signed of MOUs with 12 key asset management and technology centres. We are delighted to welcome Israel and Switzerland to our Global Partners Programme, and we will continue to seek opportunities to collaborate with priority markets and the very best FinTech solution providers.
Gillian Painter, Head of Membership and Engine, at the Investment Association, said:
“Innovation in investment management is crucial to enhancing the experience for the millions of people we serve across the UK and abroad. I’m therefore excited to open applications for the latest cohorts of Engine’s Innovator Programme and the SPARKS programme; that support the development and application of new technologies within our industry. The programmes provide unique industry insight, training opportunities and mentoring, and the positive impact of past cohorts has already been felt across the industry.”
Applications for the Innovator Programme are now open and close on 11 November, while applications for the SPARKS programme open 18 September and run through 20 October.
To read more about Engine’s Innovator Programme and SPARKS Programme, click here.
For further information, please contact:
Helen Ayres, Head of Communications: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)20 7269 4620
Arianna Schardt, Communications Executive: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)20 7269 4625
Ismail Abdi, Communications Trainee: [email protected]
T: +44 7596 872575
IA press office: [email protected]
About the Investment Association (IA):
- The IA champions UK investment management, supporting British savers, investors and businesses. Our 250 members manage £10 trillion of assets and the investment management industry supports 114,000 jobs across the UK.
- Our mission is to make investment better. Better for clients, so they achieve their financial goals. Better for companies, so they get the capital they need to grow. And better for the economy, so everyone prospers.
- Our purpose is to ensure investment managers are in the best possible position to:
- Build people’s resilience to financial adversity
- Help people achieve their financial aspirations
- Enable people to maintain a decent standard of living as they grow older
- Contribute to economic growth through the efficient allocation of capital.
- The money our members manage is in a wide variety of investment vehicles including authorised investment funds, pension funds and stocks and shares ISAs.
- The UK is the second largest investment management centre in the world, after the US and manages 37% of all assets managed in Europe.
About Engine:
- Engine is the Investment Association’s FinTech hub, launched in 2018.
- Engine’s mission is simple: To fuel the adoption of technology within investment management, for the benefit and changing needs of clients.
- We’re working with 150+ FinTech firms and partners across the investment value chain to open tech-driven possibilities and solve the challenges faced by investment firms, both big and small.
