If you snooze, you lose. It’s a cliché for a reason.

The unspoken rule that applies everywhere, especially in the financial world, where falling behind even for a moment can mean being left out of the next big wave of innovation.

Like every other technology-driven sector, finance is evolving at breakneck speed. Every day brings new advances. Just take a look at how artificial intelligence took off.

Not just that, things like cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and data analytics are all aimed at making financial services faster, safer, and more accessible.

In this race to innovate, one thing has become clear. No single player can move the industry forward alone. Collaboration between innovators, educators, and policymakers is what keeps progress sustainable.

A Place Where Fintech Ideas Begin

As digital finance becomes more complex and interconnected, Singapore’s fintech sector needs not only technical expertise. The country also needs some sort of leadership that understands the balance between innovation and regulation.

Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU) has steadily built its reputation as one of the country’s leading academic centres for fintech thought leadership.

Through its research, partnerships, and postgraduate education programmes, NTU’s very own School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS) contributes to the national effort to maintain Singapore’s competitive edge in the financial technology arena.

The school plays an active role in connecting technologists, regulators, and financial institutions. It drives discussions on using technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and digital assets in a responsible and sustainable way.

Associate Professor Patrick Pun Chi Seng, Assistant Chair (MSc Programmes) at NTU SPMS, believes that universities have a critical role to play in translating research and education into real-world value.

“Our MSc in Financial Technology graduates are equipped to excel in the fast-evolving digital finance sector, combining strong analytical foundations with hands-on industry experience,” he said.

For SPMS, thought leadership is not limited to academic research. It is about bringing people together to explore practical questions.

Questions like how regulation can support innovation, how technology can expand financial inclusion, and how education can prepare talent for an industry that is constantly being redefined.

NTU FinTech Industry Day 2025, A Day That Brings Fintech Ideas to Life

Taking place on 21 November 2025 at NTU’s School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, the NTU FinTech Industry Day 2025 will bring together academics, industry leaders, and regulators to meet on equal footing.

Supported by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Singapore Fintech Association (SFA), the event reflects Singapore’s broader approach to innovation. One that is often rooted in dialogue, experimentation, and shared goals.

The day will open with an address by Associate Professor Patrick Pun Chi Seng. It is then followed by a keynote speech from Mr Kenneth Gay, Chief Fintech Officer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Both of these discussions will set the tone for a day focused on collaboration, sustainability, and the continued evolution of digital finance.

Professor Boh Wai Fong, NTU’s Vice President (Lifelong Learning and Alumni Engagement), will deliver the University Spotlight Talk. He will offer insights into how lifelong learning and upskilling are becoming central to the fintech profession.

At the heart of the event, Associate Professor Patrick Pun will moderate a panel featuring influential speakers from across the industry.

Joining him on stage will be Mr Alvinder Singh, Head of the Innovation Acceleration Office at MAS, Professor Boh Wai Fong, Ms Holly Fang, President of the Singapore Fintech Association, and Mr Lim Keng Swee, Head of Product Management and Country Head for Singapore at Fiuu.

Together, they will explore how innovation, education, and policy can move in step to support Singapore’s fintech growth.

Beyond the panel, the Industry Spotlight sessions will feature insights from companies such as AXS, Fintech News Network, Marex Group, and UOB Kay Hian.

These sessions will explore real-world innovation trends, including new digital payment models. They will also look at how consumer and regulatory expectations are evolving.

Not only that, more than twenty companies will take part in the networking and showcase sessions. The list includes EY, Huawei, Citadel, GfK, Global Fintech Institute, Murex, Prime Asia Asset Management, QuantEdge, and Monee.

Below is the full lineup of speakers and sessions:

Developing Future-Ready Fintech Talent

While events like NTU FinTech Industry Day showcase collaboration in action, SPMS’s long-term impact lies in the graduates it produces. Its Master of Science in Financial Technology (MSFT) programme is central to that mission.

NTU designed the MSFT curriculum around data science, artificial intelligence, and information technology. It is a programme that helps students build the knowledge and confidence to thrive in a rapidly evolving finance landscape.

Students taking part in the programme will learn the technologies that are rewriting the rules of finance, including robo-advisors, automation, blockchain, and digital platforms.

The programme blends rigorous theory with hands-on learning. Through this mix, students will develop the skills and confidence to succeed in the industry.

The school works closely with banks, tech companies, and regulators to bridge theory and practice. Through these partnerships, NTU SPMS hopes that its students gain hands-on exposure to real industry challenges.

Enrolling students will also be working on applied research projects, internships, and case studies that address current industry challenges.

For Associate Professor Pun, this combination of skills and exposure is what sets NTU SPMS graduates apart. They leave not just with an understanding of financial theory or coding techniques but with the ability to bridge both worlds.

The approach reflects NTU’s broader goal of nurturing future-ready talent. One who can lead digital transformation across banks, startups, and regulatory bodies.

Keeping Singapore Ahead in the Global Fintech Race

Singapore has long been recognised as one of the world’s most advanced fintech hubs. Its success stems from a deliberate blend of innovation, regulatory foresight, and investment in talent.

As the digital finance ecosystem continues to grow, the collaboration between academia, industry, and regulators will become even more essential.

NTU SPMS’s efforts in this space highlight how universities can play a catalytic role.

The university encourages open discussion, applies research to real-world problems, and develops graduates with the skills industry needs. Together, these actions strengthen Singapore’s position as a leader in fintech.

NTU FinTech Industry Day 2025 is more than a networking event. It is a reflection of an ecosystem working together to chart the next chapter of financial innovation.

Efforts like these show how NTU SPMS is turning collaboration and innovation into action. The school is helping Singapore shape the future of finance through the partnerships it forges.

Interested? Register for the NTU FinTech Industry Day 2025 here:

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore based on an image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik and Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU).