The University of Twene is associated to multiple research projects in the space of AI & Finance. Research projects still in early stages are listed below.
Next genESG - Raising Awareness of the Next Generation on ESG
The Next genESG initiative is driven by a strong motivation to instil social and environmental responsibility within academic institutions. It addresses urgent global challenges, including ecological sustainability, social equity, and ethical corporate governance. By empowering the next generation with knowledge and skills to navigate these challenges, it contributes to climate action, social inclusion, and responsible business practices. Aligned with EU policies like the Green Deal and global initiatives such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this project is a forward-looking investment in education, sustainability, and social equity, deserving of funding and support.
The Next genESG project's general objective is to support the comprehensive growth of individuals in education and training, aligning with lifelong learning principles. The project prioritises:
- Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth, and sport
- Stimulating innovative learning and teaching practices
- Supporting innovation and entrepreneurial skills of students
The Next genESG project is led by Yildiz Technical University, with the University of Twente participating as a partner. The project is currently awaiting funding approval from the EU.
Sustainable Investments Digital Assessment and Compliance Enhancement
In the evolving landscape of private finance, particularly in the private credit market, there exists a pronounced gap in the effective utilization of digital technologies to foster sustainable investment practices. Despite the increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability and the European Union's commitment to sustainable finance principles, institutional investors face challenges in integrating these principles into their investment strategies, particularly in sectors not fully covered by the EU taxonomy. This gap is primarily caused by the lack of advanced, real-time analytical tools capable of assessing and enhancing sustainability in investment portfolios.
SINDACE (Sustainable Investments Digital Assessment and Compliance Enhancement) emerges as a response to this critical need. It proposes to demonstrate the value and effectiveness of Machine Learning (ML)-driven platforms tailored to the needs of private capital market investors. These platforms could be designed, altered and evolved to facilitate the automated assessment of risks and sustainability, leveraging the power of data engineering and real-time analytics. This initiative is particularly relevant in the context of sustainable energy investments, where the complexities of energy efficiency and the risk of greenwashing require sophisticated, data-driven analysis.
SINDACE aims to impact four different areas:
- Automated Risk and Sustainability Assessments: SINDACE's exploration and and presentation of advanced ML platforms enabling automated risk and sustainability assessments would lead towards a more robust and reliable evaluation of sustainable investments. This aligns with the expected impact of the call to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of sustainable investment evaluations.
- Enhanced and Automated Sustainability Reporting: The project’s objectives for enhancing and automating sustainability reporting resonate with the call's expected impact of improving transparency and accountability in sustainable investments, thus fostering confidence among investors.
- Facilitating Uptake of Green Products in Private Capital Markets: By providing tools and platforms for granular analysis and decision aiding, SINDACE directly contributes to the expected impact of the call, which is to facilitate the confident uptake of green products in private capital markets.
- Consortium's Experience and Dissemination Activities: The consortium's prior experience and planned activities for dissemination, policy support, and stakeholder engagement further ensure that the project will have a wide-reaching impact, as envisioned in the call.
The University of Twente is a participant in the SINDACE project, which is currently awaiting funding approval from the EU.