The FS Club Podcast

In this webinar, we launch the thirteenth edition of the Smart Centres Index (SCI 13). The SCI is designed to track the development of technology and financial centres across the world in their support for and readiness for new technology applications.Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, media, academics, governments, and regulators can attune their cities to attract innovation and growth in Science, Technology, Energy Systems, Machine Learning, Distributed Ledgers, or Fintech. Tuning a city for innovation is complex. Z/Yen began studying successful and unsuccessful business innovation clustering some 15 years ago, and published in 2018 the Smart Jurisdictions Index. Building on the results of that research we have created a novel factor assessment index based on three dimensions - innovation support, creative intensity, and delivery capability.The SCI is designed to track the readiness of business centres across the world to support new technology businesses. The SCI uses assessments from private and public sector individuals, along with over 120 instrumental factors, to rate the centres. This important project that will grow substantially as more people pay attention to the ways centres can help globally innovative businesses thrive in rapidly changing times.

As the global transition toward Net Zero continues to accelerate, sustainable finance is steadily emerging as a key driver influencing capital allocation, investment decisions, and market development. It is also playing an increasingly important role in supporting economic transformation and strengthening financial resilience.

As an important financial hub in Asia, Taiwan has been steadily advancing its sustainable finance agenda in recent years. Notable progress has been made in the development of Taiwan’s ESG bond market, which is commonly referred to as the sustainable bond market, as well as in the strengthening of regulatory frameworks, and closer alignment with international standards. These efforts have helped attract growing interest from global investors and have contributed to the gradual deepening and maturation of Taiwan’s ESG ecosystem.

Co-hosted by the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance (TABF) and the UK-based think tank Z/Yen (FS Club), this webinar brings together the Taipei Exchange (TPEx), global asset management institutions, and leading experts from academia and industry to exchange views on Taiwan’s sustainable finance policy development and market practice, providing a platform for international dialogue.

The discussion will cover the evolution of Taiwan’s sustainable finance policies and market landscape, the development of ESG evaluation frameworks, the outlook for sustainable bond market, and international investor perspectives on Taiwan’s capital market potential, with particular attention to transition finance opportunities arising from industrial decarbonization.

We warmly invite you to join this dialogue, engage with international professionals, and explore Taiwan’s evolving role and future opportunities within the global sustainable finance transition.

The financial sector stands at a pivotal juncture, with rapid advancements in AI, digital infrastructure, tokenisation, and other technologies intersecting with evolving regulatory priorities to redefine competitiveness, innovation, and risk management.

Bob Wigley, Chairman of UK Finance, will deliver a forward-looking perspective on these transformative forces. Drawing from his leadership in shaping financial policy and his involvement in cutting-edge areas, including AI-driven solutions, sustainable finance, and emerging tech ecosystems, he will examine how current developments are influencing financial services, from regulatory adaptations to opportunities for growth and resilience.

This session will explore strategies for navigating tech-driven change, addressing regulatory challenges, and positioning the UK and global finance for the decade ahead, with ample time for audience Q&A.

Invest Seoul is an agency established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to position Seoul as the top choice for global companies and investors, and to serve as a trusted “business partner city” worldwide. Established in October 2025, Invest Seoul focuses on attracting high‑quality global companies and foreign direct investment.

Our core objective is to support overseas investors’ success. By leveraging Seoul’s advanced technology, innovative business ecosystem, and world‑class talent, we assist global companies entering the Seoul market and help promising Seoul‑based businesses expand internationally.

For this webinar, we plan to focus on the following three areas:

1. Introduction to Invest Seoul
2. Invest Seoul’s Roadmap and Key Initiatives
3. Financial Sector Support and Strategic Roles

The seventeenth edition of the China Construction Bank Global Green Finance Index provides the world’s most authoritative measure of the performance of financial centres in delivering green finance services.

The report, assembled by combining the views of financial professionals from around the world, with quantitative data commissioned and curated from over 130 sources, uses advanced statistical techniques to map the global spread of green finance.

Taiwan is advancing its vision to become a leading hub for innovation-driven capital formation in Asia, with the Taiwan Stock Exchange spearheading the development of the Taiwan Innovation Board (tib). Designed to support high-growth and forward-looking enterprises, tib has undergone a series of significant reforms in 2025 aimed at enhancing market accessibility, flexibility, and investor participation. Key measures—including the removal of qualified investor restrictions, the introduction of day trading, relaxed investment limits for Securities Investment Trust Funds, shortened share custody periods for profitable companies, and eased extended underwriting sponsorship requirements—underscore Taiwan’s commitment to aligning its capital market with international practices. These enhancements not only strengthen tib’s market appeal but also lay a solid foundation for Taiwan’s broader ambition of achieving as Asia Innovation Capital.

Aligned with this vision, the Taiwan Stock Exchange, in collaboration with Z/Yen Group, the compiler of the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), is pleased to host this online forum. Bringing together representatives from academia, the startup ecosystem, and tib-listed companies, this webinar will offer a multifaceted perspective on how tib serves as a cornerstone of Taiwan’s Asia Innovation Capital (AIC) strategy. By integrating policy direction with real-world insights, the session aims to demonstrate how capital markets can empower startups, accelerate growth trajectories, and enhance the overall momentum of Taiwan’s industrial development.

We cordially invite professionals and stakeholders interested in capital markets and startup innovation to join us in exploring Taiwan’s journey toward becoming the AIC—a premier destination for high-potential enterprises and a preferred market for innovation-led growth. Together, let us discover how Taiwan is shaping a vibrant, future-ready ecosystem that connects innovation with capital on a global scale.

The Global Financial Centres Index has been tracking the development of the world’s financial centres since 2007 and is the authoritative guide to financial centre success.

In this webinar, Z/Yen will formally launch the 39th edition of the index.

Programme:

09:00 Introduction & Welcome – Hugh Morris

09:05 Opening Remarks - Hugh Morris

09:15 GFCI 39 Results - Mike Wardle, CEO, Z/Yen Group

09:30 Commentary - Hugh Morris

09:35 Q&A

Modern banking is no longer a one-off transformation; it’s a continuous process of evolution.

Financial institutions are modernising core platforms, adopting composable architectures, and embedding AI-driven capabilities, all while responding to regulatory change and rising customer expectations. The challenge is delivering change at speed with confidence.

As programmes become more iterative, aligning business intent, system implementation, and real-world outcomes becomes increasingly complex. Traditional testing alone is no longer enough. Banks need a strategic view of software quality that spans requirements, development, release, and live operations.

In this panel discussion, we explore how financial institutions can modernise at pace while retaining control and confidence. We’ll discuss:

• The forces reshaping modern banking architectures
• How progressive modernisation changes delivery and assurance models
• Why software quality engineering must extend beyond late-stage testing
• How organisations can align quality metrics to business outcomes and regulatory expectations

Join us for a conversation on how to modernise banking platforms with agility, governance, and evidence-based confidence, from strategy through to live customer experience.

In this webinar, the key findings from the research report "The Role Of Finance In Addressing Sustainable Development" will be presented, highlighting critical pathways for advancing transition finance. The session will also showcase Hong Kong’s ongoing achievements and innovative initiatives in green and sustainable finance to a global audience, reinforcing the city's position as a leading hub for low-carbon and impact-oriented capital flows.

Africa’s economy is entering a decisive decade. With the world’s fastest-growing population, rapid urbanization, accelerating digital adoption, and vast untapped natural and human capital, the continent is increasingly central to global growth dynamics. Yet Africa remains underrepresented in international investment portfolios, often due to outdated perceptions and limited understanding of on-the-ground realities.
This webinar explores whether investors can afford to overlook what may be one of the most significant investment opportunities of the next decade. We will examine key macroeconomic trends, sector-specific opportunities—from infrastructure and energy to technology and agribusiness—and the evolving role of local capital markets. The discussion will also address risks, structural challenges, and the importance of long-term, impact-oriented investment strategies.
By combining data, case studies, and expert insights, the session aims to provide a nuanced, realistic view of Africa’s economic trajectory and help investors assess where value may emerge in the years ahead.