SciLux podcast – Gilbert Fridgen, professor in Digital Financial Services

31 January 2023

Dr Gilbert Fridgen is full professor in Digital Financial Services and PayPal-FNR PEARL Chair at the Interdisciplinary Center for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) at the University of Luxembourg.

As head of the Financial Services and Interorganisational Digital Transformations Research Group (FINATRAX), he analyses the transformative effects of digital technologies on individual organisations as well on the relationship between organisations. He thereby especially addresses potentially disruptive technologies like Blockchain/DLT, Artificial Intelligence, Internet-of-Things, or Quantum Computing.

His research involves innovative business models, regulatory compliance (RegTech), IT strategy and (risk) management, IT capabilities and performance, as well as the design of innovative solutions. In his projects and partnerships, he collaborates with various industries, like financial services (FinTech), energy, mobility, manufacturing, consulting, as well as with public bodies (LegalTech).

Decentralised technologies and DLTs

How can we use leading-edge technology – such as blockchain, NFTs, cryptocurrencies or digital identities – to address the pressing problems of our time?

In addition to distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), Prof. Fridgen is more generally interested in decentralised technologies.

With his research group, Gilbert Fridgen wants to understand what difference does a technology (blockchain for example) actually make: would there be some specific areas where it would make sense and for what reasons? What would be the drivers and what would be the potential effects?

By building bridges between business research and information systems engineering, Prof. Fridgen’s group seeks to analyse and use the next generation of IT technologies to ameliorate organisation’s models, in a more secure and reliable way.

Research supporting industry & governmental sector

Collaboration with industry is central to the SnT, as well as to all the member organisations of Research Luxembourg. Through strong partnerships, the interdisciplinary centre seeks to support existing and future industries.

Therefore the centre has set up a Partnership Programme with over 60 members targeting strategic areas addressing challenges confronting industry and the public sector in ICT. These resulting concepts present a genuine, long-lasting competitive advantage for companies in Luxembourg and beyond.

E-government processes support

One of the many topics Prof. Fridgen’s FINATRAX group is addressing is the development of digital technologies in public administration.

As part of a four-year agreement between the SnT and the Luxembourg Ministry for Digitalisation, Prof. Fridgen is working the speed up the digitisation of the public sector. Several specific subjects are addressed through collaborative research contracts aiming at positioning Luxembourg as a digital leader in the EU. One of these projects is the “Digital Identities for Luxembourg”, which will contribute to shape the development of digital identities at the European level.

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