From July 2nd to 4th, the 2025 Frontiers in Finance Conference, hosted by the International Institute of Finance, was successfully held. Over 200 participants, including alumni and professionals from 24 universities and research institutions worldwide (with more than 15 overseas universities, including over 10 ranked within the top 50 in the QS World University Rankings) and 60 enterprises, engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge topics in finance, particularly in asset pricing, the application of large language model (LLM) technology in finance, and strategies for addressing extreme risks. Their insights contributed significantly to academic research in finance, industrial development, and the university's "Double First-Class" initiative.
In his address, Ye Qiang, Dean of the International Institute of Finance, highlighted that since its establishment, the School of Management has consistently attracted and nurtured high-caliber faculty, strengthened collaborative innovation across government, industry, academia, and research, and developed a comprehensive disciplinary system. Four undergraduate programs—finance, management science, statistics, and business administration—have been recognized as national first-class undergraduate program construction sites. In recent years, the school's research capabilities have surged, earning multiple international accreditations such as AACSB and securing a leading position among business schools in mainland China. These achievements have laid a solid foundation for the remarkable progress in the university's finance discipline. He noted that this conference, centered on fintech and disciplinary frontiers, brought together global leading scholars and industry leaders to explore new paradigms, challenges, and opportunities for finance in the era of technological revolution. He expressed his hope that the event would serve as a pivotal milestone in advancing the finance discipline and empowering global financial innovation.
The conference focused on frontier topics such as fintech, asset pricing, macro-finance, AI-powered financial research, and extreme risk management, addressing critical academic questions and industry trends. It provided valuable insights to foster the integration of financial research and practical applications while offering strategic recommendations for enhancing the finance discipline and building a world-class business school.
In his opening remarks, Professor Hou Kewei, Chair of the conference and a distinguished professor at The Ohio State University, emphasized that this gathering, as an academic feast featuring the convergence of ideas and the collision of intellect, would enhance Hefei's academic appeal and inject fresh momentum into the development of the finance discipline.
During the keynote sessions, Professor Wang Shouyang, Professor Yan Hong, Professor Yu Jianfeng, and three other world-renowned finance scholars and distinguished alumni delivered speeches on topics including investor beliefs, digital currencies and financial security, and AI-driven financial text analysis. These presentations, characterized by profound insights, focused themes, and high relevance, offered attendees invaluable perspectives on the forefront of financial research.
The conference also featured academic and interdisciplinary parallel forums, inviting scholars and industry experts from around the world to delve into discussions on asset pricing, macro-finance, fintech, bond markets, AI-driven real economy development, and the valuation of scientific achievements and risk prevention in the age of AI.
Serving as a bridge for in-depth dialogue between academia and industry in global finance, this event not only infused the discipline with international frontier concepts and innovative thinking but also identified new directions for its advancement through vibrant exchanges and shared expertise. Moving forward, the International Institute of Finance will continue to leverage such high-caliber academic initiatives to pool global wisdom, deepen interdisciplinary innovation in finance, and provide robust support for cultivating financial talents with both academic rigor and practical prowess. This effort will steadily advance the school's mission to become a world-class business school while driving high-quality development in the financial industry.