WAIFC Young Academic Award

In response to the growing need for talent development and research-backed innovative solutions to tackle pressing global challenges, WAIFC launched the Young Academic Award in 2022 to support young academic scholars and incentivize research on the financial sector's contribution towards sustainable socio-economic development and inclusiveness.

Focus areas for the competition are reviewed by the jury every year and include highly relevant topics such as the role of the financial sector in addressing sustainability, inclusion and talent development, climate change finance, social finance, digital assets, and digital currencies, and the impact of geopolitical development on the financial sector. The competition is open to young academics below the age of 35. Multiple authors can contribute to a paper, but at least one author must be under the age of 35 as of the submission deadline.

The jury will select the top three winners each year and award cash prizes of €3,000, €2,000, and €1,000 for first, second, and third places, respectively. Winners will also be invited and sponsored to join the WAIFC's Annual General Meeting, where they will present and discuss their research with WAIFC Board members and leading financial sector professionals. The award-winning works will also be published on the WAIFC website.