Monash establishes world-first research centre zeroing in on financial markets
Monash University has established a new Centre for Quantitative Finance and Investment Strategies, after signing an historic collaboration agreement with French banking group BNP Paribas S.A.
Inaugural Centre Director Gregoire Loeper, an Associate Professor of Mathematics in the Faculty of Science, said the goal of the Centre is to publish independent research that will help Australia stay ahead in today's rapidly evolving financial sector.
“The collaborative approach between academia and industry makes this partnership quite unique in Australia and overseas,” Associate Professor Loeper said.
“This type of industry-focused research is particularly relevant to the Australian market given the sizeable asset management/pension sector, which continues to grow as a function of the superannuation system.”
The Centre will publish independent research in the areas of quantitative finance, quantitative investment and hedging strategies.
“The financial sector is rapidly evolving, driven by technological breakthroughs, social and environmental concerns, and increasing regulation; this makes independent research critical to the modern financial industry," Associate Professor Loeper said.
BNP Paribas is one of the world’s largest banks and its Global Markets division is a leader in the area of quantitative investment.
BNP Paribas, Head of Global Markets APAC Pierre Rousseau said the Centre would be able to leverage BNPP’s markets infrastructure, data and pricing tools.
“This will make Monash’s research output more practical and applicable to real-world parameters, and thus ultimately more relevant to the Industry,” Mr Rousseau said.
“This is particularly important in the area of Quantitative Finance which plays an increasingly important role in institutional portfolios.”
The recently appointed Provost at Monash University Professor Marc Parlange, welcomed the agreement with BNP Paribas.
“This is an outstanding collaboration which will expand our global profile and provide ground-breaking insights into the increasingly complex financial sector,” Professor Parlange said.