The Virtualisation
of Reality

Entering the 4^th year of the IFTA Fintech and Innovation Awards 2021/2022 (Awards), it continues to proudly exhibit extraordinary achievements made by companies and individuals in the Finance and Technology industries. Streamedlined into 15 award categories of 9 for corporates, 4 for individuals / teams and 1 honorary award, this year also introduces three new categories, Decentralised Technology (DeFi), Art Technology (ArtTech) and the Honorary FinTech Education & Talent Development Awards.

The IFTA FinTech and Innovation Awards 2021/2022, with the theme “Two Worlds, One Goal: The Virtualisation of Reality”, recognises the important nuances of the parallel physical and virtual worlds, as well as, the role that corporations and individuals play in their development within the economy. As the world shifts towards digitization, the innovations of the physical world are essential to facilitate the conceptualization of a new virtual world, where everyday experiences and activities are converted into intangible experiences. The future of FinTech will be linked to how well the physical and virtual worlds merge to enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as one of the world’s leading financial centers.

The last couple of years have seen major setbacks due to the global pandemic however, these challenges have not come without their opportunities. As we adapt to a new way of life, an array of contactless norms in how people interact and live have emerged, and with the introduction of the Metaverse, and the proliferation of NFT’s, financial institutions and service providers need innovative solutions that will allow people to trade and interact with digitalized assets.

In line with shifting societal norms, the emergence of ESG initiatives in the corporate world has created a demand for businesses that maintain an ethos of environmental welfare and sustainable development. Awardees are expected to set high standards for ethical practices through the provision of their services and encourage a culture of continuous improvement. Through this Award, IFTA hopes to aggregate like-minded professionals to build a vibrant community that is expanding the frontiers of finance and technology.