The Midlands’ burgeoning FinTech sector has taken a leap forward with the launch of a cutting-edge FinTech Innovation Lab at Warwick Business School’s Gillmore Centre for Financial Technology. Supported by multimillion-pound investments, this new initiative aims to enhance research, develop advanced skills, and position the West Midlands as a global hub for FinTech innovation.

Over the next decade, FinTech is expected to contribute £1.5 billion to the Midlands economy and generate 4,600 new jobs. The lab will serve as a cornerstone of this transformation, fostering talent and collaboration between academia and industry.

The lab is spearheaded by Professor Ram Gopal, head of the Gillmore Centre, who emphasised its dual focus on research and talent development.

Gopal said. The inaugural cohort is expected to include 60–80 students, with plans to expand to 100–120 in subsequent years.

The lab offers a physical space where businesses and startups can collaborate with students to “sandbox” innovative solutions. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including high-powered computers, VR headsets, and large wall screens, the lab is already pioneering tools such as GillmoreAI, a generative AI platform for academic insights on FinTech, and dashboards for tracking cryptocurrencies and FinTech stock performance.

A major focus of the Gillmore Centre is property technology (PropTech), one of the fastest-growing segments of the West Midlands’ tech industry. Around 40% of the region’s professional technology firms operate in the PropTech space.

With a £1.25 million anonymous donation, the centre has launched a dedicated research group to tackle inefficiencies in real estate finance. Professor Gopal highlighted the potential of combining PropTech and AI to reduce decision-making biases and streamline operations in the sector. He said

The Gillmore Centre was established five years ago with a £3 million donation from alumnus Clive Gillmore, founder of Mondrian Investment Partners. Its latest initiative, the FinTech Innovation Lab, reinforces its commitment to propelling the Midlands into the forefront of global financial technology.

By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and emerging talent, the lab is expected to play a pivotal role in creating transformative solutions and supporting the Midlands’ journey to becoming an international FinTech powerhouse.