Disclamer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

“From Big Data to Agentic Intelligence: How Artificial Intelligence is Reigniting Innovation in Finance” is the title of a presentation which will be held at the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Modern Finance from the Perspective of the Sustainability of National Economies”, on November 28-29, 2025. The conference is organized by the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova. The research is performed by Constantin-Marius Apostoaie and Iulian Ihnatov. The conference programme is available here, and the abstract is available here.
Short resume of the research: Innovation has long been the foundation of economic progress, yet recent research reveals a troubling decline in R&D productivity across industries, requiring exponentially more resources to sustain past rates of advancement, that we were all used to (Bloom et al., 2020; McKinsey, 2024). Hence, artificial intelligence (AI), especially its generative and agentic forms, has emerged as a transformative force capable of reversing this decline and unlocking a new era of innovation. Starting with the evolution from Big Data analytics to intelligent and autonomous agents, this research explores how AI is reshaping innovation dynamics within the financial sector. The paper highlights how AI systems are boosting design generation, evaluation as well as efficiency, key drivers of innovation productivity. In finance, AI-powered systems now enhance traditional data analytics to design novel financial products, simulate market behavior through digital twins, and autonomously manage complex investment portfolios in real time. Agentic AI extends this frontier further: from fraud detection that operates in milliseconds to adaptive trading models capable of learning and reasoning from global market shifts without explicit human input. These applications illustrate how finance is transitioning from a reactive, data-driven paradigm to a proactive, innovation-driven one. The paper argues that AI’s greatest contribution lies not merely in enhancing efficiency but in bending the curve of innovation productivity, a measurable reversal of the decades-long stagnation in R&D output. By integrating evidence from current research and corporate case studies, the paper concludes that the responsible deployment of agentic AI could position the financial sector as a testing ground for the broader economy’s innovation resurgence.

“Foreign Direct Investment or Sovereign Borrowing? Assessing the Growth Impact of External Financing Sources in Middle-Income Economies” was the title of the presentation held at the NextStepEU Scientific International Conference “Challenges, Opportunities and Policies for Sustainability in the European Union”, on 29th-31st of May 2025, in Iaşi, Romania. The event was organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. The presentation were delivered by Irina Bilan, Fatima-Ezzahra Rafie and Mostafa Lekhal. The Programme of the conference as well as the abstract are available here, p. 47.
Short resume of the presentation: External financing plays a critical role in supporting the economic growth and development objectives of nations, particularly in the context of less developed economies that often face constraints in mobilizing sufficient domestic resources. This study aims to comparatively assess the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) and sovereign external borrowing on economic growth in middle-income countries. Using a panel dataset covering 60 countries over the period 1999-2023, we draw on data from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators and International Debt Statistics, as well as The Conference Board Total Economy Database. To ensure robust empirical analysis, we employ a set of panel data estimation techniques, including fixed effects (FE), two-stage least squares (2SLS), and the generalized method of moments (GMM). Our findings indicate that FDI has a positive and statistically significant effect on economic growth in both the short and medium term (over 3- and 5-year horizons), while sovereign external borrowing exerts a negative impact over the same time frames. Further analysis reveals that the beneficial effects of FDI are primarily transmitted through increased gross fixed capital formation, which enhances productive capacity. Conversely, sovereign external borrowing tends to negatively affect growth by contributing to a decline in total factor productivity, likely due to inefficient resource allocation or debt overhang effects. These results suggest that middle-income economies should prioritize attracting productive FDI inflows by ensuring a stable investment climate and facilitating infrastructure development. At the same time, caution is warranted in the use of external public borrowing, which should be aligned with productivity-enhancing investments and subject to strong fiscal governance. Sound macroeconomic management and improved debt transparency are essential to mitigate the adverse effects of external borrowing and support sustainable long-term growth.

“Exploring the Environmental and Economic Effects of Smart Locker Implementation in E-Commerce Supply Chains” was the title of the presentation held at the NextStepEU Scientific International Conference “Challenges, Opportunities and Policies for Sustainability in the European Union”, on 29th-31st of May 2025, in Iaşi, Romania. The event was organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. The presentation were delivered by Alexandru Maxim and Teodora Roman. The Programme of the conference as well as the abstract are available here, p. 41.
Short resume of the presentation: Last-mile parcel delivery for e-commerce transactions represents one of the most challenging and costly components of the supply chain. For small to medium-sized items, out-of-home delivery options, such as pick-up and drop-off points and smart lockers, offer significant operational efficiencies and reduced costs for companies. Smart lockers are unattended systems, often integrated into public buildings or strategically placed, allowing consumers to collect parcels at any time, free from store opening hours. This flexibility and lack of personnel distinguish them from service points. The adoption of smart lockers varies significantly globally, with Romania showing seemingly exceptional adoption trends. Understanding the motivations and inhibitors of smart locker adoption among retail consumers is crucial for developing efficient logistics strategies. This paper presents an analysis, based on a systematic literature review and a summary of existing data from existing studies, to identify the determinants of smart locker usage intention, as explained through various theoretical frameworks. Results from the reviewed studies indicate that factors such as convenience (geographical, temporal, effort), reliability influence consumer intention to use smart lockers, often mediated by perceived value and reduced transaction costs. Other relevant factors include service diversity, social influence and price. By minimizing traffic volume and distances traveled in the last mile, smart lockers contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution, being considered one of the most promising options for more sustainable delivery. Beyond the environmental and consumer benefits, smart lockers also offer substantial advantages for carriers. By consolidating delivery locations, they can reduce operational costs, eliminate failed delivery attempts, and improve efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of supporting smart locker infrastructure. Policymakers can play an active role by subsidizing locker placement (especially “white label” to encourage collaboration) and facilitating access to suitable locations. Focusing on improving locker convenience, reliability, and security, as well as promoting the economic and environmental benefits, can stimulate consumer adoption. Increased collaboration among logistics service providers and e-commerce retailers, potentially facilitated by public policies, is essential for achieving a dense and efficient locker network, thereby maximizing benefits for all stakeholders and contributing to urban sustainability goals.

“Capital Controls as Exchange Rate Management Tool: A Review” was the title of the presentation held at the NextStepEU Scientific International Conference “Challenges, Opportunities and Policies for Sustainability in the European Union”, on 29th-31st of May 2025, in Iaşi, Romania. The event was organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. The presentation were delivered by Iulian Ihnatov (see Bio) and Constantin-Marius Apostoaie. The Programme of the conference as well as the abstract are available here, p. 38.
Short resume of the presentation: Emerging Markets frequently face volatility in capital flows, which may generate a significant threat to the financial stability. Capital controls may play a role as instruments in managing exchange rate fluctuations, specifically for EMEs that are characterized by structural imbalances. Our analysis indicates that while capital controls can be effective in the short term, their long-term efficiency continues to be debated. The paper identifies main factors influencing the success of these measures, connections with broader macroeconomic policies and the limitations and potential unintended consequences of using such tools. This review contributes to ongoing discussions about optimal policy design under conditions of global financial uncertainty.

“Fintech as a Driver for Sustainable Financial Intermediation in the European Union Banking Sector” was the title of the presentation held at the NextStepEU Scientific International Conference “Challenges, Opportunities and Policies for Sustainability in the European Union”, on 29th-31st of May 2025, in Iaşi, Romania. The event was organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. The presentation were delivered by Mihaela Izuric (see Bio) and Constantin-Marius Apostoaie. The Programme of the conference as well as the abstract are available here, p. 18.
Short resume of the presentation: In the contemporary landscape of financial services, the rapid evolution of financial technologies (FinTech) has significantly reshaped the sector, stimulating innovation and sustainability within the foundations of the banking sector. The aim of this paper is to find out to what extent FinTechs promote sustainable financial intermediation in the European Union, with a particular focus on the Central and Eastern European countries. The central research question is: How does FinTech contribute to enhancing the sustainability of financial intermediation in the European banking sector? Our methodological approach involves employing a multiple linear regression model with data from several Central and Eastern European countries and covering 2019-2023. The dependent variable-bank size (employed as a proxy for intermediation capacity) – is tested against a set of FinTech – specific indicators (digital transaction volumes, FinTech penetration rates, and innovation indices) while controlling for macroeconomic and institutional variables. Aspects of sustainability such as openness, digital efficacy, financial accessibility, and environmental considerations influence it and looks at how FinTech adoption affects bank fees, operational effectiveness, and financial access for marginalized populations. It also looks at the risks that come with digital security and governance. According to the study, FinTech can increase accessibility to financial services and enhance sustainability by digitizing banking procedures. Concerns exist, nevertheless, about the necessity of a suitable regulatory framework and safeguarding users against cybersecurity threats. In addition, the paper also examines the current legal framework in the European Union, proposing harmonized implementation solutions both in terms of fintech in banking activity and the relationship with the sustainability dimension. The conclusion emphasizes how important it is to have suitable laws and regulations that support ethical innovation and guarantee the incorporation of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the banking industry, these being implemented through innovative business models, leaving traditional ones in the shade. By combining 3 dimensions: banking, technology and sustainability, the green light is given to the field for research and steps are taken towards a new world of money.

“Artificial Intelligence Adoption in European Businesses: A Country-Level Analysis of Determinant Factors” was the title of the presentation held at the 4th edition of the EU-PAIR 2025 International Conference “Challenges and Dynamics of European Administrative Area”, on 19th – 20th of June 2025 in Iași, Romania. The event is organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. The presentation were delivered by Constantin-Marius Apostoaie and Irina Bilan. The Programme of the conference as well as the abstract are available here, p. 53.
Short resume of the presentation: In today’s dynamic and highly competitive business landscape, the adoption of disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is essential for organizational resilience and long-term growth for any business. While the benefits of AI integration are well-documented, businesses continue to face a complex mix of drivers and barriers that shape their adoption decisions. This study investigates the macro-level determinants of AI adoption across 28 European countries, including all EU member states and Norway, by conducting a cross-country analysis grounded in the well-known Technological, Organizational, and Environmental (TOE) framework. Addressing a gap in the existing literature, which has largely focused on single-country, firm-level analyses, this research makes use of harmonized annual data to uncover structural factors influencing AI adoption at the national level. The findings highlight that past IT experience, R&D intensity, and economic openness significantly foster AI adoption. Conversely, domestic competition emerges as a limiting factor for small firms with constrained resources and a survival-oriented outlook. Institutional conditions, particularly the rule of law and government size, also shape adoption patterns, larger governments tend to discourage AI adoption in smaller companies due to increased fiscal and regulatory burdens. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to promote AI diffusion and technological innovation throughout European economies.

“Big Data in Finance: Pros, Cons and The Rise of Agentic AI” was the title of the presentation held at the International Conference “EU FInance, REgulation and Business EUFIRE 2025” organized at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi (Romania), on the 9th and 10th of May 2025, focused on the Safe use of Artificial Intelligence on EU market. The presentation were delivered by Constantin-Marius Apostoaie and Iulian Ihnatov (see Bio). The Programme of the conference is available here, pp. 55-56, the abstract is available here and the presentation is available here (1st slide).
Short resume of the presentation: The rise of Big Data has considerably transformed the financial sector, influencing both centralized (CeFi) and decentralized (DeFi) systems through increasingly data-driven approaches. In today’s mostly traditional CeFi structures, data flows through intermediaries such as central banks and incumbent financial institutions. However, DeFi, defined by peer-to-peer interactions on distributed ledgers, is fundamentally reshaping the financial ecosystem. This evolving data landscape sets the stage for the next wave of innovation, one driven not just by Big Data, but by increasingly autonomous technologies. Agentic AI, built upon artificial intelligence and machine learning, marks a shift from passive systems (requiring human input) to intelligent agents capable of independently perceiving, reasoning, acting, and learning, enabling real-time decision-making with minimal human prompts. This paper explores the multifaceted role of Big Data in finance, analysing its benefits, limitations, and practical applications across the industry. In also highlights the growing integration of Generative AI and Agentic AI in financial processes, examining how these emerging technologies are being used across the industry and what implications they carry for the future of finance. From geolocation tracking in retail sectors like Chipotle to hedge funds’ use of flight tracking data for market predictions and JPMorgan’s use of tools like Hadoop to manage and process massive datasets (enabling more targeted customer services and real-time decision-making), the paper hopes to illustrate Big Data’s powerful influence in Finance. Likewise, it showcases the rise and impact of Agentic AI, from global banks autonomously detecting and blocking fraud in milliseconds, to AI-driven hedge funds (that dynamically adjust multi-billion-dollar portfolios in response to real-time geopolitical events and market shifts).

“Access to Finance and Entrepreneurial Entry: The Role of Bank vs. Non-Bank Financial Intermediaries” was was the title of the presentation held at the 12th Edition of the Annual International Scientific Conference FINANCIAL AND MONETARY ECONOMICS – FME 2024 held on November 29th, 2024, in Bucharest. The conference was organized by the Centre for Financial and Monetary Research ”Victor Slãvescu” (Romania). The research was performed by Constantin-Marius Apostoaie and Irina Bilan. The Programme of the conference is available here, p. 8, and the abstract is available here.
Short resume of the presentation: The presentation examined the expanding role of Big Data in transforming the financial ecosystem and decision-making processes. Beginning with the constraints of the traditional, centralized financial system, the authors emphasized how digitalization and data-driven innovation foster efficiency, inclusion, and transparency in finance. They detailed the main characteristics, tools, and real-world applications of Big Data — from alternative data sources and analytics technologies to case studies involving companies such as Foursquare, Amazon, and JPMorgan. The discussion highlighted both the advantages (enhanced decision-making, innovation, and efficiency) and the challenges (privacy, ethical concerns, and data quality issues) of using Big Data in finance, underscoring its potential to support a more sustainable and informed financial system.

“Big Data in Finance: Pros, Cons and Some Practical Applications” was the title of the presentation held at the International Scientific Conference “Modern Finance from the Perspective of National Economies’ Sustainability”, within Panel IV: The Synergy between Finance and Innovation in Business Modelling. The conference was organized by the Faculty of Finance of the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM) on November 22–23, 2024, in a hybrid format. The research and presentation were delivered by Constantin-Marius Apostoaie and Iulian Ihnatov (see Bio). The Programme of the conference is available here, and the abstract is available here.
Short resume of the presentation: The presentation examined the expanding role of Big Data in transforming the financial ecosystem and decision-making processes. Beginning with the constraints of the traditional, centralized financial system, the authors emphasized how digitalization and data-driven innovation foster efficiency, inclusion, and transparency in finance. They detailed the main characteristics, tools, and real-world applications of Big Data — from alternative data sources and analytics technologies to case studies involving companies such as Foursquare, Amazon, and JPMorgan. The discussion highlighted both the advantages (enhanced decision-making, innovation, and efficiency) and the challenges (privacy, ethical concerns, and data quality issues) of using Big Data in finance, underscoring its potential to support a more sustainable and informed financial system.

“Determinants of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in the European Enterprises: A Cross-Country Analysis” was the title of the presentation held at the 16th International Conference Globalization and Higher Education in Economics and Business Administration, GEBA 2024, 17-19 Octombrie 2024, in Iaşi. The conference was organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi (Romania). The research was performed by Constantin-Marius Apostoaie and Irina Bilan. The Programme of the conference is available here and the abstract is available here, p. 59.
Short resume of the presentation: In today’s highly competitive business environment, Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption is vital for innovation and performance for a business to thrive. While the benefits of AI are clear, the factors driving its adoption are less understood. This study explores the determinants of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption in companies across 28 European countries utilizing macro-level annual data. Using the Technological, Organizational, and Environmental framework, the research reveals that past IT experience, R&D expenditure, and the openness of the economy emerge as key factors driving AI adoption. Domestic competition hinders AI adoption, but only in small-size companies, with fewer resources to invest in new technologies and more focused on survival than innovation. Additionally, institutional factors like the rule of law and government size play an important role. Large governments tend to inhibit AI adoption especially in small companies, which are more affected by fiscal burden and complex regulations. Our findings are relevant for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to foster AI adoption and innovation across the European economies.

“Big Data & FinTechs. Digital Finance” was the title of the presentation held at the 2nd Edition of the “Noaptea Albă a Universităților” (White Night of Universities), organized by the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași (Romania). The event brought together students, academics, and professionals from business and technology to discuss innovation, education, and the future of work in the digital era. The presentation was delivered by Constantin-Marius Apostoaie. The Programme of the conference is available here, and the presentation is available here (1st slide).
Short resume of the presentation: The presentation explored how digitalization, Big Data, and FinTech innovations are transforming the global financial landscape. It contrasted the traditional, centralized financial system – dominated by banks and intermediaries – with the emerging decentralized finance (DeFi) model, which promotes transparency, inclusion, and efficiency. Moreover, it highlighted how Big Data analytics enhance decision-making and enable the creation of new, data-driven financial services, paving the way toward a more open and technologically integrated financial ecosystem.

“The Nexus Between Monetary Policy and Non-Bank Financial Intermediation” was the title of the presentation held at the 15th International Conference Globalization and Higher Education in Economics and Business Administration, GEBA 2023, 19-21 Octombrie 2023, in Iaşi. The conference was organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi (Romania). The research was performed by Irina Bilan and Constantin-Marius Apostoaie. The Programme of the conference is available here and the abstract is available here, p. 45.
Short resume of the presentation: Even though ‘traditional’ bank lending is a very important source of funding (in the European countries, at least), incumbent banks aren’t always able to cope with the growing financial needs of an economy. This is where other forms of financial intermediation come into play to provide a valuable and viable funding alternative. Specifically, non-bank financial intermediation (or ‘shadow banking’), a particular form of market-based finance, has become more significant in recent years, especially during and after the recent financial crisis of 2008. Despite the fact that some financial activities occur outside the (more) regulated banking sector, shadow banking is nonetheless part of the financial system and it is the central bank’s duty to keep up with the developments in the shadow banking sector, especially because of the interactions with its monetary policy. Managing a reliable and workable monetary policy is of keen importance for every central bank, since it reaches people, businesses and governments. In is context, our paper seeks to explore the connections between this continuously evolving segment of the financial system (created by non-bank financial intermediaries) and a central bank’s monetary policy; the focus is on the euro area.

“Fiscal Councils in European Union” was the title of the presentation held at the EUconomics International Conference “Financial and Monetary Policies for Fostering European Integration”, a hybrid event held on March 30th – April 1st, 2023, in Iaşi. The conference was organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi (Romania). The research was performed by George Georgescu and Bogdan Căpraru. The Programme of the conference as well as the abstract are available here. p. 51.
Short resume of the presentation: The EU countries have set up independent fiscal institutions (IFIs), mainly following the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, with a mandate to objectively assess the fiscal policy and its performance. The paper focuses on reviewing the activity of EU IFIs, trying to highlight their typology, minimum operating standards, channels of influence, effectiveness assessments, and their current mission in the 2020 context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the differences in the mandates with which IFIs are invested between the EU countries, the European Commission has recommended a set of common principles, among these, sufficient human and financial resources, a high degree of flexibility in the resources allocation, the access to relevant information, the Comply or Explain procedure, the protection against political interferences. Formally, IFIs do not have the power to intervene on fiscal and budgetary policies, but they have a “soft” power of influence, exercised by increasing public attention to these policies, based on two pillars: credibility and communication. From this point of view, IFIs can be considered as an “accountability-multiplier”. There is a consensus that one of the best practices of IFIs in the EU is to conclude MoUs with the budgetary authorities, as the main tool for operating according to the minimum standards. In the context of the current fight to mitigate the economic and social impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic, the European Commission has, for the first time, activated the general escape clause of the SGP, enabling the national governments to take measures to support the economy in order to cope with the crisis. Under these conditions, the IFIs’ mission is drastically reduced, at least during the period of activation of the clause, but they must continue to be active in the economic arena. In the exceptional circumstances of this situation it must bear in mind that, once the health crisis will be enough controlled to allow the normal resumption of economic activities, the need to monitor and apply the fiscal principles will return in force.

“Independent Fiscal Institutions and the Efficiency of Public Spending in EU” was the title of the presentation held at the the EUconomics International Conference “Financial and Monetary Policies for Fostering European Integration”, a hybrid event held on March 30th – April 1st, 2023, in Iaşi. The conference was organized by the the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi (Romania). The research was performed by Bogdan Căpraru and Dan Lupu (see Bio). The Programme of the conference as well as the abstract are available here, pp. 24-25.
Short resume of the presentation: This study analyzes the impact of the Independent Fiscal Institution (IFI) on the efficiency of public spending in the EU member states. In 2012, in order to ensure the compliance of the national arrangements with the fiscal rules of the EU, the member states proceeded to sign the European Fiscal Pact. An important role provided for national IFIs in the Fiscal Pact is to ensure the sustainability of public finances in the long term. Especially in EU countries with large government sectors, improving the efficiency of public spending is an important issue for national governments and implicitly for IFIs. The current study uses the non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach to investigate and evaluate the technical efficiency of 28 EU countries based on a single input (government expenditure per capita) and four macroeconomic outputs. The analysis period is 2000-2020, the series being annual. The results show that the efficiency of public spending for the EU countries is different over time, however with higher values for the older member countries compared to the new ones. Later, after the calculation of DEA for each country, to study the impact of IFI on efficiency, different panel probit models. Within these models, in order to analyze the impact of IFI, we use a dummy variable that takes the value of 1 when IFI is in place, and 0 otherwise. The presence of IFI has a positive and significant impact on the three categories of countries; however, with a greater impact for old member countries compared to new member countries. Instead, the fiscal rules have a positive and significant influence only for the old EU countries and all countries; for the new EU member countries, their impact is insignificant and negative. Also, the interaction between IFIs and fiscal rules shows positive and significant characteristics only for old members. The robustness of our results was subsequently tested for a series of new models and variables, which show similar values.

“Determinant Factors of Smart Cities in Central and Eastern European Countries” was the title of the presentation held at the XIV International Conference on Economics. The conference was organized by the Grigol Robakidze University, The Faculty of Labor Sciences of University of Seville and the World Economic Research Institute (WERI). It was held on November 17-19, 2022, in Athens (Greece). The research was performed by Constantin-Marius Apostoaie and Ioana-Maria Ursache (see Bio). The Programme of the conference is available here, p. 17, and the online abstract is available here.
Short resume of the presentation: The challenges that cities have to face today are complex and refer not only to economic factors but also to social issues such as access to education, health and housing, environmental degradation and administrative issues that imply a lack of civic participation and low quality of life. In this context, a new concept has emerged (smart city) to better grasp the need for change in urban development practices that could increase the quality of life through the optimization of hard (transport, energy, resources) and soft (human capital, inclusion, participation) infrastructure. Much attention has been given to studying the concept itself and to the various factors that enable the smart transition of cities. Nonetheless, the focus is rather on the more developed countries in Western Europe, neglecting the emerging markets and developing economies as those in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The paper seeks to determine, using a quantitative analysis, the most relevant factors that tend to influence the movements in the Smart Cities rankings with a focus on the CEE countries. This exploratory study is more than relevant for policy makers to devise and properly implement tailored smart city policies that could, in the end, improve the citizens’ quality of life.

“Energy Insecurity in the European Union. Designing an Indicator for Natural Gas” was the title of the presentation held at the XIV International Conference Globalization and Higher Education in Economics and Business Administration. The conference was organized by the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and it was held on October 20-22, 2022, in Iasi (Romania). The research was performed by Alexandru Maxim. The Programme of the conference is available here, and the abstract is available here, p. 120.
Short resume of the presentation: After the popular decline of nuclear energy during the beginning of the last decade, natural gas has risen in popularity as the reliable and relatively clean energy source to foster the long-term transition to renewable energy worldwide. In the case of European nations, however, the supply of natural gas from outside the European Union (EU) has increasingly been used as a leverage for political negotiations. Past research has raised flags regarding the risks of the high dependence of EU member states on external suppliers of natural gas. Increased instability caused by the debut of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in 2014 prompted us to propose the Gas Vulnerability Indicator. This multidimensional indicator is meant to facilitate a simple and historical overview of the energy security context in Europe from the perspective of natural gas. Given the sudden breakdown in commercial and political interactions between the European Union and Russia in the first half of 2022, it has been deemed relevant to provide an updated screenshot of Europe’s gas energy security. This has been achieved using the latest available data and a series of proposed improvements to the original Gas Vulnerability Indicator.

“Fintechs: Blending Finance with Technology” was the title of the presentation held at Dual academic event: International Research Conference on Teaching Innovation, Digitization and International Mobility (TIDIM) and International Research Conference on Digital Society and Challenges (DISOC). The conference was organized by the the Universidad de La Laguna (Spain) through its Facultad de Economía, Empresa y Turismo, in collaboration with the European Forum of Education Administrators (FEAE) Canary Islands, the Canarian Agency for University Quality and Educational Evaluation (ACCUEE), and several partner universities from Spain and Europe, including the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Universidad de Granada, Universidad de León, Universidad de Oviedo, VŠB–Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic), Institute of Hospitality Management and Economics, Prague (Czech Republic), Università degli Studi “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti–Pescara (Italy), Academy of Physical Education in Katowice (Poland), West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin (Poland), University of Szczecin (Poland), and Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași (Romania).It was held on September 15–16, 2022, at the Facultad de Economía, Empresa y Turismo of the Universidad de La Laguna in San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife, Spain), with sessions conducted both on-site and online via Google Meet. The research was performed by Constantin-Marius Apostoaie and Irina Bilan. The Programme of the conference is freely available here and the abstract is available here.
Short resume of the presentation: The financial system, seen in all its complexity, could be regarded as a living organism that is continuously transforming, evolving and adapting under the spectrum of various endogenous or exogenous factors. An area which currently registers important advances and (re)shapes the future of the financial system (as we also strongly believe) refers to information technology (IT). The incumbent financial institutions who decided to tap into the potential that IT has to offer, have either reinvented themselves or paved the way for the development and expansion of new and innovative financial services providers often referred to as Financial Technology companies, or FinTechs. In recent years, technological progress has led to a global, sometimes accelerated, increase in competitiveness in the financial-banking environment, driven, among others, by the entry of non-bank financial services providers. These are the building blocks for an emerging financial industry based on digitalization. Providing, most of the times, more accessible, cheaper and better personalized financial-banking products and services, these entrepreneurial endeavours under the FinTech brand attract more and more clients (individuals and legal entities), many of them being loyal customers of the incumbent banking institutions. Differentiating themselves from the already established credit institutions through high speed innovation and adaptability to customer needs, FinTechs succeed in integrating more and more in our increasingly digitalized society. However, FinTech enterprises may raise not only attractive opportunities but also a number of risks, which, if not properly addressed, can build-up in the non-banking sector (also known as the ‘shadow banking’ system) and can then be easily passed on to other components of the financial sector. This presentation addresses the following: an overview of the theory behind the FinTech enterprises, a few glimpses of the FinTech world in practice (in the world, in Europe and in Romania especially), the results of a pros/cons analysis rising from FinTech entrepreneurs and some relevant risks for the consumer of such services.