Earth observation and remote sensing combined with machine learning has the potential to transform the availability of information in our financial system and change how risks, opportunities, and impacts are measured and managed by financial institutions. ‘Spatial finance’, where geospatial data is integrated into financial theory and practice, creates a significant opportunity for the financial services industry. Spatial finance is also particularly helpful for analysing risks and impacts related to climate change and the environment.

The Spatial Finance Initiative has been established to bring together research capabilities in space, data science, and financial services to make them greater than the sum of their parts. The Initiative is designed to be a funnel, undertaking and coordinating world-leading academic research and channelling these into real-world finance-related applications. The research will be translated into practical and pre-operational products and services by working closely with the finance community and geospatial and financial services providers.

The Initiative has been established by the University of Oxford, the Satellite Applications Catapult, and the City of London Green Finance Initiative. It is a multi-disciplinary multi-stakeholder project focused on globally significant research and applications. Other partners will be confirmed shortly.

At this launch event we will explore how and why geospatial analysis will become a core competency for financial analysis with very significant implications for information markets, financial products, and risk management.

Speakers confirmed currently include:

Will Marshall, Co-Founder and CEO of Planet. Planet designs, builds, and launches satellites faster than any company or government in history. Planet have the world’s largest constellation of Earth-imaging satellites that “line scan” the planet to image the entire Earth daily.

Sir Roger Gifford, Chair of the City of London Green Finance Initiative and the UK Green Finance Taskforce.

Ben Caldecott, Founding Director of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Programme and Co-Chair of the Global Research Alliance on Sustainable Finance and Investment.

Sam Adlen, Chief Strategy Officer at the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Others tbc

Please apply early to secure your place. In your registration request, please include details of your position and affiliation.