The Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA) and Monash University Malaysia have formalized a three-year research partnership through a memorandum of understanding, aiming to tackle pressing challenges in the Asia-Pacific payments ecosystem. The agreement brings together the EPAA and the university's Monash FinTech Lab to deliver actionable insights on quantum-safe cryptography, stablecoins, scams and fraud prevention, and cross-border remittances.
BRIDGE BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY
"APAC's payments landscape is world-leading, but new technologies are creating policy challenges that no single institution can address alone," said Camilla Bullock, Chief Executive Officer of Emerging Payments Association Asia. "Priority areas such as quantum-safe cryptography, scams and fraud, cross-border remittances and the emergence of stablecoins require collaboration across all parts of the ecosystem." "By joining forces, EPAA and Monash FinTech Lab will offer informed, coordinated leadership that can bridge the gap between innovation and policy and build shared capability across the ecosystem," said Bullock.
The Monash FinTech Lab sits within Monash University Malaysia's School of Business and focuses on financial technology and regulation.
FOCUS ON CRITICAL THREATS
Quantum-safe cryptography is one of the priority areas named in the agreement.
Stablecoins are another priority area.
Scams and fraud, and cross-border remittances, are the other priority areas.
BUILDING FUTURE CAPACITY
Beyond research, the pact covers skills development and capability-building work that may bring together industry leaders, academics and regulators.
"Payments across the Asia Pacific region are evolving rapidly, creating new opportunities as well as complex policy and regulatory challenges," said Andreas Deppeler, Professor of Practise at Monash University Malaysia's School of Business and Co-Director of Monash FinTech Impact Lab. "This makes close collaboration between industry and researchers essential to understand the implications for consumers, businesses and regulators." "By working together with the EPAA, we aim to strengthen policy development, build technical capability and help prepare the next generation of payments professionals to support APAC's global competitiveness," Deppeler added.
The collaboration brings together an industry association whose members span multiple parts of the payments market and an academic team focused on financial technology and regulation. Its outcomes are also intended to support a resilient, well-governed payments system across the Asia Pacific.