(AGENPARL) – Fri 16 January 2026 16 January 2026
Banca d’Italia and Central Bank of Ireland
launch first joint Innovation Data Challenge
Banca d’Italia and Central Bank of Ireland are launching the Innovation Data Challenge 2026,
a joint initiative designed to foster cutting-edge research and innovation in the retail payments sector.
The Challenge reflects the shared commitment of the two Institutions to promoting applied
research, international collaboration, and the responsible use of data and technology to shape the
future of payments.
The initiative brings together leading Italian and Irish universities, including Università
commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Politecnico di Milano, Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope,
University College Dublin, University College Cork, University of Galway, and University of
Limerick.
Students will work with both synthetic and real-world financial datasets accessed through a
secure data platform, enabling them to develop innovative, data-driven research while meeting the
highest standards of data protection.
At the conclusion of the Challenge, selected research projects will be presented to an
international panel of experts, providing participants with valuable opportunity to explore the
transformative role of technology and data in retail payments.
Through the Innovation Data Challenge 2026, Banca d’Italia and Central Bank of Ireland
reaffirm their commitment to supporting academic excellence and applied research, while
encouraging new perspectives on shaping the future of payments.