As UK regulators begin to tighten the screws on financial firms’ operational resilience, a new industry-wide innovation challenge has been launched to tackle the legacy systems and supply chain weak spots that are leaving many businesses exposed.
Joining forces with FinTech Scotland through its Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL), a host of leading financial institutions, including Natwest, Morgan Stanley, Aberdeen, KPMG and EY, are coming together to invite innovators to develop technologies that enhance system stability across the financial services sector.
The FRIL innovation call is designed to give UK fintechs a live test‑bed, backed by Innovate UK’s Glasgow City Region Innovation Accelerator, to prove their tech can keep the UK’s £250 billion financial sector safe and competitive.
The coalition, which also counts the likes of Sword Group, Dudley Building Society, The Tipton, Unity Trust Bank, M&G, Pinsent Masons, and Tesco Bank, will collaborate with SuperTech WM to expand the impact of next-gen solutions nationwide, helping financial firms prepare for the demands of key regulators, like the FCA, Bank of England and HM Treasury.
Innovators are invited to develop practical, scalable technology that helps financial services firms to protect themselves against everything from supply‑chain shocks to cloud‑risk events and cross‑border compliance gaps.
Up to £50,000 in grant awards will be available for selected fintechs to accelerate the development of their solutions, with the programme culminating in a showcase event in Glasgow, where participants will present to industry and regulatory stakeholders, with the final outcomes announced in early October.
“This challenge is a powerful example of how collaboration can drive meaningful change,” said Nicola Anderson, CEO of FinTech Scotland.
“By bringing together fintech innovators, academic insight, and industry expertise, we’re not only responding to the increasing demands of the digital economy, we’re actively shaping a more resilient and adaptive financial system for the future.”
FinTech Scotland said that it is looking for companies with ‘creative ideas and new solutions’ for core challenges faced by the industry, such as simulation and scenario planning, supply chain monitoring, cross-border resilience and compliance, as well as cloud risk management.
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The initiative will provide chosen fintechs the opportunity to work alongside the collaborating financial institutions to gain real-world insight, as well as access to industry experts from the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow.
“Strengthening operational resilience isn’t just a regulatory expectation, it’s a shared responsibility across the financial ecosystem,” said Luke Scanlon, head of fintech proposition at Pinsent Masons.
“This challenge is a compelling example of how partnerships between fintechs and industry can drive innovation that’s both agile and aligned with evolving regulatory frameworks. It’s a chance to build practical solutions that work in the real world.”
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