Multi-Modal Enhanced Graph Transfer Learning for Digital Finance Fraud Detection

Liu, Y., Chan, S., Chu, J., Zhang, Y., Yang, C., Wang, Z., Gel, Y.R. and Chen, Y.

Proceedings of the ACM Web Conference 2026, pp. 8709-8712

DOI: 10.1145/3774904.3792946  |  Network members: Stephen Chan, Jeffrey Chu, Yuanyuan Zhang

Multilayer topology-aware graph contrastive learning for fraud detection in the Ethereum transaction network

Chen, Y., Zhang, Y., Chan, S., Chu, J. and Lord, N.

Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A (Statistics in Society), 189(2), pp. 703-722

DOI: 10.1093/jrsssa/qnaf135  |  Network members: Stephen Chan, Jeffrey Chu, Yuanyuan Zhang

AI for Digital Finance Workshop

American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE

Three day hybrid workshop, 80 to 100 participants expected. Registration deadline 15 January 2027.

Session EO222: Data science, statistics, and AI for digital finance

9th International Conference on Econometrics and Statistics (EcoSta 2026), Ryukoku University, Kyoto, Japan

Organized session convened by Stephen Chan and Jeffrey Chu. Hybrid conference, all sessions live streamed.

Network members: Stephen Chan, Jeffrey Chu

AI and Data Science for Digital Finance (AI4DF)

Workshop at the 30th Pacific-Asia Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (PAKDD 2026), Hong Kong

Theme: Transforming Markets, Assets, and Inclusion. Invited keynotes, paper presentations and a panel discussion.

Network members: Stephen Chan, Yuanyuan Zhang, Jeffrey Chu

Market-implied stranded-asset risk propagates through the financial market

Ruting Wang

Dr. Ruting Wang, City University of Hong Kong. Room B2.33, FHGR Chur, and online via Microsoft Teams

Presenting new, as yet unpublished research on how stranded fossil-fuel losses are priced and transmitted through financial markets. Open to the public, on site and online, with no registration.

Network members: Ruting Wang

Invited research visit to Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU), China

Lennart John Baals, FHGR, University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons

One week at SZTU on invitation, with travel funded by an award from Movetia, the Swiss national agency for exchange and mobility. The invitation and the funded trip are the same visit. It extends the network beyond the Swiss-MENA axis into mainland China, alongside the existing China ties through Renmin University and City University of Hong Kong.

Network members: Lennart John Baals

Visiting BSc researcher from Poland

Hosted at FHGR, University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons, Switzerland

Two month research stay on AI-driven risk management. Funded through Erasmus+ on the Polish side and Movetia on the Swiss side.

International scientific committee established

21 members across 13 countries and territories

Romania 5, Italy 4, Switzerland 3, the Netherlands 2, and one each from Kosovo, North Macedonia, Lithuania, Portugal, China, Albania, Hong Kong, the UAE and Germany. Three members hold Swiss affiliations, two of them at FHGR, and two hold joint Swiss and Dutch appointments.

Liquidity-Fragmentation Indices for Tokenized Real-World Asset Secondary Markets: A Swiss-UAE Measurement Framework

Leading House MENA Research Partnership Grant (RPG) 2026, a 12 month joint research project

A follow-on research bid by the same two institutions this network connects: Swiss main applicant Joerg Osterrieder (FHGR), MENA main applicant Stephen Chan (American University of Sharjah). It builds the first practical liquidity-fragmentation indices for tokenized real-world asset secondary markets, with direct relevance to VARA and ADGM rule design. Submitted to the 23 June 2026 call; the panel decision is pending.

Network members: Joerg Osterrieder, Stephen Chan, Yuanyuan Zhang

Marketing booklet published

Nine page A4 booklet

Research programme published

Four thematic areas: LLMs in financial services, blockchain and DeFi, AI-driven risk management, and financial inclusion, with explainable AI for regulatory compliance as a cross-cutting theme.

Workshop dates confirmed and registration opened

Grant CCG-2025-05 secured

Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), through the HES-SO Leading House MENA

Connect & Collaborate Grant, with the American University of Sharjah as host institution and primary partner.

Conference website launched