Conclusion of the Innovation Data Challenge

19 June 2026

The Innovation Data Challenge, a joint initiative by Banca d'Italia and the Central Bank of Ireland to encourage academic research on The use of data to promote innovation in the retail payment market, has concluded.

Approximately 380 students and researchers from seven Italian and Irish universities took part. The Italian universities represented were Università Bocconi, Politecnico di Milano, and University of Naples "Parthenope", while University College Cork (UCC), University College Dublin (UCD), the University of Galway and the University of Limerick participated for Ireland.

Over the course of five months, from January to May 2026, participants developed research proposals on innovation in payments using both real and synthetic data furnished by the institutions.

An evaluation panel composed of representatives from the two central banks selected 18 research proposals from among the 35 received. The results were presented during two virtual showcases, held on 7 May at the offices of Banca d'Italia's Milano Hub and on 22 May at the Central Bank of Ireland's headquarters in Dublin.