URL: https://www.fcatalyst.com/university-awards
Objectives
The Fidelity Center for Applied Technology (FCAT®) University Research Awards program supports pioneering and applied academic research that explores the future of financial services and enabling technologies at selected institutions, including BU. FCAT funds high-impact investigations advancing ideas that anticipate the future of finance and its intersection with emerging technologies.
The 2026 Research Themes are:
- Theme 1: The Adaptive Horizon – Navigating the Age of Artificial Intelligence
- Theme 2: Explainability, Observability, and Monitoring of Generative AI in Financial Services
- Theme 3: Future of Savings and Investments in the Age of AI Agents
- Theme 4: Security, Forensics, and Oversight in the Age of the Autonomous AI Agents
Funding Information
$50,000 for 6 months
Eligibility
PIs must hold a full-time academic or research position. Any co-PIs must be from the same institution as the PI and meet the same eligibility criteria.
Internal Selection Process
BU may forward up to 2 submissions per theme (8 total).
Interested applicants should email Jon Gilbert (jong@bu.edu) with a brief summary of their proposed project (250 words or less) by 4/6/2026.
Deadlines
Internal Materials Due: Monday, April 6, 2026 by 5 pm
Anticipated Notification Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
External Materials Due: Monday, April 27, 2026