Beyond advancing knowledge, our research is shaping industry practices through partnerships with financial institutions, banking groups, hedge funds and technology companies worldwide. These collaborations support our work, foster exchange of ideas, enable real-world testing and create career pathways for our students.
Computational sciences are transforming finance and economics, changing how we understand today’s systems. As digital technologies reshape markets and societies, new computational approaches are essential for modelling complex behaviour and designing fairer economic structures.
UCL Computer Science’s research in finance and economics offers a fresh perspective on complex economic systems by bridging disciplines. We bring together experts in computer science, economics, physics and mathematics to develop novel AI and computational tools that address today’s challenges in markets and societies.
Our research and collaborations shape real-world policy through partnerships with regulators and authorities like the Financial Conduct Authority, the Bank of England and European Central Bank, plus with organisations including the World Bank, United Nations and International Monetary Fund.
We’ve established major research centres through interdisciplinary collaboration, including the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies and the Systemic Risk Centre we co-founded with the London School of Economics. We also established the UCL Centre for Sustainability and Realtech Innovation, working with architects and real estate companies on innovation in the built environment.
Research in economics and finance we’re working on at UCL Computer Science
Modelling complex systems, markets and societies
Advanced modelling tools using network science, AI, and other sophisticated techniques help us understand how markets and socio-economic systems behave and adapt to expected and unexpected change.
This research also explores the impact of emerging technologies and regulatory interventions on issues ranging from bank failures and supply chain disruptions to the net-zero transition.
Digital economy
We’re designing new financial technologies while closely monitoring and modelling the evolution of the digital economy, with a focus on the impact of decentralised technologies such as blockchain and digital currencies.
Our goal is to ensure these systems are designed and governed in ways that balance the rights of citizens and corporations, while safeguarding against excessive government control.
Key application areas we’re focusing on
AI and Machine learning in finance
Machine learning and network science help us stress-test financial institutions, map systemic connections, predict financial crises and optimise investment portfolios.
Our research also supports the development of algorithmic trading strategies through close collaboration with hedge funds and asset managers. Our work helps modernise industry practices and protect investors.
Decentralised systems
Researchers are exploring the future of decentralised systems by designing, analysing and simulating their architectures to understand how coordination, trust and effective governance can function without central control.
Studying technologies such as distributed ledgers, decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) and token economies, we’re making sure they’re efficient, safe, resilient and serve the public good.
Smart and computable contracts
We’re developing next-generation smart and computable contracts to automate agreements and transform the way law is implemented.
Focused on transparency, security, clear logic and interoperability – we’re making sure these contracts are reliable, legally sound and able to adapt to the complexities of real-world law and economics.
Algorithmic trading
Using AI and machine learning to operate with live market data, detect patterns in real time and exploit trading opportunities, we’re designing cutting-edge trading algorithms.
These adaptive systems respond to changing market conditions aiming to outperform benchmarks, while maintaining a strong focus on explainability and market stability.
Simulated AI economics
AI is reshaping economics and finance, and we’re at the forefront of research todesign novel AI systems and model their societal impact. We’re also building simulated ‘AI economies’ where autonomous AI agents trade, negotiate and interact – allowing us to study the consequences of automated decision-making.
Our work also explores how AI is transforming the job market, identifying emerging skill demands as well as the roles most at risk of displacement.
What’s coming next?
Over the next five to ten years, our field will be central to understanding the societal impact of AI, decentralised finance and digital economies.
We’re committed to leading this transformation – using research to drive innovation, inform policy and develop new technologies that support a fairer and better economic future. Through our industry partnerships, policy engagement and interdisciplinary programmes, UCL Computer Science is already powering this progress.
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