Centre for Applied Finance Research

Macquarie University’s Centre for Applied Finance Research aims to be a locus for excellence in finance. It addresses issues relating to business, regulatory (i.e., government) and professional practice. Its focus is in areas relating to optimal market design, market quality, optimal regulation and investment strategies which impact on the Australian and other international economies.

A focal point and core function of the Centre is the implementation of an industry funded PhD program where PhD students spend considerable time on-site in industry partner offices, undertaking research that has direct and meaningful impact for industry.

The Centre’s Approach

The Centre is broad appealing and industry focused, predominantly based around Academic and Research Student engagement with industry. The central tenet is that industry has research needs that they are unable to service internally, so look to engage with a research providing Centre.

These industry partners provide funding so that researchers (PhD Candidates and other academics) can spend considerable time on-site in the industry partner offices. Some of the research they undertake for the industry partner will underpin the research required for their PhD degrees. Industry benefit as they get highly skilled and trained individuals embedded within their teams that can make a difference to the way that they operate.

Universities benefit from the research that has a direct and much more easily quantifiable impact (outside of academia).