At Sopra Steria Financial Services, we pride ourselves on fostering innovation that drives meaningful change. One partnership that exemplifies this commitment is our collaboration with FinTech Scotland, particularly through the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL).
FRIL is an industry-led collaborative research and innovation programme that leverages new technologies to respond to, shape and evolve the regulatory landscape in the UK and globally.
This year marks the third FRIL Innovation Call in which we are participating - following our involvement in two calls - either as a key challenge sponsor or as a fintech solution provider.
Last year, we showcased our in-house developed Optimised Decision Engine (ODE) - an AI-powered fraud ruleset optimisation tool that helps financial institutions balance effective fraud detection with operational efficiency and a seamless customer experience. Its patent-pending methodology enables institutions to stay ahead of emerging fraud threats while meeting regulatory requirements and delivering exceptional customer outcomes.
For 2025/26, the programme focuses on the future of wealth following the FCA’s Advice Guidance Boundary Review (AGBR). The challenge will be exploring solutions that help consumers make informed financial decisions and deliver accessible, tailored wealth support within evolving regulatory expectations.
Sopra Steria Financial Services colleagues are actively contributing across all seven use cases, from simplified advice at scale to cross-platform data aggregation, co-creating next-generation solutions alongside fintechs, regulators and academic partners. By collaborating across sectors, we aim to help close the UK’s financial advice gap and empower consumers to make confident, informed decisions.
Gill Green and Kal Bukovski at the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab Innovation Call Kick-off Day, hosted by FinTech Scotland.
Sharing actionable research and insights
Collaboration and knowledge exchange are central to FRIL. Over the last 12 months, working with academics from the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde, we have co-authored three whitepapers on technology adoption and innovation in financial regulation:
These publications demonstrate how research and practical innovation come together to inform the development of solutions that have real-world impact for consumers and financial institutions alike.
Driving strategic collaboration
As an industry sponsor for FRIL’s innovation challenges, Sopra Steria contributes expertise and guidance to fintechs while helping shape meaningful, scalable solutions. This year, our involvement in the Future of Wealth challenge marks another exciting step in our partnership, allowing us to influence the design of next-generation tools and frameworks that support smarter financial decisions.
Kirsty McKenna, Innovation Lead at FinTech Scotland, said:
“Sopra Steria Financial Services has been a standout partner in the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab, demonstrating a deep commitment to collaborative innovation and driving real-world impact. Their contribution spans thought leadership, academic contribution, advanced technological development and proactive support for fintechs. SSFS’s work exemplifies how industry partnerships can accelerate progress in financial regulation and deliver meaningful outcomes for customers, businesses and the wider ecosystem.”
We’re proud to be part of a partnership that is shaping the future of financial services - supporting innovation, enabling smarter decision-making and delivering impact that truly matters to people, businesses and society.
If you’d like to find out more about this collaboration or get involved, get in touch - we’d love to share more about the work we’re doing with FinTech Scotland and FRIL.