IOSCO launches FCA‑backed TechSprint
IOSCO announced an inaugural TechSprint powered by the FCA’s AI platform, inviting fintechs and technical teams to build compliant AI solutions for financial markets reported. It’s a regulatory‑industry signal that model explainability, audit trails and security are now core engineering deliverables — not optional extras.
Applications for the inaugural TechSprint were open from 2 March to 30 April 2026 (iosco.org). The programme runs from 2 March through 8 October 2026, with an in‑person Demo Day scheduled for 8 October 2026 in Madrid. (iosco.org) Teams will choose between two fixed problem statements—(1) tools to help retail investors identify and avoid AI‑enabled fraud and scams and (2) technology to educate and empower retail investors to use AI while understanding cross‑jurisdictional risks. (iosco.org) Selected teams will work virtually with regular check‑ins and mentoring from IOSCO and its members before presenting at the Madrid Demo Day, timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of World Investor Week. (iosco.org) The FCA’s AI Lab and Innovation/Digital Sandbox will supply datasets and testing infrastructure for participants, including synthetic APP fraud datasets already hosted on the FCA platform and broader AI Lab tooling introduced since October 2024. (fca.org.uk) The TechSprint guidance sets cross‑cutting principles covering accessibility, cross‑border applicability, data governance and ethics, and lists assessment criteria, mentorship and showcase opportunities for shortlisted teams; enquiries are directed to ioscotechsprint@iosco.org. (iosco.org)
