Last week, a team of the Youth Green Finance Initiative, including Assoc. Prof. Martin Angerer and Jennifer Schein from the University of Liechtenstein, members from the Liechtenstein Banker Association and from UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein joined forces on a landmark expedition to South Africa.
This visit was part of a collaborative effort to address social and ecological challenges through innovative blended finance solutions. Their journey, spanning several cities including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Pietermaritzburg, and Cape Town, aimed to deepen understanding of local conditions and foster a network that supports impactful sustainability projects.
The delegation's mission was clear: to gain firsthand experience of the on-the-ground realities and to integrate this knowledge into developing a pioneering blended finance model tailored for ecological and social impact. Their week was filled with insightful engagements, including meetings with key partners like UNICEF South Africa and interactions with influential community-based organizations such as R-labs.
The journey commenced in Pretoria with an introduction by UNICEF, outlining the vast landscape of social and ecological challenges facing South Africa. In Johannesburg, discussions revolved around the need for innovative solutions that respect the unique political and social contexts of the regions visited.
Pietermaritzburg offered a closer look at water-related initiatives with visits to DUCT and GroundTruth, organizations at the forefront of addressing local ecological issues. The engagement in Cape Town with Rlabs particularly stood out, showcasing the vibrant spirit of community support and innovation.
Throughout the trip, the representatives of the University of Liechtenstein were instrumental in fostering dialogues and bridging connections between European finance models and African ecological initiatives. Their efforts were pivotal in shaping the project’s approach to developing scalable and sustainable finance solutions.
Building on the rich insights and partnerships forged during this trip, the next steps include refining the blended finance models and further engaging with the local communities and youth. The University of Liechtenstein remains committed to supporting sustainable development through education, innovation, and international cooperation.
We extend our deepest gratitude to UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein for orchestrating this impactful journey, and to our hosts at UNICEF South Africa, who provided invaluable insights and hospitality. Special thanks to the local organizations and community leaders who shared their time and expertise, making this journey a profound learning experience for all involved.
On Friday, 15 November 2024, the retirement ceremony of Prof. emeritus Dr. Marco J. Menichetti took place at the University of Liechtenstein.
During a festive ceremony with various lectures, he was awarded the title “Professor emeritus”, bringing an outstanding academic career to a worthy close after 23 years at the university.
The honoree can look back on an impressive career that began in 2001 with his appointment at the former Liechtenstein University of Applied Sciences. Over the following two decades, Marco J. Menichetti made a significant contribution to the development of the University of Applied Sciences into a university. With his great commitment and expertise, he had a significant impact on academic life at the University of Liechtenstein. His work in the field of finance and sustainable finance, his innovative research approaches and his tireless commitment to teaching were particularly well received by both colleagues and students.
In his speech, Rector Christian Frommelt emphasized the merits of Marco J. Menichetti. He paid tribute with great appreciation to his contribution to the academic development of the university and his commitment to scientific exchange. “Professor Menichetti has not only set standards as a lecturer and researcher, but also as a pioneer for a successful academic future for the university,” said Frommelt. Over the past year and a half, a friendship has developed from the close collaboration in the Rectorate and the joint commitment to the university. Marco J. Menichetti is therefore an extremely worthy holder of the title “Professor emeritus”.
The festive ceremony was accompanied by music from Janina Nicole Rischka, violin, and Franz Ortner, piano. Particularly impressive were the contributions from various companions of Marco J. Menichetti, who gave fascinating speeches on both his professional expertise and his human side. In their speeches, they recalled joint projects, scientific breakthroughs and the close collaboration they enjoyed with him over the years. These personal insights made the ceremony an unforgettable experience for all those present.
After the ceremony, Marco J. Menichetti was bid a warm farewell by many colleagues, students and former companions. The evening offered not only a look back at 23 years of successful work, but also a look ahead to the new phase in his life as professor emeritus, in which he will continue to act as a mentor and advisor.
At the renowned Finance Forum Liechtenstein, Prof. Dr. Michael Hanke and doctoral candidates Merlin Bartel and Sebastian Petric from the University of Liechtenstein presented their latest research findings on a highly topical issue: the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to forecast banking crises. The workshop attracted strong interest from both industry professionals and investors.
The research team used the U.S. regional banking crisis of 2023 as a case study to demonstrate how machine learning can be applied effectively to detect potential risks at an early stage. Using advanced AI models, the researchers analysed a wide range of macroeconomic and bank-specific data to identify warning signs that may indicate impending market disruptions.
What stood out in particular was the practical relevance of the results: the model not only has the capacity to detect crisis potential but can also generate actionable investment recommendations. For instance, it was shown that an investor following the model’s signals could exit the market in advance of negative developments—resulting not only in reduced downside risk but also in significantly improved portfolio performance, especially in terms of final wealth and the Sharpe ratio.
The results underline the growing importance of data-driven approaches in finance and demonstrate how academic research can help strengthen the resilience of financial markets. This project exemplifies the successful integration of theory and practice—and serves as yet another indicator of the innovative research being conducted at the University of Liechtenstein at the intersection of financial economics and artificial intelligence.
The University of Liechtenstein warmly congratulates Merlin Bartel on the successful defense of his dissertation, which he completed with the highest distinction. His thesis, entitled “Machine Learning in Financial Economics: An Investment Perspective”, was supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sebastian Stöckl and Dr. Pedro Barroso of the Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics – a prime example of the University of Liechtenstein’s international research collaboration with leading partner institutions.
In his dissertation, Merlin Bartel explores how machine learning methods can enhance predictive accuracy in financial economics, particularly in the context of factor premia and capital market anomalies. His work focuses on the development of robust, economically interpretable models that remain effective under realistic investment conditions.
The dissertation includes several innovative contributions, such as three novel predictive signals, an integrated ML-based single-factor model, and the application of autoencoders for compressing complex financial signals.
His research has already been presented at numerous international academic conferences and received considerable attention from the scholarly community.
We sincerely congratulate Merlin Bartel on this outstanding achievement and wish him continued success in his professional and academic journey!
