Thomas Ankenbrand

Thomas Ankenbrand is a Professor and Head of the Competence Center Investments at the Institute for Financial Services Zug (IFZ) within the Business unit of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. He holds a Master's degree from the University of St. Gallen and a PhD in Financial Markets as a Complex System from the University of Lausanne. Prior to academia, he founded multiple companies and served as CEO/board member in the financial sector.

His research explores the intersection of finance and emerging technologies, with core interests in:

• Artificial Intelligence: Applications in compliance, financial advice, and predictive modeling
• Decentralized Finance: Blockchain infrastructure, crypto assets, and token economies
• Quantum Computing: Financial modeling, optimization, and quantum machine learning
• Agent-Based Modeling: Simulation of market liquidity and investor behavior

Publication analysis reveals strong thematic consistency in FinTech innovation, with recent work emphasizing: AI-driven financial services, quantum computing applications, crypto asset ecosystems, and regulatory frameworks for decentralized technologies. His studies frequently examine Swiss and Liechtenstein financial markets.

He leads 16+ research initiatives including:

• Quantum Advantage in Finance
• Data-Driven Banking
• Swiss Asset Management Study
• Risks on Blockchains
• Confidential Computing
• Future of Investment Advisory

As Head of Competence Center Investments, he oversees research teams focusing on investment technologies and financial innovation.