The basic purpose of the newly-published L’Atelier BNP Paribas report, entitled Tech for a Better Future in Asia, is to improve public knowledge of a range of innovative digital projects that should help to attain the 17 Social Development Goals set by the United Nations Organisation.
While Asia, with China out in front, has achieved spectacular economic development in recent years, the populations of India and China still nevertheless account for 33% of the two billion unbanked people around the world (World Bank, 2014). Meanwhile, as a direct consequence of rapid industrial growth, Asia is also now facing some serious environmental issues.
The report concentrates on two main areas:
The Inclusive Economy, examining the digital innovations in China, India, the Philippines and Southeast Asia that are now providing unbanked populations with access to loans, payment methods and insurance, using such pioneering techniques as iris-based identification and authentication systems.
The Green Economy, focusing on a series of innovations relating to the Internet of Things, Big Data and Mobile Internet that are helping to bring improvements to a variety of sectors, including agriculture, transport, energy and housing.
Jean de Chambure, Head of Consulting at L'Atelier BNP Paribas in Shanghai, explains: “The various Asian countries, which are today going through a profound economic transition, are increasingly focusing on the Green Economy. Our intention in drawing up this report was both to take stock of the transformation now underway and also to anticipate the way in which the new technologies are being developed there in order to meet the environmental and social challenges posed by the economic growth in these countries.”
L’Atelier BNP Paribas, which celebrated the 10th anniversary of its establishment in Asia on 13 November, is based in Shanghai, at the premises of the Xnode accelerator, with which it partners. Since 2007, L'Atelier BNP Paribas in Shanghai has been on the lookout for disruptive innovations across the region and its analysts permanently monitor innovations from various Asian countries, especially China.
The report, available in English only, can be downloaded free of charge from the L’Atelier BNP Paribas website.
Based in Paris, San Francisco and Shanghai, L’Atelier BNP Paribas is an innovation prospection company that advises and supports the Group and its clients in their digital transformation. With a base in three major geographical areas for innovation – Europe, North America and Asia – L’Atelier BNP Paribas carries out forward-looking analysis and assists the BNP Paribas Group and its clients in their digital and innovation strategy. As part of its open innovation approach, L’Atelier BNP Paribas has created an Acceleration hub, which brings together innovative entrepreneurs and large companies to accelerate the development of their common projects.
BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in 74 countries, with more than 192,000 employees, including more than 146,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets and International Financial Services (whose retail-banking networks and financial services are covered by Retail Banking & Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking, which serves two client franchises: corporate clients and institutional investors. The Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the European leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail-banking model in Mediterranean countries, in Turkey, in Eastern Europe and a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific.