The Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) and the China Academy of Financial Research (CAFR) jointly organized the 8th SAIF-CAFR Financial Research Summer Camp from July 6th to 7th, 2025, at the SAIF Xuhui Campus — continuing their commitment to fostering excellence in financial research education.
Designed for emerging scholars in China and beyond, the SAIF-CAFR Financial Research Summer Camp introduces participants to the frontiers of academic research in finance while providing cutting-edge research methodologies and fresh perspectives. The program aims to inspire participants' future academic careers and enhance the overall quality of research and teaching in finance throughout China.
This year's Summer Camp attracted young professors, PhD students, and researchers from prestigious universities in China and abroad, with nearly 100 participants admitted to the competitive program. Notably, approximately 33% of participants hailed from regions outside mainland China, reflecting the program's growing international appeal.
Professor Hong Yan, Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs and Faculty and Chair Professor of Finance at SAIF, delivered a warm welcome speech to commence the camp. He reflected upon the camp's foundational vision and emphasized its crucial role in helping young scholars refine their research skills and enhance academic quality. Professor Yan praised the participants' enthusiasm for financial academic research and introduced the distinguished teaching faculty of the camp.
The Summer Camp featured in-depth lectures by three leading finance scholars. Rossen Valkanov and Jun Liu, Professors of Finance at UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management, covered "Macroeconomic Shocks, Expectations, and Large-scale Portfolios" and "Factor Structure and Risk Premium," respectively. Will Cong, Professor of Finance at Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, explored the emerging field of "AI for Economics and Finance."
The diverse range of topics covered during the intensive two-day program provided participants with comprehensive exposure to contemporary challenges and methodological innovations in financial research, positioning them to contribute meaningfully to the evolving landscape of academic finance.
