The Third FinGeo School, the Global Networks in Financial Geography, for early career researchers in Singapore.
Dariusz Wójcik*
How can early career researchers shape the future of financial geography? How are the main habits for a researcher in financial geography? These questions guided the Third FinGeo School, an event designed to empower emerging scholars and foster international collaboration in one of the most dynamic fields of economic geography. FinGeo (Global Network on Financial Geography) is an international research network established in 2015, dedicated to the study of financial geography, the spatial dimensions of finance and their impact on economies, societies, and environments (www.fingeo.net)
By combining academic rigor with networking opportunities, the third School created a unique space for learning, discussion, and strengthen international networking among scholars.
The event brought together at the National University of Singapore (NUS), from 24 to 25 February 2025, 34 early career researchers and 6 instructors from 15 countries, creating a vibrant environment for knowledge exchange and professional growth. The program featured keynote lectures, thematic sessions, and interactive workshops. The school began with an inspiring welcome speech on The 7 Habits of Successful Researchers by Prof. Dariusz Wójcik, followed by an insightful discussion on theory development in financial geography chaired by Prof. W. Nathan Green. This was succeeded by a session on methodology in financial geography led by Prof. Franziska Sohns, and concluded with a thematic session in which Prof. Silvia Grandi shared key insights on research impact and financial geography, sparking a lively discussion on making research matter. Moreover, other themes were selected for their relevance to current debates in financial geography and their potential to stimulate discussion among participants. Social activities complemented the academic program, fostering informal interactions and lasting connections.
Key discussions focused on the spatial dimensions of finance, the growing role of Asia in global financial systems, and methodological innovations in the discipline. A major outcome was the proposal for a special issue in Finance & Space on “Multi-Level Phenomena in Financial Geography: Hierarchies, Systems, and Reflexivity”, which will consolidate insights from the event.
Moreover, the Third FinGeo School has been organised back-to-back to the Second Global Financial Geography (FinGeo) Conference on Geopolitics and Geoeconomics of Finance, Singapore, 26-28 February 2025 with keynote speakers: Prof. Emma Mawdsley on Development finance and the ‘Second Cold War’ and Prof. Eric Helleiner on Finance and the Global Polycrisis.
Looking ahead, FinGeo plans to organize future Schools and related initiatives to further advance research and collaboration. In particular, the Fourth FinGeo School is going to be in Bologna from the 31st of January to the 1st of February 2026, back to back to the 8th FinGeo Seminar.
The Regional Studies Association (RSA) was acknowledged in the program and promoted during the event through references to its journals, including Finance & Space. These efforts aimed to enhance RSA’s visibility and encourage engagement among participants.
Author:
*Dariusz Wójcik, Provost’s Chair Professor of Financial Geography, National University of Singapore; Honorary Research Associate, University of Oxford; Editor in Chief of Finance and Space; co-founder and inaugural Chair of FinGeo.
