News / 20th ICFB Conference Brought Together Academics Worldwide

20th ICFB Conference Brought Together Academics Worldwide

Lenka Přečková
19.10.2025

On 15–16 October 2025, the School of Business Administration in Karviná, Silesian University in Opava, hosted the 20th International Conference on Finance and Banking (ICFB). The event, traditionally organized by the Department of Finance and Accounting, welcomed 47 academics and researchers from Czech and international universities. A total of 28 papers were presented in thematic sessions, reflecting current trends in financial research and economic studies.

This year’s programme featured a wide range of topics covering financial markets, banking, investments, accounting, and sustainability. The conference opened with two keynote speeches delivered by distinguished guests.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Ruenzi (University of Mannheim) presented his lecture “Gender and Finance: On (the Missing) Women in Finance.” He addressed the persistent underrepresentation of women in the financial sector and, drawing on extensive empirical evidence, explained that women remain significantly underrepresented both in academia and in the financial industry. His presentation examined key reasons for this disparity — from career interruptions linked to motherhood, through bias in hiring and promotion, to customer-based discrimination against women in finance. The lecture also highlighted the importance of role models and inclusive academic environments that can inspire more women to enter and succeed in finance.

The second keynote speech was delivered by Mgr. Jan Procházka, Ph.D., Member of the Bank Board of the Czech National Bank, titled “From Bonds to Bitcoin: Retail Risk, Disclosure, and Supervision in the Czech Republic.” His presentation focused on the dynamics of retail investing in the Czech Republic and the role of regulation in ensuring transparency and investor protection. He noted the growing interest of households in investing in bonds, funds, and cryptoassets, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach between innovation and supervision. According to him, regulation should not suppress risk but should make it transparent and manageable through fair disclosure and responsible distribution. The final part of his talk focused on the implementation of the new EU regulation on cryptoassets (MiCA) and its implications for the Czech market.

In thematic sessions, participants presented and discussed research findings in the fields of financial markets, banking, accounting, investments, and macroeconomics. Many papers addressed current issues such as sustainable finance, investor behaviour, and digitalization of the financial sector. The conference once again confirmed its role as an important platform for international academic collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The 20th ICFB Conference offered an inspiring exchange of ideas and opened new directions for future research in finance and banking. The organizers express their gratitude to all participants and cooperating institutions for their contributions and look forward to continuing this successful tradition in the coming years. Detailed information about the programme, sessions, and papers is available on the conference website www.icfb.cz.