UniCredit EVO – the investment project of UniCredit and the international advisory company Anthemis Group – invested 25 million euro last year in innovation fintechs.  By 2019 the group will invest the record amount of 2.3 billion euro in new information and communication technologies

This is evident from the published report of UniCredit on sustainable development for 2016 (2016 Integrated Report). The report, prepared according to the requirements of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), presents the financial and non-financial indicators of UniCredit in the creation of positive value for the local communities of the 14 main markets of the group, among which is Bulgaria.

The project UniCredit EVО is included in the sustainable development report in a special section dedicated to innovations and new technologies.  UniCredit EVO (an abbreviation for equity venture opportunities) was launched in 2016 and invests in the most promising startups with innovative ideas and technologies in the field of financial services, mainly in Europe and North America.  The bank aims at cooperating with new partners within the fintech ecosystem and at developing cutting-edge technological solutions for clients. The capital provided by UniCredit for investments amounts to 200 million euro.  The purpose of UniCredit evo is to combine the strengths of the traditional market participants with these of the newcomers.

The sustainable development report of UniCredit for 2016 informs also of the application of the blockchain technology in a mobile application of the group concerning forex trade.

It is known that together with other international banks UniCredit participates also in the blockchain consortia of R3 and Ripple. The blockchain technology has become popular with the bitcoin cryptocurrency.  Outside its application in relation to the bitcoin, it is deemed that the blockchain has the potential to revolutionize the financial industry by simultaneously reducing the costs for financial services and making them several times faster. 

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Additional media information:

Victoria Blajeva, tel +359 (0) 2 9264 993, wjlj/ebwjepwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Beatris Nikolova, tel +359 (0) 2 9232 528, cfbusjt/ojlpmpwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch