How the Lab Turns Research into Reform

The implementation model connects scholarly production, formal partnerships, working sessions with policy pillars, student development, and documented adoption outcomes.

ImplementationPolicy AdoptionStudent Pipeline

Research-to-Reform Operating Model

Research production

Partner validation

Policy sessions

Adoption outcomes

Implementation Phases

Phase 01

Produce high-impact evidence

The Lab produced 32 peer-reviewed papers in 2025, including work on banking digital transformation, emerging-market FinTech adoption, AI, sustainability, and green finance.

Phase 02

Translate evidence into tools

Dr. Shehadeh developed several research-based disclosure and transformation indices, including the FinTech Disclosure Index (FDI), the Digital Transformation Disclosure Index (DTDI), and an Industry 4.0 Reporting Index, designed to examine digital transformation, FinTech adoption, technological disclosure, and institutional readiness within the banking sector.

Phase 03

Convene policy stakeholders

The Lab held working sessions with the Central Bank of Jordan, JoPACC, Jordan Securities Commission, and Ministry of Finance.

Phase 04

Secure documented adoption

The Central Bank adopted Lab findings, JoPACC adopted the bulk of recommendations, and Al-Maha began voluntary FinTech-related disclosure.

Phase 05

Build student capability

Twenty-one students participated in Lab-supported research activities, eleven master’s theses aligned with Lab research themes, and two student teams were incubated through JoPACC’s JOIN Fincubator. Under the mentorship of Dr. Maha Shehadeh, the NeuroFi team developed “FinBridge,” an AI-supported bank comparison platform designed to promote financial literacy and informed financial decision-making. The project achieved Third Place in Jordan’s FinTech Rally 2025 University Hackathon, organized by JOIN Fincubator and JoPACC.

Phase 06

Scale through visibility

International Conference on Digital Transformation, Financial Technology and Business Innovation (ICDFB 2025)

Student Innovation Engine

Students in direct research

Master’s theses redirected

Teams incubated

3rd Place

FinTech Rally 2025

FinBridge AI platform developed by the NeuroFi team under Lab mentorship.

Implementation Logic

The Lab is not only a publication unit. It is an applied pipeline that moves evidence into regulators, payment infrastructure, firms, banks, and student ventures.