Fortifying Financial Cyber Defenses: CSRI Nepal Unveils 'Global AI Research Grant 2026'

In a strategic response to the escalating cyber threats, digital fraud, and data privacy vulnerabilities proliferating alongside the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the banking and financial sector, the Center for Cyber Security Research and Innovation Nepal (CSRI Nepal) has officially launched the 'Global AI Research Grant 2026'. Unveiled during a recent event in Kathmandu, this targeted funding initiative aims to pioneer indigenous technological solutions capable of neutralizing AI-driven financial crimes, safeguarding sensitive customer data, and ensuring strict adherence to evolving regulatory frameworks. By bridging the gap between academic research, regulatory bodies, and financial institutions, the program seeks to cultivate a robust, localized ecosystem for advanced AI and cybersecurity research.

Outlining the grant’s strategic vision, CSRI Nepal President Dr. Shaligram Parajuli emphasized a four-pronged approach to modernizing the country's digital financial architecture. Primarily, the initiative will fund the development of sophisticated AI models designed to detect digital fraud, prevent identity theft, and secure automated transactions. Secondly, it will promote the adoption of cutting-edge technologies like 'Federated Learning,' which allows institutions to process and analyze financial data collaboratively without compromising individual customer privacy. Furthermore, the grant serves as a launchpad for young Nepali data scientists, researchers, and cybersecurity professionals to engage in applied, high-impact research. Ultimately, the empirical data and technological breakthroughs generated through this program are intended to provide evidence-based policy recommendations to regulatory authorities, notably the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

To systematically address the multifaceted nature of modern cyber risks, the research grant has been categorized into four specialized domains. Under 'AI Threat Intelligence,' researchers will focus on developing automated, AI-driven surveillance systems capable of identifying and neutralizing cyber threats in real-time. The 'Data Governance' pillar will work towards designing secure, privacy-centric frameworks for managing vast repositories of financial data. Concurrently, the 'Financial Fraud Control' segment will prioritize the creation of predictive technologies capable of flagging suspicious transactions before any economic damage occurs. Recognizing the socio-economic implications of algorithmic bias, the program has also dedicated a core track to 'Ethical AI,' ensuring that AI systems deployed in credit scoring and core banking services remain transparent, unbiased, and rigorously accountable.

The conceptual architecture of this ambitious grant was collaboratively engineered by a core team of CSRI Nepal’s leadership, including Founding President Chiranjibi Adhikari, Senior Vice President Prof. Dr. Gajendra Sharma, Secretaries Sarala Karki and Bandana Sharma, alongside executive members Shantikala Subedi and Sangam Neupane. Analytically, this initiative marks a critical juncture for Nepal’s banking sector, promising to catalyze a paradigm shift from traditional, reactive cybersecurity measures to automated, predictive defense mechanisms. Beyond immediate technological upgrades, the program envisions a symbiotic relationship between university researchers and the financial industry, ultimately aimed at cultivating a self-sustaining pool of domestic cybersecurity and AI talent.

The institution has now opened its doors to the academic and professional community, inviting innovative proposals that align with these critical objectives. Prospective researchers, industry experts, and academic scholars looking to contribute to the future of Nepal's digital financial security can submit their formal applications through the organization's official portal at csrinepal.org.np/globalresearchgrant.