In 2025, Inquire Europe celebrates a remarkable 35 years of bridging the worlds of academic finance and professional investment practice. As part of this milestone, Inquire Europe is spotlighting the experiences of long-standing academic collaborators who have benefited from its unique model of research support. Two such voices, Professor Kristy Jansen of the University of Southern California and Professor Raman Uppal of EDHEC Business School, offer powerful testimonials to the institute’s enduring relevance and impact.
A Bridge Between Academia and Industry
Both academics point to Inquire Europe’s role in transcending traditional academic boundaries. For Professor Jansen, Inquire Europe offers an essential channel to reach beyond the university sphere. “It allows my research to reach a wider audience beyond the academic community because of Inquire’s strong ties with practitioners such as asset managers and pension fund CEOs,” she notes. Engaging directly with this community has led her not only to sharpen her understanding of her own findings but also to discover fresh avenues for future inquiry.
Similarly, Professor Uppal commends Inquire for creating a space where academics can test and expand their ideas with direct input from both senior academics and experienced practitioners. “The seminars offer unparalleled support…which enhances the quality of the research work and broadens its scope and applicability,” he affirms. The ability to present early-stage work and receive constructive feedback has proved critical to turning new ideas into published papers in top finance journals.
A Forum for Constructive Exchange
A hallmark of Inquire Europe’s seminars is their interactive and collaborative format. Professor Jansen praises the roundtable structure, which encourages active participation from all attendees. This setting, she says, “allows all participants to actively think about your research and then provide questions and feedback. This direct engagement has been very useful for improving my work.”
Professor Uppal echoes this sentiment. The seminars are not only academic forums but also social environments that foster informal yet insightful conversations. “The social activities during the two-day event allow for interaction with other participants in an informal setting,” he says, adding that these engagements have frequently sparked new research ideas.
A Tradition of Intellectual Growth
What brings these scholars back again and again? For both Jansen and Uppal, the answer is simple: value. Each seminar yields not just feedback on current projects but also inspiration for future ones. Professor Jansen highlights “fruitful discussions with Inquire’s members” that continue to refine her thinking. For Professor Uppal, the experience is consistently generative: “I have left each Inquire seminar not only with excellent feedback… but also with several promising ideas for new research.”
Looking Ahead
As Inquire Europe commemorates 35 years of championing finance research, it remains clear that its mission has never been more vital. By facilitating genuine dialogue between academics and professionals, it accelerates innovation in finance and ensures that scholarship stays relevant to the ever-evolving needs of the industry. With the testimonials of Professors Jansen and Uppal, the value of this dialogue is not only evident—it is enduring.