Sustainability Report 2017

Sustainabiltity Report 2017 24 Innovation and Business Development The technological advancements and the increasing number of internet users have enabled faster-than-expected expansion of the financial and business innovations such as FinTech and Blockchain. These are SET’s challenges to adjust and apply technology to enhance competitiveness in the digital era. The significant activities and projects are as follows: LIVE Platform • SET developed the electronic Funding Portal and Electronic Trading Platform as channels for startups and SMEs to access sources of funds for business opportunities and sustainable growth. • SET applied Blockchain technology to support transactions in terms of transparency, speed, safety and cost effectiveness. As investment in startups and SMEs has relatively high risk, SET has developed a system to serve specific groups of investors as indicated in the regulations of the SEC. Also, SET plans to develop the operating system to facilitate the expansion of the capital market in the future. FundConnext • SET developed the mutual fund trading system called FundConnext, which is a FinTech to support investment culture in mutual funds in Thailand. • SET connected operating systems of asset management companies with those of selling agents in order to promote mutual fund trading and enable investors to trade mutual funds of several asset management companies through a single account. • In 2017, 13 asset management companies and 9 selling agents participated in FundConext. The system will be further developed to provide payment service to facilitate mutual fund investors.