PGIM Real Estate is betting that accelerating technological innovation will improve real assets investment performance, and in October launched RealAssetX to research, develop and invest in technology.
"The profound impact that the fast-moving technology wave is having on the real asset industry means that investment managers' success will be defined by their ability to be tech-enhanced through every stage of the investment life cycle," said Raimondo Amabile, PGIM Real Estate's co-CEO and global chief investment officer, in a written statement.
On the investment side, the $133 billion PGIM Real Estate is partnering with Taronga Ventures, a global real asset technology manager, to offer venture capital funds investing in early and later-stage technology companies.
RealAssetX has also created partnerships with a number of global universities and technology companies to take projects from concept to funding and/or launch. This includes establishing an accelerator program for early stage technology companies with research-led intellectual properties.
Among these research and development projects are launching the University College London's Centre for Sustainability and Realtech Innovation, to research real assets-focused projects in sustainability, AI and innovation; and working with the University of Chicago Data Science Institute to develop predictive analytics using big data analysis and AI to improve investment decisions and portfolio construction.
