Team Member

Dr. Peter Adriaens is a distinguished academic and entrepreneur known for his innovative work at the intersection of environmental engineering, finance, and entrepreneurship. He holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences from the University of California, Riverside, complemented by degrees from Ghent University.

Currently, Dr. Adriaens is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Finance, and Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan. At the University, he directs the Center for Digital Asset Finance and the Master of Engineering program in Smart Infrastructure Finance.

His research focuses on digital business, finance, and data market models for smart cities infrastructure, with a particular interest in leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) for sustainable bond and equity pricing. He explores how data can help close the infrastructure finance gap and democratize investment. Dr. Adriaens is also a recognized expert in CleanTech innovation and entrepreneurship, concentrating on corporate and financial risk models, especially those related to water.

Beyond his academic roles, he is a co-founder of Equarius Risk Analytics, a financial technology firm that integrates climate and water risk into corporate, index, and insurance risk assessments. He has also served as a Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at Sichuan University (China) and at the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy. Dr. Adriaens is an elected member of the American Academy of Environmental Engineering and the Belgian Royal Academy of Applied Sciences and the Arts, recognized for his ability to bridge the fields of engineering and business entrepreneurship.