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Explore with us | Research & DEVELOPMENT

Research and development

Mastercard’s R&D team conducts research into emerging behaviours, trends and technologies that have the potential to unlock value for our customers. 

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How we drive innovation

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Researching emerging technologies

We learn by doing, using applied research to build concepts and prototypes and gain a deep understanding of emerging technologies and their applications.

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Developing new products 

We leverage emerging technologies, research and our technical expertise to explore new product ideas with our customers at the centre.

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Culture & collaboration

We foster a culture of innovation with customers and employees by using cutting-edge technology to create concepts for the future and through meetups and hackathons.

Current focus areas

AI, Generative AI & Machine Learning

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Quantum Computing 

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Next Gen Devices

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Privacy Enhancing Technology 

Cybersecurity

Augmented Analytics

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R&D stories

Mastercard launches GenAI
assistant capabilities to enhance customer value

This issue of Signals explores how fintechs are fuelling the next generation of small and medium business growth.

Learn more
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How we drive innovation

What is Mastercard R&D and how does it support customers and developers?

Mastercard R&D is focused on exploring emerging technologies and accelerating innovation. It supports customers and developers by providing expertise, platforms and programmes to co-create solutions, run experiments and build prototypes that de-risk new product development.

How does Mastercard R&D de-risk new product development?

R&D uses structured frameworks to validate technical assumptions early, run proof-of-concept builds and test market fit. This approach reduces uncertainty and ensures new products meet security, compliance and scalability standards before full investment.

What emerging technologies does Mastercard R&D focus on?

Mastercard R&D explores technologies such as Generative AI, Agentic AI, Quantum Computing, Privacy Enhancing Technologies, Cloud, Augmented Analytics, Next Gen Devices, Cybersecurity and Confidential Computing to unlock new opportunities for innovation.

How does Mastercard R&D support rapid experimentation and proof-of-concept development?

Through the R&D Accelerator, teams can quickly ideate, design and build functional demos to test high-risk technical assumptions. This rapid experimentation model accelerates learning and reduces time-to-market for innovative solutions.

How does R&D drive innovation?

R&D drives innovation by combining technical expertise with customer insights, leveraging global hubs and cutting-edge platforms. It identifies emerging trends, builds prototypes and partners with product teams to transform ideas into scalable solutions.