The hedge fund industry has entered a new era of regulation but will continue to thrive, said Winton Capital Management founder, managing director and head of research David Harding.

Harding said a manager displaying integrity, honesty and "good professional management" would succeed in a more regulated environment. "The qualities of a good asset manager are probably the same as the qualities of a good company," Harding said.

Harding, winner of the Hedge Funds Review Tenth European Performance Awards Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award, said he thought scientific research was key to Winton's success and the "meat" of the industry.

During a discussion ranging from the merits of commodity trading advisors (CTAs) to the future direction of the industry, Harding said he continued to believe in hedge funds and the challenges of running a business.

He also spoke about investor priorities and the need for caution within the industry following the financial crisis. Harding gave his opinions on the demand for Ucits III-compliant funds as well as the benefits for investors of allocating to CTAs and managed futures funds.