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Ripple, the blockchain powered cross-border payment network, has announced the latest group of partners that have joined its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI). The global initiative, which launched in June 2018, now supports 29 partners to further accelerate academic research, technical development, and innovation in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital payments.
Since its launch, UBRI has helped foster increased levels of interest and academic activity by leading faculty, post-doctoral and graduate students at many of the world’s top universities. The new cohort of partners includes a broader international selection of top-tier university and college partners, representing a wide variety of academic disciplines.
New UBRI partners include:
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Cornell University
- Duke University
- Georgetown University
- University of Kansas
- University of Michigan
- Morgan State University
- National University of Singapore
- Northeastern University
- University of São Paulo
- Institute for Fintech Research, Tsinghua University
Partners will utilize UBRI resources in unique ways by developing curricula, expanding or launching courses, hosting conferences and awarding scholarships to faculty and students pursuing work in blockchain, cryptocurrency, digital payments and related topics. These programs, driven by the university partners, are poised to prepare the next generation of engineers, business leaders, entrepreneurs and other professionals to apply these technologies in practice. In addition, these programs will increase positive awareness of the transformative impact that blockchain technology will have across various industries.
“In less than a year, our initial UBRI partners hit the ground running with the launch of new research projects, events, course offerings and more. Expanding the ecosystem to a more global, diversified network of UBRI partners will only continue to enrich these projects.”
As in the days of the early Internet, academic institutions are expected to serve as a major source of innovation as blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies continue to mature. The independence and rigor inherent to universities enable them to fulfill this special role, which paves the way for innovative entrepreneurs and companies, as well as educates the broader market on how blockchain will impact the world beyond cryptocurrencies.
Since its launch, UBRI has cultivated strong connections between partners and created a global network for advancing and accelerating the field. For example, the partnership with the University of California, Berkeley has resulted in cross-departmental collaboration, as several schools within the University expanded relevant course offerings, funded research projects and supported student-led activities and events, including an upcoming blockchain UI/UX hackathon. In 2018, the 600+ members of the University of Pennsylvania’s Blockchain Club benefitted from UBRI through support for their annual conference and Penn faculty received funding for research and curricular development.
This year, a number of UBRI partners will host and collaborate at workshops and conferences centered on topics including blockchain, cryptography, cybersecurity, and regulation. At U.S.-based Duke University and Georgetown University, UBRI will support expanding curriculum and teaching, research and technical projects and collaboration across disciplines. Internationally, the University of São Paulo is receiving funding for a blockchain innovation program, which will serve as an interdisciplinary forum across its schools of engineering, law, mathematics, economics and business administration.
“We are excited by the momentum that the Ripple UBRI Partnership has fostered at Berkeley Haas and throughout UC Berkeley in the development of blockchain, digital payments and cryptocurrency-related research and innovation. In December, we awarded the first round of Ripple-funded faculty and student blockchain, digital payments and cryptocurrency-focused research grants. Also, we are sponsoring numerous student-led activities this semester, including partnering with Blockchain at Berkeley to host a blockchain/fintech industry Spring speaker series at Haas.”
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