Ripple aims to further academic research in blockchain technology by partnering with Tokyo and Kyoto Universities. The crypto education program is now collaborating 33 institutes worldwide to develop the increasingly popular blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies and decentralized digital transactions.
The University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) has already established over 30 university collaborations initiating in 2018, including Princeton University, Carnegie Mellon, Pennsylvania University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Singapore National University. Ripple, the crypto firm behind the Ripple (XRP)trade cryptocurrency, has engaged a total of $50 million in development aid.
According to the press release, the organization is now ready to pave the way of UBRI into Japan after their collaborations with Tokyo and Kyoto Universities. According to the Senior Director in Global Operations at Ripple, Mr. Emi Yoshikawa, “The region has always been thinking forward and exploring ways to improve the current financial system.”
The Tokyo University, one of the latest partners of Ripple, will be awarding scholarships to students conduct blockchain research in their premises. In addition to that, the focus has been set to seminars and public talks on blockchain and settlements hosted by the economics department at the university.
With the world turning their heads towards clear regulations in the blockchain and cryptocurrency markets, the collaboration between Ripple and Tokyo University professors will focus on research regarding regulatory frameworks of blockchain to support this evolving financial systems.
On the other hand, Kyoto University will be focusing on hosting and supervising researches on interdisciplinary approach. Different students from different disciplines, such as engineering, business and public policy will focus on addressing global issues by the help of blockchain technology such as migrant workers, digital refugee identity management and supply chain management for Kyoto’s traditional industry.
The main job for Ripple would be to sponsor these researches through financial and technical assistance. In the words of Eric van Miltenburg, Ripple’s Senior Vice President in Global Operations, “As the industry matures, the academic community plays a pivotal role in paving the road for innovative companies and entrepreneurs leveraging blockchain technologies and digital assets.”
Ripple mentioned that the crypto company is confident that there is a high demand for answers to technical challenges as globalization and technological advances take place. Therefore, it hopes that its association with major universities will develop a new generation of industry experts, entrepreneurs, engineers, business owners, and operators who can have a firm understanding of what blockchain technology is all about.
More Crypto-Academic Research Collaborations
As AllStocks News reported previously, the Beijing Tsinghua University Institute for Fintech Research paired up with Ripple’s UBRI in January. Since then, the University has initiated a development program on global blockchain regulations and the expansion of the industry. This program is called the Scholarship Program for Blockchain Technology Research.
The trend of promoting educational research that revolve around blockchain, cryptocurrencies and digital assets has been a high demand in the industry. Many top-tier institutes such as Tezos and IBM have been collaborating with different institutes in Russia and South Korea in the past for the development of blockchain technology.
In addition to that, many other institutes such as Canada-based university in British Columbia and Malta University have also launched different research programs of blockchain and cryptocurrency.
