New Blockchain Research Center in Stanford
New Blockchain Research Center in Stanford
A consortium of organizations as well as startups is sponsoring a new blockchain research centre which will be headquartered at Stanford University. Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum tweeted his support as well as his Foundation’s for this new research centre.
According to Stanford’s website, one of the main supporters of the new research centre, called the Center for Blockchain Research, is the Ethereum Foundation. Besides the Ethereum Foundation, other supporters include Protocol Labs, OmiseGo, the Interchain Foundation, PolyChain Capital and DFINITY Stiftung.
The Purpose of this Center
According to Stanford’s website, the centre has been established so that the university can study how Blockchain technology can transform traditional businesses.
The initial research program will be for a period of 5 years and will be led by Prof. Dan Boneh and Prof. David Mazieres, two professors of computer science at Stanford. The program will also include professors from other disciplines such as particle physics, engineering and law.
Besides looking into the impact of Blockchain technology on industries, the Center for Blockchain Research will also develop Blockchain implementation courses with topics ranging from the technology’s potential role in the financial industry to data management.
Prof. Boneh stated that Blockchains were going to become more and more critical to global business transactions and that Stanford would be leading the effort towards improving, applying and understanding the ripple effect of this new technology.
Blockchain Education across the World
Stanford University is the not the only education institution that is looking into Blockchain technology as a research as well as a teaching subject. Other universities around the world are also beginning to offer courses as well as research options into this new technology.
An Australian research university launched its first Blockchain course this year in February. UC Berkley has launched an online professional certification course for Blockchain, which is a two-part program spread over a period of 3 months. This course focuses on cryptocurrencies and permission Blockchains.
MIT is also offering classroom as well as online courses in cryptocurrency engineering and design. Princeton is also already offering courses on Blockchain technology. Duke University is running a student-run curriculum on the technology.
Besides the universities, speciality schools are also burgeoning across the world, with a focus on Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain technology. Some of them are Blockchain University based in California and B9lab, which is based out of London.
Ripple also recently announced a $50 million grant to 17 universities across the world to support the growth and development of Blockchain education programs.