Ripple announces it has expanded its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) by adding 11 new partners.

New technology is always exciting due to the vast potential waiting to be unlocked. Universities are an important part of the technology ecosystem as they offer a vast amount of research capabilities as well as helping promote the adoption of new technology via education. Ripple understands these facts, which is why the San Francisco-based company launched the University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) in June 2018. Now the program has expanded with the addition of 11 new partners.

UBRI Continues to Grow

The goal of the UBRI is to promote academic research, innovation, and technical development in cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital payments. The addition of the new schools brings the total membership in the program to 29. The new universities are:

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 Sao Paulo

Institute for Fintech Research, Tsinghua University

The program created by Ripple offers resources to universities that can be used in a myriad of ways. Many schools have created new courses, as well as awarding scholarships to students interested in working in the blockchain ecosystem. Schools have also used UBRI resources to host conferences and create collaborations with other universities.

The result is that many more students are exposed to what blockchain has to offer, and the greater familiarity with cryptocurrency and blockchain by future business leaders, developers, engineers, and other professionals will accelerate mainstream adoption.

Ripple Enjoying Success with UBRI

The University Blockchain Research Initiative has been highly successful, and universities will continue to push the potential of this disruptive new technology via the UBRI program.

Eric van Miltenburg, SVP of Global Operations at Ripple, says:

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.

Laura Tyson, Faculty Director at Berkeley Haas Blockchain Initiative, adds:

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.

Education is vital in furthering the use and acceptance of cryptocurrencies and blockchain. Many universities, not to mention quite a few high schools, are now offering courses in this technology. Ripple is putting their money where their mouth is by instituting this program, which will reap tremendous dividends in the future.

What do you think of Ripple expanding the UBRI? Let us know in the comments below.

Images courtesy of Pixabay and Shutterstock.