Tencent Financial Academy, a subsidiary of Chinese IT giant Tencent — signed a memorandum of cooperation with the University of Hong Kong on March 6 for joint research and development projects related to financial technology. Chinese media outlet QQ reported about the deal on March 7.

The collaboration reportedly involves joint research and development of fintech projects between the financial technology and blockchain lab of the department of computer science at the University of Hong Kong in cooperation with Tencent. According to the article, the University of Hong Kong will also launch a fintech course in its bachelor program in September this year.

For four years, Tencent’s subsidiary will also be offering internship opportunities to University of Hong Kong students and providing workshops, guest lectures and corporate visits. According to QQ, the Tencent Financial Academy was established in June 2018 to search for financial and technology talents needed in modern finance.

As Cointelegraph reported in October last year, the Chinese Financial Blockchain Shenzhen Consortium (FISCO), led by multinational telecommunication company Huawei and Tencent, announced its coinless blockchain FISCO BCOS.

More recently — in February — Ripple has announced the latest new partners in its global University Blockchain Research Initiative, which include universities in the United States, China, Singapore and Brazil.