To support academic research, technical development, and innovation in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and ledger technology, the University of Pennsylvania earlier this month announced the launch of the Ripple Project at Penn. The project is a new collaboration between the Wharton School, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Ripple, a blockchain-based global payments leader.
The reason for the new project is multi-fold. First, it falls under Ripple’s latest University Blockchain Research Initiative. Second, both Ripple and Penn recognize that blockchain is an emerging and growing field and that professionals who understand its technology and applications are in high demand. Finally, Ripple and Penn hope the partnership will engage both students and faculty from a variety of academic fields and backgrounds to produce research and technical developments in the blockchain ecosystem.
In a press release, Wharton Dean Geoffrey Garrett spoke about the collaboration. “Blockchain represents the fusion of technology and finance spanning schools and disciplines well beyond Wharton,” he said. “The Ripple Project will transform the way our students and faculty look at blockchain and its potential to change the world. We are thrilled to welcome Ripple’s collaboration as we prepare future leaders who will shape the future of how this dynamic technology is developed to transform fields as diverse as finance, logistics, and healthcare.”
The Ripple Project will include all of the following components:
- Support of cross-disciplinary faculty research;
- Financial aid for graduate students, in particular, MBA-MS candidates in the newly established Wharton-Engineering dual-degree program;
- Student-organized events, such as the Penn Blockchain Conference;
- New curricular offerings that bridge business and technology, and
- Workshops, lectures, and events that promote engagement between industry, students, and faculty.
The partnership is designed to help faculty and students at both Wharton and Penn Engineering unlock the full potential of blockchain and create truly valuable solutions in the marketplace. “By collaborating with Ripple, we will answer crucial questions about blockchain’s capabilities, applications, and security, and we will develop a deeper understanding of the many emerging protocols built over blockchain,” said Engineering School Deen Vijay Kumar. “This level of knowledge is key to the technology’s future success.”
To learn more about the Ripple Project and all that the partnership will offer, read the original university press release here.
