Call for Blockchain Research Proposals – Funded by Ripple’s Partnership with Haas on the University Blockchain Research Initiative

 

November 9, 2018

 

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The Sutardja Center’s Blockchain Lab is pleased to share the Call for Research Proposals from the Blockchain Initiative being led by Haas’ Institute for Business & Social Impact (IBSI) & Master in Financial Engineering (MFE) Program.  The Haas Blockchain Initiative is funded by a multi-year, multi-million-dollar grant from Ripple, a growing company in the emerging blockchain industry, to support research, experiential courses and student activities in blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital payments.

The grant will be housed and managed by the Institute for Business and Social Impact (IBSI) and will fund faculty and student research, activities and related events across the Berkeley campus, including Engineering, the Law School, School of Information, and other colleges or programs. Awarded funding will range from $250 to support event sponsorship to $25,000 for advanced faculty research.

Proposal are requested from faculty and students in the following research areas:

  1. Blockchain and distributed systems.
  2. Cryptocurrency and digital payments.
  3. Cryptography, particularly as it relates to the above topics.
  4. Related subject areas such as blockchain for economic development and global financial inclusion will also be considered.

See the following links for the detailed Call for Research Proposals for Faculty or Students with Faculty Advisor, as well the Call for Student Proposals. For more information on potential research topics, see these examples from both Ripple and a leading industry expert, intended to stimulate ideas. The proposal deadline is November 30th with decisions announced by December 21st. All submissions should be sent through the Google forms linked above.  Any questions, please email IBSI@haas.berkeley.edu with Blockchain Initiative in the subject line.

Thank you for your interest and participation in this new and important initiative.  Ikhlaq Sidhu of SCET will also be part of the committee to advise on projects selected.Ripple Logo