CMU partners with leading payments company Ripple to accelerate innovation in blockchain & cryptocurrency

Carnegie Mellon University has announced a partnership with Ripple's University Blockchain Research Initiative(UBRI) to support academic research, technical development and innovation in blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital payments. 

CMU will receive financial support to create an interdisciplinary forum that harnesses the university's expertise in engineering, computer science, security, privacy, business, information systems and public policy and economics.

"This partnership with Ripple will take full advantage of CMU's culture of interdisciplinary innovation and our university-wide focus on issues at the intersection of technology and policy," said Ramayya Krishnan, dean of the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, and the William W. and Ruth F. Cooper Professor of Management Science and Information Systems.

The new program will help train and shape the next generation of business, public sector and nonprofit leaders; computer scientists; entrepreneurs; and other professionals to develop and apply these technologies and business practices for current and future use. The interdisciplinary work done by CMU on this initiative will leverage the expertise of CyLab, Carnegie Mellon's Security and Privacy Institute.

"The work that comes from this partnership will advance learning, pioneer innovation and catalyze thought leadership on blockchain, cryptocurrency, cybersecurity and other critical areas," said Param Singh, Carnegie Bosch Chair, Director of PNC Center for Financial Services Innovation and associate professor of business technologies at CMU. 

This partnership with Ripple will take full advantage of CMU's culture of interdisciplinary innovation and our university-wide focus on issues at the intersection of technology and policy.

Ramayya Krishnan, Dean, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy

Blockchain technology is being used to solve real-world problems across almost every industry in the modern economy from banking and payments to retail and healthcare. As the technology matures, the academic community plays a vital role to drive adoption and develop new, innovative applications of blockchain. These partnerships are in the spirit of helping to grow and develop blockchain programs at top tier universities that will prepare the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs. 

"In less than a year since UBRI's launch, we are already seeing UBRI partners create new cross disciplinary research programs and courses, as well as collaborate with one another to share ideas on how to grow the blockchain ecosystem," said Eric van Miltenburg, SVP of Global Operations at Ripple. "In addition to pursuing groundbreaking research and technical innovation, several partners will be hosting events to discuss topics ranging from blockchain to cryptography and cybersecurity to regulatory issues. We are thrilled to support and participate in these vital conferences and workshops."

Each university partner determines its own research topics and areas of focus that will contribute to growing the global blockchain ecosystem. In addition to funding support, Ripple is providing CMU with strategic guidance and technical resources, as needed.

For more information about Ripple's University Blockchain Research Initiative and its partners, visit https://ubri.ripple.com.