IOHK, a blockchain-focused fintech company, is building out an academic research network by signing partnerships with two major universities: the University of Edinburgh and Tokyo Institute of Technol
IOHK, a blockchain-focused fintech company, is building out an academic research network by signing partnerships with two major universities: the University of Edinburgh and Tokyo Institute of Technology. These arrangements aim to advance research in blockchain and blockchain systems.
The University of Edinburgh opened the Blockchain Technology Laboratory this month in its School of Informatics. Prof. Aggelos Kiayias, who holds the chair in Cyber Security and Privacy at Edinburgh and serves as chief scientist at IOHK, directs the laboratory. He will oversee research collaborations across multiple academic domains, including cryptography, computer science, economics, game theory, regulation, compliance, business, and law. The lab brings together faculty members, doctoral candidates, and undergraduate students to work on problems originating from industry.
Kiayias views blockchain and blockchains as emerging technologies with the potential to scale information services to a global level. In a statement about the collaboration, he said: "The academic and industry connection forged by this collaboration puts the Blockchain Technology Lab at Edinburgh at the forefront of innovation in blockchain systems."
Sir Timothy O'Shea, principal of the University of Edinburgh, expressed support for the lab's launch. "We are delighted to be at the forefront of UK institutions in the field of blockchains and proud to have a dedicated research laboratory for industry inspired research in this important emerging area," he said.
The laboratory will serve as a direct connection between industrial developers and academic researchers, designed to accelerate projects from conception to launch. IOHK will start recruiting staff and conducting outreach within Edinburgh's tech community right away. The full facility will open in summer 2017.
The Edinburgh laboratory will anchor IOHK's expanding network of university partnerships across the globe. The company plans to open additional research laboratories in the United States and Greece before year's end, with further facilities launching in 2018.
Tokyo Institute of Technology unveiled a companion initiative earlier this month. The organization established the Input Output Cryptocurrency Collaborative Research Chair within its School of Computing to promote joint research between IOHK and Tokyo Tech on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. Under this arrangement, IOHK researchers will work at Tokyo Tech while professors and graduate students from Tokyo Tech will address industry challenges in the field.
The two organizations have structured their collaboration to include multiple activities. They will hold seminars, produce academic papers for publication in major scientific journals and conferences, and develop new courses for Tokyo Tech students. The curriculum will include lectures on cryptographic protocols and cryptocurrencies.
Yoshinao Mishima, president of Tokyo Tech, outlined the value of the partnership: "This agreement is important because Tokyo Tech is seeking to enhance the collaboration with industries and universities in Japan and abroad by producing groundbreaking results in research and engineering which will be published in internationally renowned scientific journals and conferences."
IOHK and Tokyo Tech will release all research and development work without patent restrictions, making the results available to the broader community.
