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NSERC Supports Blockchain Training Program at UBC with $1.6 Million Grant
Tuesday, July 23, 2019Company Profile | Follow Company
Vancouver, BC, July 23, 2019--(T-Net)--The University of BC has announced that its Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies Training Program, led by UBC's Dr. Victoria Lemieux has recently been awarded $1.6 million through the NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program.
This program supports the training of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that:
The University of British Columbia (UBC) recently launched Canada's first blockchain and distributed ledger technology training path for graduate students.
The initiative aims to build capacity for existing master's and PhD students in this area and help contribute to scaling Canada's blockchain industry while also tackling some of the world's most complex socio-technical issues.
Set to become the world's most multidisciplinary blockchain training path, the unique initiative will provide students with next-generation tools and applications to address issues in FinTech, engineering and computer science, and information governance through its disciplinary streams.
The training path will focus on four primary sectors: health and wellness, clean energy, regulatory technology and indigenous issues, and aims to train 139 students over six years. The initiative is supported by 15 industry partners from a wide range of sectors who will be offering students high-value internships in collaboration with Mitacs. Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. will be a flagship partner, providing funding to support research at the intersection of blockchain and healthcare.
Mitacs has reserved a potential contribution of $1.324 million over six years to match industry funding on an annual basis for up to 18 master's and eight PhD internships, including skills training and capacity for international experience. This represents a combined potential value of over $2.44 million for 156 internships and post-doctoral training projects.
The initiative will be taught by UBC faculty from diverse disciplines, all of whom are well connected with the local community as well as blockchain research centers around the world. As part of the learning outcomes, students can expect to critically analyze blockchain solutions as well as explore innovative areas where blockchain can be applied to achieve business, social and technical benefits.
The training path will officially launch in January 2020.
The grant for UBC's Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies Training Program was part of the Government of Canada announcement of an overall investment of $29.6 million through the Collaborative Research and Training Experience(CREATE) program of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
The CREATE grants are supporting research teams across Canada working in areas such as cybersecurity, blockchain technology, neurotechnology, medical diagnostics, industrial engineering, and soil science.
This support will allow 18 research teams of students and post-doctoral fellows to pursue and apply new knowledge in collaborative settings and develop the skills they need to help them in their future careers.
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About Blockchain@UBC
Blockchain@UBC is a multidisciplinary research cluster focusing on blockchain technology as a central component in investigating the broader research question "How can emerging technologies be leveraged to benefit Canadians?"
We engage in both research and education to advance the design, development and adoption of blockchain technologies. Our research initiatives bring academics and industry partners together to explore pressing issues and advance the emergence blockchain technologies. Our teaching initiatives span undergraduate, graduate, and executive levels to advance the knowledge and qualifications of students and professionals interested in blockchain technologies.
About NSERC
NSERC invests over $1.2 billion each year in natural sciences and engineering research in Canada. Our investments deliver discoveries—valuable world-firsts in knowledge claimed by a brain trust of over 11,000 professors. Our investments enable partnerships and collaborations that connect the makers and users of discoveries. Research partnerships established by NSERC help inform research and development and solve scale-up challenges.
NSERC also provides scholarships and hands-on training experience for more than 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows. These young researchers will be the next generation of science and engineering leaders in Canada.
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University of British Columbia
Vancouver (Education)
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