Ripple has entered into a partnership with the Institute for Fintech Research, Tsinghua University (THUIFR) to offer graduate students in China the Blockchain Technology Research Scholarship (BRSP), Crowdfund Insider reported (Jan 17).

BRSP aims to support students undertaking in-depth research in the development of blockchain technology and its international regulations and policies.

“The program’s goal – to provide students with opportunities in blockchain research – closely aligns with that of Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI)”,  Eric van Miltenburg, Ripple’s SVP of Global Operations said to Crowdfund Insider.

“While Ripple won’t dictate research parameters, we are excited to play a role in helping to support faculty and student-led projects that explore increasingly useful applications of blockchain and cryptocurrencies.” Ripple’s representative added.

Ripple first announced in June 2018 that it was launching UBRI by partnering an initial list of 17 leading global universities to support academic research, technical development, and innovation in blockchain. It also pledged to donate $50 million to universities “to help shape the workforce of the future”. At the time, only 2 Asian universities, from South Korea and India, were on the list.

Tsinghua University is China’s top university, and ranks within the top 30 of universities worldwide, according to Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings for 2019.