Blockchain technology has matured in today’s world from merely a backend of cryptocurrencies to a system to help a number of distributed applications.
LUMS and Stacks have joined forces to create a novel academic programme aimed at fueling blockchain technology research and distributed applications. As one of Pakistan’s leading universities, LUMS can use Hiro, formerly known as Blockstack PBC, to develop and build educational programmes that enable faculty and students to research blockchain, cryptocurrencies, distributed ledger technology, and more with the five million STX tokens (currently equal to about PKR 400 million or US $2.5 million).
The goal is to have a decidedly realistic feeling, with a focus on emerging markets and other areas where such technologies can be applied most effectively. The Stacks ecosystem is a network of autonomous organisations, developers, and members of the community collaborating on Bitcoin to create a user-owned Internet.
The LUMS Office of Research personnel, who are experienced in providing full-scale support for a wide variety of funded and collaborative projects, will work closely with the faculty and researchers. Together with the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) at LUMS, studies and programming will be carried out.
In technology and research, LUMS has a long history of being a leader. The University will use the funding to educate academics, engineers and entrepreneurs of the next generation through new educational initiatives that include interdisciplinary blockchain courses and their applications.