Best Universities for Blockchain 2022: University of Zurich

From Zug to Zurich, clusters of crypto companies have sprung up and planted roots, quickly transforming a once quaint Swiss landscape into a bustling crypto capital. It is for this fact that it should come as no surprise that the best university in Europe, and the No. 3 university worldwide for blockchain in 2022, is the University of Zurich (UZH).

Home to the UZH Blockchain Center, Switzerland’s largest and most active blockchain hub, UZH is a pioneer in blockchain studies. Its high volume of blockchain-related research papers, collaborations with prominent non-profit organizations in the blockchain ecosystem, and endeavors in educational development and research initiatives have catapulted the university to the top of this year’s list. In CoinDesk’s qualitative survey, UZH scored highest in reputation for “influence in the blockchain world” by both academics and students.

The UZH Blockchain Center was founded in 2017 and has since blossomed into a bustling hub of academic, educational and industry-related activities. The center counts 22 faculty members from a cross-section of the university’s business, STEM and law departments among its ranks, in addition to hosting more than 40 researchers from UZH and other prestigious institutions. Since embracing blockchain studies, the university has published 108 blockchain-related research papers, earning more than 550 citations.

Although UZH does not currently offer any degree programs in blockchain studies, it does offer 25 blockchain and related courses, plus four certificate programs for the crypto-curious. In the meantime, the university is also working hard to expand its educational offer.

Earlier this year, the UZH Blockchain Center announced a three-year partnership with the Swiss-based non-profit organization Cardano Foundation to advance its blockchain education programming and launch new industry-leading research projects. As a result of the collaboration, the hub’s Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies (BDLT) Group has begun researching the effectiveness of consensus protocols and attack vectors specific to the Ouroboros blockchain protocol, among other projects.

Founded as “Universitas Turicensis” in 1833, UZH merged Zurich’s existing colleges of theology, law and medicine to form the first democratically founded university in Europe. Since then, the university has grown considerably, garnering prestige for its programs in medicine, economics, biology, neuroscience, immunology and genetics. In 2006, UZH gained recognition as one of Europe’s leading research universities, joining the globally recognized League of European Research Universities, a collection of Europe’s most prestigious research institutions.