Blockchain This Week: IIM Calcutta’s Blockchain Course, London Stock Exchange $20 Mn Funding, And More

In India, blockchain has seen its use cases across an array of sectors such as supply chain, fintech, banks, to name a few. A recent report suggests that the country currently employs 1,500-2,000 blockchain professionals.

However, concerns are being raised not due to its nascent stage of adoption in the country but lack of skilled blockchain developers. According to a report, citing people close to its development in India, of the total blockchain professionals, only 200-400 are actually skilled in the core architecture. Many blockchain startups, as well as corporates, also train employees in-house.

The observers are of the opinion that, of the skilled blockchain professionals, mostly are tapped by large corporates. Something for startups to think of.

Globally, there are around 10K skilled professionals in the nascent blockchain industry, they say.

With that here are the latest developments in blockchain this week:

IIM Calcutta To Introduce Advanced Course in Blockchain

IIM Calcutta has collaborated with TalentSprint to offer an advanced programme in fintech and financial blockchain for management and finance students. The programme which is said to be offered both on the premises of IIM Calcutta as well as via online sessions plans to equip 2K professionals in the next few years. It will start issuing digital certificates on the blockchain from the 2019 batch onwards.

Cardano’s EMURGO To Launch Blockchain Academy in India

EMURGO, the venture arm of Cardano (ADA), has announced to soon set up a blockchain academy in India, aimed at supplying talented developers with the tools needed to thrive in the blockchain industry. The initiative is likely to be set up at Bangalore University.

The university’s vice-chancellor K R Venugopal has welcomed initiative saying, “This will definitely open up better and newer opportunities for job aspirants in this field.”

Tech Mahindra, TBCASoft Collaborate For Cross-Carrier Blockchain Platform

Tech Mahindra has collaborated with California-based blockchain startup TBCASoft to promote cross-carrier blockchain platform for telecom carriers, aimed to architect use cases in the areas of supply chain, contract management, roaming billing and taxes, identity management and mobile transactions. TBCASoft leads the Carrier Blockchain Study Group (CBSG), a global consortium of telecom carriers.

“This consortium will play a critical role in taking these solutions to the telcos and helping them unlock multiple benefits,” Tech Mahindra’s global blockchain practice leader Rajesh Dhuddu, said.

Sony, Fujitsu To Launch Blockchain-Enabled Database  In Japan 

Sony and Fujitsu have announced to launch a blockchain-enabled database to check educational proficiency documents, aimed at preventing forgeries of language proficiency documents, used to receive resident status to study in Japan. According to a report, the platform will help Japanese language schools to compare certificates with data registered on the blockchain in order to verify that the documents are authentic. Sony and Fujitsu will deploy the technology in April this year.

London Stock Exchange Leads $20 Mn Seed Funding In Nivuara

London Stock Exchange has led $20 Mn seed round funding in a capital markets blockchain company Nivaura, as it plans to expand its team to the United States and Asia. It currently employs about 30 people and has offices in England and Italy. The company also plans to invest the funds into R&D efforts to tailor services for customers based on past usage patterns.

According to the Nivaura chief financial officer Gavin Youll, the company already has ten active commercial deals and has been generating revenue at a rate of more than $1 Mn annually since April 2018.