TON Labs has been recently gradually releasing an open source first-in-the-blockchain operating system TON OS - a comprehensive end-to-end ecosystem for developers and consumers. TON OS core is built on top of the revolutionary Telegram Open Network blockchain protocol. Given the open source nature of the solution and extensive roadmap of future developments there has been a compelling need for TON Labs to collaborate with leading organizations and institutions in the world in the DLT/Blockchain space on joint research and development.
University of Malta has been pioneering focused world class education on Decentralized Ledger Technologies through its Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies, and is actively seeking global technological partnerships to provide its faculty and students access to relevant real world research, business and product development challenges. The collaboration in the form of a scholarship has been directed through the University's Research Trust (RIDT) which will provide funding for a student to follow the ICT specialisation of the Multidisciplinary Masters in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies.
The partnership started from TON Labs providing a scholarship to provide UM's students with an incentive to contribute to the development of TON OS and applications on top of it. Initially students would be engaged in actual product development on a wide range of tasks as part of their applied work at UM. Gradually, the complexity and scope of those tasks would be increased, allowing both students and faculty to engage with more up-stream product development and research.
"We have been genuinely impressed with proactive and strategic approach of the UM's team to create a cutting edge DLT focused educational and practical platform and are excited to give their students and faculty broad access to contributing to TON OS and applications on top of it. We are hoping that this would evolve into a deep and lasting relation-ship leading to joint research and development of cutting edge solutions." - said Alexander Filatov, Managing partner of TON Labs.
"This scholarship provided by TON Labs demonstrates both their eagerness to support Blockchain related education as well as their trust in the programme we have developed at the Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies. Such a scholarship scheme highlights the importance for our programme to build industry relationships which will foster an ecosys-tem beneficial for students, industry and academia." - said Dr Joshua Ellul, Director of the Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies.
This partnership materialised through the contributions of Blockchain Advisory, a Malta based firm specialising in the provision of strategic and regulatory advice on blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies, and the implementation thereof. Blockchain Ad-visory is a licensed VFA Agent. The Managing Director, Jonathan Galea, stated: "This pro-ject goes to show that Malta's efforts in the DLT/Blockchain space are bearing fruit; fol-lowing the launch of a ground-breaking regulatory framework, the ecosystem is shaping up well, promising a bright and interesting future for the "Blockchain Island".