Scotland scores blockchain first with opening of Blockpass Identity Lab

Europe’s first dedicated blockchain research lab has opened in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh.

Blockpass Identity Lab is the result of a £600,000 partnership between Edinburgh Napier University and Hong Kong-headquartered Blockpass IDN. It is situated at Edinburgh Napier’s Merchiston campus and, as part of an initial three-year agreement, will support five PhD students and explore ways in which blockchain technology can protect personal data from online scammers and hackers.

John Napier would have been proud

“This collaboration is a great example of the type of partnerships which will help to ensure that Scotland has an innovative, world-class cyber security goods and services industry – an aim the Scottish Government and its partners are actively supporting through the publication of Scotland’s Cyber Resilience Economic Opportunity Action Plan,” says Minister for the Digital Economy, Kate Forbes.

“This exciting work to explore how blockchain technology can protect personal data from online scammers and hackers carries on the tradition of innovation and excellence exemplified by John Napier, the Scottish mathematician who is best known for his invention of logarithms and who is credited with bringing the decimal point into common use. It is fitting that this tradition of innovation is continuing in the university which is named in his honour.”

Adam Vaziri, CEO of Blockpass IDN, comments: “Edinburgh Napier University is an internationally award-winning institution with a long history of excellence in technology, science, business, health and social care.  This combined with our pioneering approach to using blockchain to give users total control over their online identity is a truly exciting opportunity for the Blockpass Identity Lab and it will allow the company to establish itself at the forefront of alternative technology innovation using blockchain solutions.”

“Blockchain will have a significant and positive impact on multiple industries and the Blockpass Identity Lab will help to support its ongoing development.  I look forward to providing updates on the progress of our PhD researchers and the latest innovations that we are providing to our corporate clients,” adds Professor Bill Buchanan, Professor in the School of Computing at Edinburgh Napier University.