The DLT Science Foundation (DSF) is committed to driving the growth of distributed ledger technology in business and society. The DSF achieves this aim by empowering education, innovation, and research through its academic network and partnerships with industry leaders.
The DSF expands knowledge transfer from academia to industry, promoting the adoption of DLT in business, government and society.
Our foundation operates as a global, decentralised entity, much like the technology we promote. A network of world-leading experts from around the world pools their knowledge and expertise to deliver the DSF's vision.
The DSF team works tirelessly to further its mission, developing educational programmes, supporting researchers, and acting as a hub for startups, universities, and knowledge-transfer institutions. The foundation stimulates innovation through activities such as hackathons, commercialising research, and much more.
At the DSF, we believe that the effectiveness of innovation ecosystems is directly proportional to their complexity. As such, our mission is to cultivate an open and collaborative network that fosters a highly sophisticated ecosystem.
This ecosystem is built on the exchange of information and knowledge among academia, industry, and government, as well as the co-creation of new knowledge and innovative ideas. By promoting a diverse and interconnected network, the DSF strives to drive the growth and advancement of the field of distributed ledger technology.
Our vision is a world where distributed ledger technology fosters trust in third parties through transparency, in which data can be verified by anyone. Where open collaboration between academics, government, and startups breeds innovation, and the value created flows more horizontally across participants in the network.
The DLT Science Foundation was founded and is led by Dr. Paolo Tasca and Nikhil Vadgama, born out of their desire to speed up the adoption of distributed ledger technology (DLT) in both business and society and to facilitate complex, non-linear interactions and co-creation processes between academia, industry, and government.
Prof. Paolo Tasca is among the world's most influential economists, renowned for his groundbreaking discoveries and the development of theoretical frameworks in distributed systems.
Dr. Paolo Tasca is a globally renowned blockchain economist and Professor at University College London, with a specialization in distributed systems. He is also the esteemed founder of the award-winning UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies. Complementing his academic accomplishments, Dr. Tasca boasts an impressive track record as a seasoned blockchain entrepreneur, with multiple successful exits. His extensive expertise in blockchain technologies has led him to serve as a special advisor for an array of international stakeholders, including the United Nations, central banks, and various governmental and industry entities.
Nikhil Vadgama is an education pioneer in the realm of emerging digital technologies, with extensive industry experience in financial technology.
Nikhil Vadgama holds the position of Programme Director for the acclaimed Master in Financial Technology at University College London and serves as the Deputy Director of the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies. Boasting a wealth of experience collaborating with international stakeholders from government, industry, and central banks, Nikhil's diverse background encompasses roles in the fintech, real estate, and education sectors. Most recently, he took on the role of Chief Data Officer at a burgeoning challenger bank called Twig.
The DSF is supported by a network of leading industry and academic experts from across the globe.
The DSF Grant-giving Committee is comprised of a group of highly regarded experts in the blockchain industry who work together to support the Foundation's mission to advance the field of blockchain technology. This independent and impartial body of specialists provides insightful recommendations to the DSF on the most critical areas to fund within the blockchain sector. The goal of the Committee is to ensure that the Foundation's grant-giving initiatives are focused on advancing the industry and delivering meaningful impact to the community.
Sitting committee members include:
The Scientific Committee of the DLT Science Foundation is composed of accomplished academics and researchers who advise the direction of research at the Foundation. The committee consists of one representative per University Network Member (rotated every year), plus the Head of Science and Board Directors of the DSF. They leverage their expertise, backgrounds, and networks to identify key areas of scientific exploration in the field of blockchain and distributed ledger technology.
Sitting committee members include: