Events
Blockchain Challenge

Blockchain, Smart Contracts, and tokenization are terms everyone is discussing. In practice, most companies have little experience in this field. In the Blockchain Challenge, students worked together closely with project partners from the corporate world and designed innovative concepts based on blockchain technology.

With the Challenge, the Center for Innovative Finance at the University of Basel overcame the gap between theory and practice and thus offered a unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in practical cases. The event created a win-win situation where students and project partners could benefit incredibly.

After a highly successful launch in 2018, the Blockchain Challenge took place annually until 2023. The general reception was great, but we are always trying to find ways to innovate and improve. Hence, the concept will be slightly revised and the course offered in a 2 week block seminar, taking place before the start of the fall semester 2024.

The Blockchain Challenge was an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience during their studies and work on a larger project with a company.

The student teams designed a solution based on a practice-oriented problem description. Accompanied by coaches and experts, they went through the most important steps in creating a concept, including prototypes. This strengthened their teamwork, organizational, and presentation skills and promoted time management and problem-solving competence. Furthermore, the Challenge offered a unique opportunity to network with renowned companies and experts as well as students interested in the topic.

• Development of a blockchain concept for a specific problem
• Creation of a visual mock-up and a technical prototype
• Writing a concept paper
• Presentation of your progress at interim presentations
• Final presentation at the gala event in front of a larger audience

• Practical application of the knowledge acquired in university lectures
• Practical experience with real-world problem descriptions of the project partners
• Valuable contacts in the corporate world
• Prize money and 6 ECTS

• Students of all disciplines were welcome
• Short application via a form
• Various skills were required, such as: Project management, presentation, design, marketing
• Motivation and interest in the topic

Project Partners

The Blockchain Challenge was a unique opportunity for companies to get in contact with students directly. The main task of the project partners was to present a blockchain problem description, which the students then elaborated on. Project partners benefitted directly from the students' knowledge and received a finished blockchain concept paper for their case at the end of the semester. The Blockchain Challenge also offered the partners the opportunity to present themselves as an attractive employer at the university and to establish contact with interesting personalities in the blockchain area. Their support for the Challenge was publicly communicated and advertised at the big gala event.

• Provision of a problem description related to blockchain technology, which was then elaborated on by the students
• Case Presentation at the Kick-off Event
• Sponsorship of the event with a one-time payment. This money was used for the organization of the event.

• Direct benefit from the know-how and knowledge of the students
• A blockchain concept paper for your question
• Contact with interested students and an opportunity to present yourself as an attractive employer
• Invitation to the gala event with large networking apero
• Public communication of the sponsorship