NEWS1 July 2022
As the world’s biggest technology companies get set to unveil new virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, the University of Surrey is set to establish a unique academy that will research applications for the metaverse.
The new Surrey Academy for Blockchain and Metaverse will be made possible thanks to a £1m donation from JKL Capital/Maxity. The Academy will have a twin focus on research and skills development to accelerate the development of applications for these potentially game-changing metaverse and blockchain technologies.
Professor Steve Wood, Dean of the Surrey Business School – which will host the new Academy, said:
“We have seen a quiet explosion of innovations made possible by blockchain technologies. Whether it is the increased adoption of cryptocurrencies, the growing popularity of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), or the upcoming flood of VR and AR headsets, it is a fascinating time for all.
“The business world must grasp these new technologies moving forward. The new Academy will help to ensure our graduates, our staff and the wider Surrey business community are equipped with the skills to grow their careers and their businesses in this new technological wave of development.”
A key priority for the new Academy will be to provide training workshops for Surrey’s student body and staff, as well as local businesses, to ensure university and business communities are equipped with the skills to understand and capitalise on the opportunities offered by Web 3.0 and other associated technologies.
Professor Yu Xiong, Founding Director of the Surrey Academy for Blockchain and Metaverse, said:
“One of the few positives from the pandemic is the technologies that have been developed that focus on bringing us closer together, even if we are physically apart. While we are not living in a digital-first world, our online lives have near equal importance to our physical, and it is important that the research and teaching community spread knowledge but also create tools that will create a fairer and just virtual society.”