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Kerala Blockchain Academy (KBA), the Centre of Excellence in Blockchain under Digital University Kerala (DUK), has partnered with IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre (IIML-EIC) to advance blockchain innovation, research and entrepreneurship across India. The MoU was signed by DUK Registrar A. Mujeeb and IIML-EIC Managing Director Yamini Bhushan Pandey at a ceremony in May 2026.
The collaboration will establish a Blockchain Development Lab as an open research facility for startups, students, researchers and the public, alongside a Blockchain Sandbox Environment to enable secure, regulatory-compliant testing of decentralized applications. Joint initiatives will include industry-focused curriculum development, certification programmes, workshops, internships and mentorship drives.
The partnership will also launch national-level capacity-building efforts through hackathons, accelerator programmes, innovation challenges and research publications. It aims to support enterprise consulting and policy formulation via pilot projects, advisory services, white papers and policy recommendations.
KBA will serve as the knowledge partner for IIML-EIC, leveraging its experience in training over 40,000 learners across 96 countries. The DUK-led initiatives will be guided by Vice-Chancellor Saji Gopinath and KBA Director Asharaf S. The institutions plan to roll out the first phase of programmes by mid-2026.