The Los Angeles Blockchain Lab has joined forces with electronics industry leader Panasonic to promote blockchain development in Southern California and establish the region as a blockchain hub.
The duo will co-host a “Smart City and Blockchain" event with the City of Los Angeles in February 2019 at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. (date TBD)
The event is intended to foster discussion between local government officials and business leaders about real-world applications of blockchain technology for smart cities and development plans.
"For a sustainable blockchain ecosystem to develop, it’s critical for relevant industries including academia, government, and business to engage and collaborate,” said Heidi Pease, CEO of LA Blockchain Lab. “Panasonic is a leader and innovator in electronics and engineering solutions, and we are honored to welcome them as our first founding corporate partner to represent the business community.”
The Lab, which is a collaboration between academic, government, business, and community leaders, will provide Panasonic with resources, including research partners, feasibility studies, and blockchain proof-of-concepts. Pease says the partnership will bring various markets together, who will work to connect underdeveloped and fragmented communities for a holistic and sustainable ecosystem.
“Southern California is ideally positioned to become a blockchain hub, and LA Blockchain Lab provides incredible resources through its university partners and access to industry leaders,” said Norihiro Kondo, Director at Panasonic of Panasonic Ventures, LLC. “We look forward to a strong collaboration with LA Blockchain Lab to drive blockchain adoption forward in LA and beyond.”
Through its partners, LA Blockchain Lab provides education and skills training, consulting services, ecosystem mapping, research, and networking opportunities. These include higher education institutions organizations such as USC Viterbi Center for Cyber-Physical Systems and the Internet of Things, UCLA Anderson’s Impact@Anderson initiative, Institute for Money, Technology, and Financial Inclusion at UCI, and Blockchain at UCI.
This story originally appeared on BlockchainBeach.com. You can read it at https://www.blockchainbeach.com/la-blockchain-lab-and-panasonic-team-up-for-smart-city-and-blockchain-event-embargoed/