Blockchain Challenge
Blockchain, Smart Contracts and tokenization - terms that currently everyone is talking about, but with which most companies have little experience. In the Blockchain Challenge, students work together closely with project partners from the corporate world and design innovative concepts based on the blockchain technology.
With the Challenge, the Center for Innovative Finance at the University of Basel overcomes the gap between theory and practice and thus offers a unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in practical cases. The event creates a win-win situation where both students and project partners can benefit incredibly.
After an extremely successful launch in 2018, the Blockchain Challenge will now take place annually during the spring semester from March to June.
Project Partners
The Blockchain Challenge is a unique opportunity for companies to get in direct contact with students. The main task of the project partners is to present a blockchain problem description, which is then worked on by the students. As a project partner, you benefit directly from the knowledge of the students and receive a finished blockchain concept paper for your case at the end of the semester. The Blockchain Challenge also offers the opportunity to present yourself as an attractive employer at the university and to establish contact with interesting personalities in the blockchain area. Your support for the Challenge will be publicly communicated and advertised at the big gala event.
Your benefits
- Direct benefit from the know-how and knowledge of the students
- A blockchain concept paper for your own question
- Contact to 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

Students
The Blockchain Challenge is a great opportunity to gain practical experience during your studies and to work on a larger project together with a company.
The student teams design a solution on the basis of a practice-oriented problem description. Accompanied by coaches and experts, they go through the most important steps in creating a concept including prototypes. This not only strengthens their teamwork, organisational and presentation skills, but also promotes time management and problem-solving competence. Furthermore, the Challenge offers a unique opportunity to network with renowned companies and experts as well as students who are interested in the topic.

Die Blockchain Challenge ist ein Musterbeispiel für Nachwuchs- und Innovationsförderung im engen Zusammenspiel zwischen Universität und Wirtschaft. Wir sind stolz, dabei sein zu können und beeindruckt von der Qualität des Erreichten.
Matthias Röser, Partner at BearingPoint, Project Partner 2019
We at EY were honored to act as a projectpartner. Big thanks to Prof. Dr. Fabian Schär.
EY, Project Partner 2018
Gewinnerteam der Blockchain Challenge der Universität Basel. War mir eine Freude, mit Euch eine Produktinnovation auf der Blockchain zu entwickeln und zu verifizieren.... Die Reise hat hoffentlich erst begonnen.....
SBB, Project Partner 2018
What a great event through the past three months! Congrats to the winning team. Thanks for hosting the Blockchain Challenge at Center for Innovative Finance
Markant, Project Partner 2018
Previous Cases processed
Onboarding Process für institutional clients (CSAM)
Data Sovereignty and Building Digitization (innoQ)
Transparency in the Supply Chain (Novartis)
Tendering Procedures for Building Projects (BearingPoint)
Infrastructure Access for Passenger Ships (Port of Switzerland)
Media Coverage
Basler Zeitung
WWZ News
- WWZ goes Davos! Studierende der Universität Basel im Rampenlicht des CV Summit Davos 2020:
- Grosses Finale der Blockchain Challenge 2019
Uni News
- Blockchain im Einsatz für mehr Transparenz
- Galaevent der Blockchain Challenge 2019: Acht Studierenden-Teams präsentieren ihre Business-Cases
Bearing Point
Credit Suisse Scope
Handelskammer beider Basel
Crypto Valley Journal
Bitcoin News Schweiz
BTC Echo
moneycab
Center for Innovative Finance
Info-Screen Blockchain Challenge