International Summer School Deep Dive into Blockchain
The countdown has officially begun. The 6th edition of the International Summer School - Deep Dive into Blockchain, hosted by the University of Zurich and sponsored by the DFINITY Foundation alongside other notable industry partners, is just around the corner, and for a select group of students from ICP Hubs around the globe, it marks the start of something much bigger than a summer class.
Each student chosen through a competitive selection process is stepping into a special opportunity that blends cutting-edge education, hands-on experimentation, and global networking. From June 30 to July 18, 2025, they’ll immerse themselves in one of the most intensive, forward-looking blockchain curricula in the world: the Deep Dive into Blockchain Summer School, hosted by the prestigious UZH Blockchain Center.
The session is led by Prof. Dr. Claudio J. Tessone, Professor of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies, University of Zurich, and Director of Deep Dive into Blockchains. He is joined by Dr. Sheng-nan Li (Research Associate), Ece Su Üstün (Networking & PR Manager), and Parminder Kaur Makode (Social Media Manager and Informatics PhD candidate).
What is Deep Dive into Blockchain Summer School and Why Does it Matter?
These students will explore the world of blockchain this summer with a 3-week program hosted by the UZH Blockchain Center, ranked Europe’s top school in blockchain education by CoinDesk. They’ll learn from top experts as they explore the technological, economic, and legal pillars behind blockchain systems, ranging from cryptocurrency to supply chains.
This hands-on, multidisciplinary course will also cover practical applications, such as forensics and data analytics, helping you grasp the full potential and impact of blockchain across various industries.
At its core, this three-week program is designed to cultivate Web3 fluency from the ground up, across various disciplines. It’s about understanding the foundation of decentralized systems and their real-world implications.
The curriculum is intentionally multidisciplinary, covering:
Technology: Exploration into the architecture, consensus mechanisms, and smart contract logic powering blockchain ecosystems like the Internet Computer.
Economics: Analyze how token incentives, governance, and market forces shape decentralized networks.
Law & Policy: Explore the evolving regulatory frameworks and governance challenges that define what blockchain can (and can’t) do in different regions.
And beyond lectures, students will participate in advanced workshops, group projects, and practical applications across topics like DAOs, DeFi, and blockchain for social good. It’s this fusion of theory and practice, combined with quality teaching and global peer exchange, that gives the program its edge.
Why does this matter? Because Web3 needs humans. Humans with the skills, the ethics, the context, and the vision to turn tech into tools for good, and even more so:
A Globally Respected Blockchain Program
The University of Zurich’s Blockchain Summer School isn’t just highly ranked, it’s Europe’s #1, according to CoinDesk (2021 & 2022). With over 400 alumni worldwide, it’s shaped careers and startups across the Web3 space. The fully booked 2025 edition expanded to new locations, marking its first global rollout.
Real-World Experience Through Industry Collaboration
Students don’t just learn theory, they work directly with leading blockchain networks like ICP, Cardano, Ethereum, Hedera, Polygon, BNB Chain, and more. These partnerships provide hands-on projects, mentorship, and scholarships that connect education to actual industry needs.
An Immersive, Cross-Disciplinary Curriculum
More than code, the program blends technology, economics, and law into a hands-on, engaging experience. From classroom sessions to industry visits, podcasts, Q&As, and group projects, it’s designed to give students a 360° view of blockchain’s real-world impact.
The DFINITY Foundation’s support of this initiative is about investing in long-term talent, people who will go on to launch DAOs, shape policy, write smart contracts, and maybe even rewire the systems we take for granted.
For now, they’re students. But after Zurich, they’ll be catalysts.
Beyond Borders: Meet the Next Gen of Tech Leaders at the UZH Summer School
At the heart of every great movement is a generation that dares to imagine, fight for, and build the future. That’s precisely what the 2025 cohort represents. For the standout students nominated by ICP HUBS around the world, it’s the beginning of something transformative. Let’s meet them:
Ranaufal Muha, ICP HUB Indonesia
Ranaufal’s mission is clear: “Use blockchain to build real-world solutions that improve lives.” With a deep interest in the technical and macroeconomic sides of decentralized technology, he sees this opportunity as a foundation for his startup journey and future academic goals. For him, Zurich is a launchpad. “This experience will inspire me to continue pushing boundaries,” he says. And with the DFINITY Foundation’s support, he’s already one step closer to turning impact into action.
Adrian Kopiec, ICP HUB Poland
Adrian brings an analytical, experience-driven approach to blockchain. Already working in Web3, he’s coming to Zurich to bridge practical knowledge with deeper academic insight. “It’s a milestone,” he reflects, “a moment to rethink assumptions.” His focus on collaboration and research makes him a vital contributor to the program and a future leader poised to shape decentralized systems.
Kennard Low, ICP HUB Singapore
Kennard is navigating blockchain from a legal and technical angle, a powerful combo. With the space rapidly evolving under regulatory scrutiny, his interest in blockchain law makes this program especially timely. “It’s a pivotal step,” he says, emphasizing the value of interdisciplinary thinking. His trajectory reflects ICP’s broader commitment: building systems that are innovative, compliant, resilient, and future-ready.
Ramiro Cardelli, ICP HUB Argentina
For Ramiro, blockchain is more than tech, it’s a way to reshape systems. He’s most excited about practical learning and collaboration, especially across legal and economic applications. Deep Dive into Blockchain comes at a crucial time as he transitions from student to young professional. “This could be a key step in launching my career,” he shares. Ramiro’s focus on decentralized governance and smart contracts aligns closely with ICP’s mission to make blockchain infrastructure accessible and meaningful.
Carlos Alejandro Galindo Islas, ICP HUB Mexico
Carlos approaches blockchain with a developer’s mindset and a social lens. Seeing the technology as integral to the next phase of web development, he wants to understand how blockchain works and where it can truly make a difference. The Summer School for him is a space to expand technical skills and discover applications that bring value to people’s lives.
Nana Osei Assibey Antwi, ICP HUB Ghana
Nana views this program as a bridge between academic learning and real-world innovation. Between local experience and global context. Focused on decentralized applications and real-world use cases, he sees the Summer School as a catalyst for his future collaborations. “It will broaden my global perspective, and DFINITY’s support is helping make that future tangible.”
Nelson Tommogo, ICP HUB Kenya
Nelson is driven by utility. As someone working on SmartMavuno, a blockchain-powered solution for farmers, his excitement lies in mastering scalability in layer-2s, ZK-proofs, and beyond. Zurich’s ecosystem of startups and regulatory insight is the perfect testbed. Nelson’s story shows how ICP’s infrastructure can power real-world tools for economic inclusion.
Mykiell Deovenn E. Pagayonan, ICP HUB Philippines
For Mykiell, it’s all about going deeper. Already building with blockchain, he’s ready to understand the inner mechanics that power decentralized systems. As a software engineering student, Zurich allows him to align academic growth with innovation. “This will transform how I approach blockchain,” he says.
Rintaro Inagaki, ICP HUB Japan
Rintaro wants to grow from a domestic engineer to a global innovator. His curiosity extends beyond code into economics and incentive design, core to blockchain’s disruptive power. Zurich offers him the environment to develop both mindset and skillset, a critical combination in building globally scalable systems.
Reza Toorajipour, ICP HUB Canada
Reza is no stranger to the frontier of innovation. As a PhD Fellow and Visiting Scholar at Stanford University, his academic journey is rooted in research excellence, but his vision stretches far beyond the classroom. Selected for the Zurich Blockchain Summer School, Reza brings a unique blend of academic rigor and systems thinking to the table. “This program is a convergence point,” he says. “A place where thought leadership meets action.”
United by the Need for Growth and Change
From Jakarta to Nairobi, Buenos Aires to Tokyo, these students represent different regions, but what unites them isn’t just their curiosity or their code. It’s the clarity of their purpose as each one brings a vision for how blockchain can be used and what the future of Web3 looks like.
That’s where the DFINITY Foundation’s role is pivotal. By sponsoring participation and working with regional ICP HUBS to select diverse talent, DFINITY isn’t just funding education. It’s seeding a future where decentralized systems are understood, challenged, improved, and most importantly, built by people with purpose.
As these students prepare to embark on their journey, the real story isn’t just what they’ll learn. It’s what they’ll build after. And that future begins now.
Stay connected with us on Twitter for a front-row seat to these students’ journeys as they explore deeper into the world of Web3 and beyond.