This session will explore how blockchain technology, one of the pillars of Web 3.0, is transforming digital trust and reshaping the exchange of information and services across diverse sectors. Blockchain works as a decentralized database that is not controlled by any entity, enhancing security, transparency, and traceability in online transactions. The session will also examine how open innovation fosters collaboration between academia, startups, and government, accelerating the adoption of blockchain solutions.

The discussion will start by presenting the preliminary results of the "Iliada project", an initiative that brings together public and private organizations to foster the development of blockchain applications in Brazil. It’s led by RNP—Brazilian National Research and Education Network—and CPQD—Telecommunications Research and Development Center, coordinated by Softex—Brazilian Software Society, and funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

The session invites participants to join the discussion circle and share their reflections on governance models, open innovation, ideas for blockchain applications, and strategies for contributing to advancing technologies in Global South countries. Project members will address governance and strategy issues, as well as approaches to disseminating knowledge. They will also offer insights into the project’s testbeds, which is an open laboratory that provides private blockchains as a service for application developers, assisting Brazil in advancing the application of blockchain.

Leandro Ciuffo, Deputy Director for R&D at RNP, will present an overview of Iliada, highlighting its key achievements, including the call for proposals program, which invites academia and startups to develop technology solutions in strategic sectors. Larriza Thurler, Scientific Dissemination Coordinator at RNP, will introduce the Blockchain Observatory, emphasizing its role in providing access to trustworthy information and fostering engagement through a community of experts. Luiz Folly, R&D Coordinator at RNP, will discuss testbeds and explain how they enable experimentation with new applications and improve interoperability.