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Intending to promote scientific and academic initiatives of national interest and contributing to strengthening the Colombian ecosystem of research, science, and education on Blockchain, the National Network of Advanced Technology of Colombia (RENATA) launched the National Network of Blockchain for Social Innovation (RedNBC) in a webinar held on January 31.

The innovative initiative is the result of the joint efforts of RENATA with other important actors in the region, such as RedCLARA, LACChain, and BlockchainDC, and was implemented within the framework of LACNIC's FRIDA Program, which supports projects, initiatives, and solutions in Latin America and the Caribbean that contribute to the consolidation of a global, open, stable and secure Internet.

The launching ceremony was attended by experts from these and other organizations, such as Carlos González, Services Manager of RedCLARA, Ilán Melendez, Regional Leader of LACChain, Carmen Ocampo, from BlockchainDC, Piter Romero, Senior Manager of CINTEL, and Harold Leguízamo, Technology and Infrastructure Manager of RENATA, who discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by the new network.

According to Carlos González, what makes RedNBC different is the holistic way in which the initiative was developed from the beginning. “I like the way the network is approached. A true blockchain network is not only formed with servers and infrastructure but with the formation of skills, and the identification of actors and challenges. RedNBC is a great blockchain ecosystem that will benefit the entire Colombian community,” he highlighted.

Carmen Ocampo of BlockchainDC explained that technology includes three elements: a decentralized computer network, security, and information that cannot be modified or deleted after it has been transmitted and stored. “This technology transforms collaboration and allows a large number of users to use it simultaneously, and its importance lies in the fact that it is an effective tool to ensure traceability, that is, that you can verify who, when, and to whom this information was transferred,” she said.

RedNBC aims to build an active community for skills development  and an innovative laboratory for social applications in blockchain, enabling higher education institutions, schools, government agencies, companies, civil society organizations, and in general throughout the country to use technology to address and provide solutions to the challenges  facing Colombian society. In addition, it creates a link between advanced and developing technology centers by combining resources and computing infrastructures distributed throughout Colombia. The project has a training component with the challenge of reaching 300 people, which will be implemented in partnership with national higher education institutions such as the Central Technical Institute (ETIC) and the Digital UI, explained Paola Joya, RENATA's coordinator of academic projects. This component will also develop prototypes with young people from different regions of the country to address social challenges.

The second component of the project is precisely the creation of the National Blockchain Network, convening different stakeholders and promoting multiple uses. “Part of RENATA's mission is to promote cutting-edge technologies, and blockchain is undoubtedly one of them,” concludes Joya.

For more information about RedNBC, please watch the webinar at the launch of  the initiative's at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtVQ6sqYRIU.