The DeSci Seoul 2024 Conference, co-hosted by Hippocrat and ResearchHub, concluded with resounding success on September 2nd. As a key side event of Korea Blockchain Week 2024, the conference brought together global leaders in decentralized science (DeSci) and healthcare, spotlighting the transformative role of blockchain technology in the scientific and medical fields.
The event featured an impressive lineup of over 20 leading experts from organizations such as Hippocrat, ResearchHub, Solana Foundation, Green Cross, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, and Filecoin. Each speaker delivered insightful presentations on how decentralized science is dismantling traditional barriers in scientific research, fostering innovation in healthcare, life sciences, and other critical sectors.
The conference opened with a speech by Professor Soonyong Kwon, followed by a keynote address on “What is DeSci” by Ethan Chae, Co-CEO of Hippocrat, and Riccardo Goldoni, Director of the ResearchHub Foundation. Additional presentations featured experts from Nobleblocks, Somnia, Aminochain, CUDIS, Aethir, and Puffpaw, all of whom provided thought-provoking perspectives on the current and future impact of decentralized science.
A major highlight of the conference was the series of panel discussions that offered a broad range of perspectives from industry leaders. The first panel, “Building DeSci Infrastructure as Mainnets,” featured Dan Albert from Solana, Michelle Kang from Somnia, Raza from Scroll, and Jing from Monad. The panelists discussed the pivotal role mainnet projects play in scaling DeSci initiatives, particularly by addressing challenges related to NFTs, scalability, and cost.
In the second panel, “The Future and Potential of DeSci,” investor and researcher insights on the evolving DeSci landscape were explored. Moyed, Summer Park from Simsan Ventures, Sinhae Lee from GBIC, and Iann de Lapeyriere from Saxson focused on the key drivers behind DeSci’s investment attractiveness.
The third panel, “Exploring the DeSci Landscape,” showcased various DeSci projects aiming to solve problems in traditional research. Speakers Jelani Clarke from AminoChain, Aldo De Pape from GenomesDAO, Shellie Boudreau from Nobleblocks, and Mark Rydon from Aethir emphasized blockchain’s critical role in enabling innovative solutions.
The final panel, “R&D Leveraging Blockchain,” brought together Riccardo Goldoni from ResearchHub, Jee Sun Lee from Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Jay Gu from GC Holdings (Green Cross Holdings), and Shellie Boudreau from Nobleblocks. The discussion centered on how blockchain can address long-standing challenges in R&D, such as reproducibility and data integrity.
In addition to the talks, the conference offered interactive workshops led by ResearchHub, Nobleblocks, and DeSciWorld. These sessions provided attendees with hands-on demonstrations of the platforms’ features, giving participants practical insights into how DeSci technologies can be applied in real-world scenarios.
Moreover, the event featured product showcases, including smart rings from CUDIS and vapes from Puffpaw, allowing participants to experience these innovations firsthand. A particularly exciting moment was the raffle of a CUDIS smart ring, which highlighted the tangible intersection of blockchain technology and healthcare solutions.
Over 800 participants registered for the event, and due to space limitations, not everyone could be accommodated in the venue. Despite this, DeSci Seoul 2024 exceeded expectations, attracting blockchain industry leaders, healthcare professionals, and researchers from across the globe. The event cemented its place as a key gathering for the integration of blockchain with healthcare and decentralized science, sparking collaborations across multiple industries.
“Hippocrat is committed to pioneering a new paradigm at the intersection of healthcare and blockchain technology, and DeSci Seoul 2024 is a significant milestone in that journey,” said Ethan Chae, Co-CEO of Hippocrat. “By bringing together thought leaders and innovators, we are shaping a future where decentralization redefines how health data is collected, shared, and utilized.”
“ResearchHub’s mission is to democratize access to scientific knowledge, and our efforts alongside Hippocrat are a crucial step in making decentralized science a global reality,” added Riccardo Goldoni, Director of the ResearchHub Foundation.
Building on the success of this year’s conference, DeSci Seoul will continue its mission to promote decentralized science in Korea by organizing smaller events throughout the next year. Plans are already underway to make the DeSci Seoul Conference an annual fixture, further establishing Korea as a hub for DeSci innovation.
About DeSci Seoul
DeSci Seoul is an organization dedicated to promoting decentralized science in Korea. Through events like the DeSci Seoul Conference, the organization aims to create a vibrant ecosystem where blockchain and science converge, fostering collaboration between innovators, researchers, and industry leaders. DeSci Seoul is committed to advancing the future of science through decentralization and enabling greater accessibility to scientific knowledge across industries and borders.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No North Headlines journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.