Max Planck Digital Library Announces Pilot Project Giving MPG Scientists Ability to Certify Their Research Data on Bitcoin Blockchain

From the Max Planck Digital Library:

The Max Planck Digital Library (MPDL) is pleased to announce a new pilot project with Bernstein Technologies GmbH (Bernstein), which will give MPG-scientists access to the groundbreaking blockchain technology to certify their research data on the Bitcoin Blockchain.
In particular the collaboration between Bernstein and the MPDL will launch a custom version of the Bernstein web application and grant access to a selected group of users within the MPG. Using this technology Bernstein allows researchers at the MPG to create a digital trail of records of their innovation. Therefore designs, inventions and proofs of use can be registered to obtain blockchain certificates that prove ownership, existence and integrity of any IP asset. Thanks to a unique cryptographic layer all notarized information will remain entirely private.
“Being able to certify research data at any state is a big step towards proving and securing data ownership. We are happy to offer our MPG-researchers such an easy while, at the same time, secure tool to certify their research data” says Dr. Frank Sander, General Manager of the MPDL. Marco Barulli, Managing Director of Bernstein is thinking ahead and states that “the present collaboration may also evolve in the implementation of a defensive publishing service combining blockchain certificates and IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) decentralized data storage”.
Both parties believe blockchain and other decentralized technologies will have a strong impact on the way knowledge​ ​will​ ​be​ ​registered​ ​and​ ​shared​ ​in​ ​the​ ​future​ ​to​ ​the​ ​benefits​ ​of​ ​science,​ ​art,​ ​innovation​ ​and​ ​society.

Filed under: Data Files, Digital Collections, Funding, Interactive Tools, Libraries, News, Patrons and Users, Publishing