Industry Seminar: The Future of Blockchain Platforms

Blockchains were originally designed to support digital peer-to-peer payments but have since evolved into general-purpose trustworthy computers – the platforms behind the up and coming third generation of the Web – “Web 3”.

Modern blockchain networks can potentially replace any existing “Web 2” internet service with a more trustworthy and transparent “Web 3” version. They support faster and cheaper transaction processing without having to resort to small-scale “private” blockchains. Meanwhile so-called “oracles” provide reliable “on-chain” access to existing “off-chain” data, facilitating the integration of blockchain with existing services. Finally, “appchains” enable the rapid build-out of sovereign blockchains to support specific applications while at the same time embracing openness and interoperability across chains, creating a new “internet of blockchains”.

Come learn about these topics and more in a series of talks by local KU Leuven and international blockchain experts, explore opportunities to collaborate with local university labs and enjoy the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals during the networking reception.

Target audience: software architects and engineers, business developers, tech strategists, CTOs and innovators working for Flemish software / IT companies eager to explore the potential of, or already building on, blockchain technology.

AGENDA - MAY 30

15:00 Welcome & registration

15:30 Blockchains as trusted computers: unraveling the tech behind Web 3 (Tom Van Cutsem, DistriNet KU Leuven)

16:00 The Internet Computer Protocol: Evolving Web3, One Vote at a Time (Yvonne-Anne Pignolet, Director of Research at DFINITY)

17:00 Bridging Web 2 and Web 3 with Oracles, and overcoming blockchain’s Privacy challenges (Gregory Neven, Chainlink Labs)

17:45 Software engineering challenges for smart contracts and blockchain-based systems (Bert Lagaisse, DistriNet KU Leuven)

18:15-20:00 Networking reception

This event is organized within the context of the Cybersecurity Flanders Program.