Web3 and blockchain in Bosnia and Herzegovina: a new and secure generation of the internet

The possibilities and level of development of Web3 and blockchain technologies, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and globally, were among the topics discussed at this year’s scientific and professional conference, which started on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Mostar. The conference is jointly organized by INTERA Technology Park and the Federal Ministry of Education and Science.

“INTERA Technology Park and the Federal Ministry of Education and Science have been collaborating on innovative projects for the second consecutive year, aiming to bring science and current technologies closer. Last year, we organized a conference on the application of artificial intelligence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we almost prophetically announced the AI boom that we are witnessing today. I hope that a similar thing will happen with Web3 and blockchain technology. Personally, I believe that these technologies are significant for the future of digitization and the digital world, and they are often misunderstood due to cryptocurrencies and other technologies. However, their application, especially for regulators and the government, is crucial and will be increasingly visible in the future because they offer complete transparency and decentralization in data usage. There is a growing interest among young people in these topics, not only in the Western Balkan region but also in Croatia. More and more conferences on similar topics are taking place, and this is just the first one in a series that will happen in Mostar, Split, and Belgrade. Some focus more on blockchain technologies in finance, while others, like ours, focus on the general application of blockchain and the perspectives of Web3 as a new internet based on blockchain technology,” said Vedran Šimunović, the Executive Director of INTERA Technology Park, at the beginning of the conference.

“We are pleased that the Federal Ministry of Education and Science had the opportunity to enable the discussion of this important topic, Web3 and Blockchain, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It represents global trends in science and research – the technology of the future that is still in development. This conference follows last year’s conference on artificial intelligence, which was also organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and Science in cooperation with INTERA Technology Park. Web3 and Blockchain are currently among the most significant topics in the world of science and innovation, and we are delighted that Bosnian-Herzegovinian scientists and researchers are part of the global conversation about the future of the internet and the development and application of blockchain technology,” said Dr. sc. Goran Karanović, Expert Associate for Research Infrastructure and Scientific Personnel.

We are witnessing one of the greatest transformations of wealth in human history, from paper analog assets to digital ones. Blockchain represents a decentralized cryptographic system used for storing and transmitting data, making data private, permanent, and verifiable. Web3 represents a newer and more secure generation of the internet based on the concepts of decentralization and blockchain technology.

The conference started with introductory speeches by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education and Science and INTERA Technology Park.

At the beginning of the conference, Vedran Šimunović addressed the attendees, highlighting the significance of the conference’s theme for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire region.

The speakers will discuss the importance and role of Telekom 4.0 operators in the Web3 environment, blockchain technology in Industry 4.0, blockchain interoperability, the potential of these technologies for the financial sector, the role of Generation Z in using these technologies, as well as their applications in digitizing assets, protecting personal data, protecting intellectual property, addressing fake diplomas, transforming the function of the state, green economy, and the tax system.

The conference program will also include practical examples from the region, providing additional learning opportunities and inspiration for the use of these technologies. The speakers who will present good examples on this topic are Tomislav Plesec, the project manager of EDIH JURK and the PISMO Entrepreneurial Incubator, Nermin Hadžić, CEO of Ankora Software, and Lukas Navickas and Vaidotas Norkus, co-founders of RosyWhale.

“I applied to the conference to present my work on the role of telecom operators in the Web3 environment. I am thrilled that the discussion about the Web3 environment has been initiated in Bosnia and Herzegovina because that is what we are lacking. Digitalization in our country is at a very low level, and I believe that this is the right way to start the conversation and move forward. In 2017, a study analyzed 40 European countries, and we were last on the list, so it’s time to start and develop a digital strategy at the national level. Telecom operators can contribute a lot to this, but it’s not only up to them; all universities and companies with an interest in this field must get involved. In my presentation, I also emphasized the need for introducing visas for digital nomads. We, as the section of electronic, automation, and telecommunications engineers within the Engineering Chamber, have been discussing this topic since 2020, but nothing has been done so far. My message is that we urgently need to adopt a digital strategy and introduce visas for digital nomads as soon as possible. Countries such as Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Montenegro, and many others already have visas for digital nomads, and we need to find our opportunity,” said Igor Jurčić, one of the conference speakers.

The aim of the conference is to reflect on the current state of Web3 and blockchain technology application in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, as well as to familiarize participants with the scientific approach to data distribution and usage in general. While the application of Web3 and blockchain technologies has far-reaching effects globally, it is still a relatively unknown topic in Bosnia and Herzegovina and rarely discussed. That is why this scientific and professional conference aims to address the current state of these technologies’ application and the scientific approach to data distribution and usage in general.

10.5.2023.