With less than 1% of people using blockchain technology, teaching the uses, potentials and dangers associated with this new technology to as many people as possible is critical to its adoption by populations. Thus, in collaboration with 5ire and Network Capital, the Atal Innovation Mission, initiated by the government of Narendra Modi, launched a first module of the ATL blockchain on 23 January.
ATL Blockchain Module
The Atal Innovation Mission is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to create and foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. Partnered with Network Capital investment fund and 5ire, a Web3 unicorn from India, Mission has developed its first blockchain module. Authorized ATL Blockchain Modulethis first version of a top-level blockchain seeks to revolutionize the way individuals and businesses interact and offers a decentralized and secure platform for data storage and transfer.
The ATL Blockchain module was launched on January 23 in the presence of the Dr. Chintan Vaishnav (mission director Atal Innovation Mission), di Mr Pratik Gauri (CEO and co-founder of 5ire), by Mr Utkarsh Amitabh (CMO of 5ire and CEO of Network Capital) e Mrs Deepali Upadhyay (Program Director, Atal Tinkering Labs and Mentor India).
On the occasion of the launch of the ATL Blockchain module, the mission director of Atal Innovation Mission underlined the importance of “practical innovation” and the need to use blockchain technology to drive social change. Starting from this idea, Pratik Gauri talked about need to align sustainability with innovation. He underlined, in front of the young students present at the launch, the infinite possibilities of the blockchain and how this technology can help solve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.
Utkarsh Amitabh concluded the session by sharing his thoughts on the constructiona fairer and more decentralized internet which would allow young students to build andlearn more freely.
A project that unites the private sector and the government
ATL’s Blockchain module marks a milestone in India’s digital transformation.
Indeed, the objective of the Atal Innovation Mission, flown by NITI Aayog – a government policy commission charged with outlining major transformational projects undertaken by India – is the development of new programs and policies to encourage innovation in different sectors of the economy. It also provides platforms and collaboration opportunities for different stakeholders, and is in the process of establishing an “umbrella” structure, which will oversee India’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Under the umbrella of the Mission, more than 10,000 Indian schools have Atal Tinkering Labs. The aim of this program is to encourage curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds and instill skills such as design thinking, programming, computer science, etc. in them.
On his side, 5ire it became hugely popular after raising $100 million in its Series A funding round in July 2022. In the words of the company, the funding made the boot, in the words of its CEO, Pratik Gauri:
[La] the world’s first blockchain unicorn with sustainability at its core, as it sought to align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This blockchain unicorn, which can boast fastest growing in the worldhas provided its skills and technical knowledge for the realization of the ATL module.
It is important to note that Mainnand 5ire hasn’t launched yet and that the project already seems to arouse a lot of interest to the point of even being recognized by the Indian government for a partnership. The testnet was launched in late November 2022 and the mainnet is expected to be ready in Q3 2023.
Network Capital, the world’s largest professional career accelerator and mentoring platform, facilitated the curation and conceptualization of the module. Also, its founder Mr. Utkarsh Amitabh recently reiterates his faith in the potential of Web3 to radically transform higher education. According to him, the teaching of blockchain technology should be encouraged.
Now note that the three major players responsible for the development of the “Blockchain ATL Module” include both the private sphere of entrepreneurs and investors but also the public sphere, embodied by the Atal Innovation Mission, which is a means employed by the Government of India to achieve the its objectives of modernizing the country, in particular, in the case that interests us, in the field of education and new information and communication technologies.
The preface to roadmap prepared by NITI Aayog and titled: “Blockchain: The India Strategy (Towards business facilitation, ease of life and ease of governance.)”; that is : Blockchain, India’s strategy (towards ease of trade, lives and governance).opens with these words:
Blockchain technology has evolved to potentially become a transformative force in many aspects of private sector and government operations. Its potential has been recognized worldwide, with many international organizations and technology companies emphasizing the benefits its application will reap in terms of reducing operational costs and improving process efficiency.
Proof, if any were needed, that world governments, but above all, here, India, are also launching themselves into the arena of ever more innovative blockchain-enabled technologies (NFTs, Smart Contracts, DAOs, etc.) . So we can probably count on rapid development of Indian Web3 ecosystem.
Government involvement in such a project can serve as a guarantee of its viability, but according to the strategy paper cited above, government participation should be seen as a means ofuse public power to accelerate the pace of adoptions of these new technologies and thus position itself as a world leader in the emerging Web3 market. As jobs are expensive and competition is fierce, the hand of government can have a decisive effect on the development of this sector of its economy.
Finally, remember that blockchain technology has established itself as a driving force in the world of data technologies and services. She radically transforms how we imagine collaboration, information exchange and institution building in the 21st century.