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Sector Analysis : DeSci — Part 3

Exploring the multi-directional DeSci projects & business landscape for a open, free, fair & responsible sciences.

Pivot

8 min readJun 14, 2024

“What are some ways in which emerging open decentralized technologies can make science better?”
— Vitalik Buterin on Decentralized Science, Aging, AI and Scientific Progress

In our previous 2 articles on this sector, we have tried to establish that the ‘protected’ scientific system is broken due to privileged walls leading to a situation where modern science discoveries are out of reach of those who really mean well for the humanity as a whole.

Read: Sector Analysis : DeSci — Part 1

Read: Sector Analysis : DeSci — Part 2

Web 3.0 solutions can reduce miscommunication, unify opinions on scientific matters, and enhance informed decision-making among the public. In the Web 3.0 space, researchers can easily collaborate and communicate with global peers within dynamic teams, and sharing information & laboratory resources becomes simpler and more transparent.

DeSci projects pursue diverse goals, from funding science and disrupting publishing to championing open science and exploring fields like longevity and space.

All this is for striving and improving the state of modern science!

In this part of our 3-part series, let’s explore the work done in the space and enumerate them for their contribution. We will also try and touch upon how the funding market looks like and the various multidirectional initiatives that are shaping this sector in Web 3.0.

The Decentralized Science Landscape

Our analysis of this space has led to an eye-opening result with over 50 different initiatives working in different areas — encompassing multiple sub-sectors and tackling different sectoral problems such as financing, data, publishing, collaboration and much more. From DAOs, to funding initiatives, infrastructure development, NFTs etc., the following list of projects, have been instrumental in driving the global scientific spirit.

From healthcare and environmental science to educational reform and philanthropy, decentralized applications are paving the way for a more inclusive and innovative future.

Here, we explore how these technologies are being employed across diverse fields, demonstrating their broad potential and the transformative impact they have on modern industries.

The Decentralized Science (DeSci) Landscape

As these technologies continue to evolve, their integration into various industries promises to further drive innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration, ultimately reshaping the landscape of modern industry in profound ways.

DeSci impact across key industry sectors

The projects described utilize Web3 tools to tackle challenges across various global industry sectors. Here’s a summary of how these initiatives address sector-specific needs:

1. Scientific Research and Collaboration

DeSci Foundation and DeSci Africa promote global collaboration among scientists, leveraging Web3 technologies to improve funding, transparency, and participation in scientific research, particularly in underserved regions like Africa.
SCINET revolutionizes life sciences research by allowing direct investments from both retail and institutional investors, making funding more accessible and ensuring the authenticity and security of these investments.

2. Infrastructure and Data Management

Gridcoin uses blockchain technology to incentivize contributions to distributed computing projects, essential for scientific research that requires significant computational resources.
Ocean Protocol and Data Lake focus on creating decentralized data markets and storage solutions that ensure data privacy, provenance, and accessibility, facilitating open and efficient data exchange.

3. Biotechnology and Healthcare

BioDAO and VitaDAO focus on funding decentralized science and biotech projects, including drug discovery and longevity research, leveraging DAO structures to democratize the funding and decision-making processes.
LabDAO offers an on-chain marketplace for laboratory services, enhancing resource sharing and collaboration in biotech research.

4. Educational & Professional Development

The DeSci Academy addresses the gap in scientific education by onboarding non-technical users and providing training to those passionate about science but lacking formal credentials.
NeuraDAO and MedDAO create specialized platforms for advancing research in neurotechnology and digital health, promoting community-governed, decentralized platforms for collaboration and innovation.

5. Financial Models for Science & Innovation

The Innovation Game and Gitcoin employ crypto-economic frameworks and funding mechanisms that address transparency and market failures in innovation funding, promoting more equitable and efficient resource allocation.
Impact Finance and Medical.watch build tools that increase the impact of citizen scientists and maintain up-to-date medical knowledge bases, respectively, harnessing the community’s power to drive scientific and medical advancements.

6. Publishing & Intellectual Property

Halogen aims to disrupt the traditional scientific publishing model by creating a self-organizing network of scientific communities where publishing, peer review, and funding occur at the community level, addressing systemic issues in knowledge dissemination.
Ants Review and Planck innovate in the publishing sector by incentivizing peer reviews and creating new frameworks for managing and recognizing intellectual contributions, enhancing the transparency and efficiency of the scientific review process.

7. Decentralized Philanthropy & Community Engagement

Beaker DAO and ViralCure utilize decentralized models to fund scientific research, particularly in areas that may be underfunded by traditional channels. These platforms enable community-driven funding initiatives, which not only provide necessary resources to researchers but also engage the public directly in the philanthropic process.
Giveth revolutionizes how public goods, including scientific research, are funded by creating an economy that rewards and empowers contributors, shifting the paradigm from sacrifice-based systems to mutually beneficial economic interactions.

8. Enhancing Research Accessibility & Inclusion

DeSci Africa specifically targets the empowerment of African scientists, aiming to bridge the resource gap and foster local scientific innovation through decentralized science and community support. This not only increases the scientific output of the continent but also ensures that the benefits of such research are more evenly distributed globally.
AthenaDAO focuses on women’s health by funding research and drug discovery in areas often neglected by mainstream medical research, promoting gender equity in healthcare innovations.

9. Novel Approaches to Intellectual Property

Phage Directory leverages decentralized networks to facilitate the discovery and distribution of bacteriophage therapy resources, showcasing an innovative approach to addressing antibiotic resistance — a critical global health challenge.
CureDAO and ResearchHub DAO introduce new models for intellectual property in the medical and scientific research fields, where contributions are recognized and rewarded in a decentralized manner, fostering a more collaborative and transparent research environment.

10. Sustainability & Environmental Science

Future Foods DAO funds research into sustainable, alternative protein sources, directly contributing to solutions for food security and the environmental impact of traditional animal agriculture.
GainForest leverages decentralized and AI technologies to monitor and protect rainforests, demonstrating how blockchain can be applied to critical environmental challenges and contribute to sustainable development goals.

11. Space Exploration & Development

FrontierDAO focuses on incubating innovations in areas like space exploration and climate solutions, funding projects that have the potential to significantly advance human capabilities and address global challenges.
SpaceChain integrates blockchain technology into space operations, creating decentralized satellite networks that enhance the security and functionality of space-based services.

Funding & Deal Flows in DeSci

The funding landscape in Decentralized Science (DeSci) is marked by innovative financial mechanisms that are broadening the possibilities for scientific funding and engagement. These models not only provide the necessary capital for research but also engage a broader audience, creating a supportive community around scientific endeavors. Here’s a detailed look at the emerging funding trends in DeSci, focusing on crowdfunding, NFT-fundraising, and the role of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).

Crowdfunding in DeSci

Crowdfunding is revolutionizing the way scientific research is funded within the DeSci ecosystem. This innovative approach leverages the collective support of a broad audience to drive a variety of research initiatives.

In June last year, Molecule raised $13 million in seed funding.
VitaDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization that funds research projects in the field of longevity science, closed a $4.1 million token-based raise led by Pfizer Ventures, including Shine Capital, L1 Digital and Balaji Srinivasan.

NFT-Fundraising in DeSci

NFTs are emerging as a groundbreaking fundraising tool in the realm of DeSci. This novel approach facilitates unique opportunities for scientists to secure funding while engaging a diverse and global audience.

Role of DAOs in DeSci Funding

DAOs are playing a crucial role in the funding mechanisms of DeSci. By leveraging the principles of decentralized governance, DAOs enable innovative and community-driven approaches to science funding.

Other funding opportunities & resources

Challenges in DeSci

While Decentralized Science (DeSci) presents numerous opportunities for transforming scientific research, it also faces significant challenges that need to be addressed to fully realize its potential. Additionally, future directions are necessary to guide the evolution of this field.

Here’s a detailed exploration:

Future Directions for DeSci

As DeSci continues to evolve, it enters a crucial development phase requiring strategic initiatives to address challenges and maximize its impact. This includes enhancing foundational technologies and creating an environment that supports widespread adoption and effective governance.

Future directions for DeSci will focus on strengthening technical infrastructure, standardizing protocols, improving community governance, establishing regulatory and ethical frameworks, and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration.

These efforts are essential for developing a resilient and dynamic DeSci ecosystem, setting the stage for significant advancements in scientific research and collaboration.

Building a more responsible scientific world

As we conclude our exploration of Decentralized Science (DeSci) in this three-part series, it’s clear that DeSci is not just a fleeting trend but a robust movement poised to reshape the scientific landscape. The integration of blockchain technologies, innovative funding mechanisms, and decentralized governance models are collectively forging a new paradigm where science is more open, inclusive, and responsive to societal needs.

The future of DeSci holds immense promise for bridging gaps in access and funding, enhancing collaboration across borders, and fostering innovations that could answer some of the most pressing global challenges. As this field continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly inspire new frameworks for knowledge creation and dissemination, driving forward the quest for a more equitable and progressive scientific community.

About Pivot

Pivot is a global venture accelerator firm dedicated to the Web 3.0 industry, created by founders, for founders. Pivot’s selected startups are focused on milestones & are not bound to periodic curriculum-based programs. Founded by Anshul Dhir, a 3x founder in the Web 3.0 space, and mentor and investor in over 50 companies in Web3, we are uniquely positioned to lead the new wave of startups in the Web 3.0 space. Pivot is being supported by some great founders & Angels in this industry including Polygon, Delphi Digital, Blockchain Founders Group, Liminal, Biconomy, BitsCrunch, Tegro, Router, QuickSwap & more. We are also supported by Tier 1 ecosystems such as BNB Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum, ICP, Manta Network, Mantle apart from many VCs, launchpads, Exchanges & many more.