The European Commission’s NGI TrustChain initiative has awarded €1.8 million in grant funding to 15 European startups focused on combating online misinformation and false identities through blockchain-based technologies. The selected startups, each receiving up to €117,000, aim to enhance the digital public space with innovative solutions for identity verification and secure online interactions.
The NGI TrustChain Project, now in its third cohort, has become more critical amid increasing political, social, and military conflicts affecting online environments. In previous rounds, the project has distributed over €4.6 million to 43 companies, highlighting its commitment to addressing online safety and misinformation. These new grants reinforce the initiative’s ongoing efforts to foster a secure and trustworthy online ecosystem.
Driving Innovation to Safeguard Democracy
“We’re working with TrustChain to depolarise the online social landscape so democracy has breathing room for inclusive discussion. TrustChain will help with the adoption of our polling and discussion tools, as well as our user and privacy-friendly identity verification platform,” said Yuting Jiang, CEO of ZKorum.
“Misinformation, hate speech and online harm in democracy is a pressing issue – nearly half of the world’s population are voting in national elections this year,” added Dr. Muttukrishnan Rajarajan, Professor at City, University of London.
Introducing the Latest Grant Recipients
The 15 startups receiving grants include ZKorum (France), Metabio PC (Greece), Compellio (Luxembourg), Forkbomb BV (Netherlands), ENISMARO (Italy), Arsys Internet (Spain), Acurraent UG (Germany), In Trade 4 You (Italy), QX by Qpick (Poland), Digital Democracy World (Sweden), Pavlos Efraimidis (Greece), City and Me doo Nis (Serbia), Gheorghe Asachi Tech, University Iasi (Romania), SecureOpinion (United Kingdom), and Neuron AI (Greece). Each of these startups is developing unique solutions to enhance transparency, privacy, and security in online interactions.
Empowering Trusted Online Spaces
F6S, a growth network supporting a global community of founders and businesses, plays a pivotal role in connecting startups with growth opportunities. With a reach extending to 3,800 markets worldwide, F6S provides essential resources such as R&D and accounting services to help startups thrive. Sean Kane, co-founder of F6S, emphasized the importance of these grants in fostering trust in digital public spaces.
The initiative’s impact shows the necessity of continuous support for technological advancements to secure online spaces. The grants provided by NGI TrustChain not only aim to reduce misinformation but also to create a more inclusive and secure digital environment. These efforts are crucial in today’s context, where online misinformation can have significant consequences on public opinion and democratic processes.
The ongoing commitment of NGI TrustChain to support startups working on digital trust and security highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing complex online challenges. As misinformation continues to evolve, the need for innovative solutions grows, making initiatives like NGI TrustChain essential in promoting a safer and more reliable internet.
