Taiwanese startup Bitmark Inc has announced that it will fund UC Berkeley School of Public Health research fellows to conduct studies using its blockchain technology.

The startup has partnered with UC Berkeley to empower individuals to donate their personal data to advance public health. This initiative would mark the first public application of the Bitmark system.

The Bitmark system structures and converts personal data into a digital property by issuing property titles, or "bitmarks", which serves as a permanent record of the ownership history for its property by recording each transfer of ownership in the open-source Bitmark blockchain. This ownership history safeguards the authenticity of the data and its access to digital property. Researchers publicly link their identities to their accounts so that donors can trust them. Transparency and accountability are extremely high and both parties can independently track the data provenance, the company explained.

"Our phones and Fitbits track our steps, calories, sleep cycles, and more. This data is empowering and helps improve our wellbeing. It can also aid research in myriad areas. Through our partnership with UC Berkeley, we all can become data philanthropists and help advance public health," Sean Moss-Pultz, CEO, Bitmark Inc. said.

The Bitmark blockchain allows data verification without relying on central intermediaries. Berkeley students would now be able to know exactly where their data is being used and for what purposes, while researchers can directly confirm the provenance of data and the students' consent to use it.

"Berkeley is excited to partner with Bitmark Inc. on this fellowship. It is a great opportunity for our young researchers to gain valuable hands-on experience at the intersection of public health and technology," Lauren Goldstein, PhD, Director of Research Development, School of Public Health, UC Berkeley, said.

Beyond this partnership with Berkeley, Bitmark said it can benefit the larger public health system by affording transparent access to data; providing a network effect of usability via crowdsourcing; automating consent, via Bitmark's uses of blockchain technology.