The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has announced the launch of the first-ever live trial of Ethereum blockchain for the transparent administration of government contracts.

The trial is being conducted through NRC’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP). The initiative also includes the participation from Canadian blockchain startup Bitaccess and funding from Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP).

IRAP’s plan to test the viability of blockchain technology in the administration of the Program’s Contribution Agreements was first unveiled at a blockchain kickoff session hosted by IRAP in June 2017. The meeting brought together colleagues from across Government at the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Service Lab.

According to the official release, NRC IRAP is now live on the Ethereum blockchain, proactively publishing information on new and amended contribution agreements in real time.

Going forward, NRC IRAP will examine how it can further harness blockchain and the technology’s potential for other processes used at the NRC.

“These are early days yet, but the experiment is expected to provide constructive insight into the potential for blockchain technology and how it may be used for more open and transparent function of public programs. This experiment also marks an important step forward for the technology and a commitment by the Government to support emerging Canadian innovation,” the release stated.