The Hashgraph Group, the Swiss-based Web3 technology and engineering company operating within the Hedera ecosystem, has signed a strategic framework collaboration agreement with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – the executive department of the Philippines government responsible for directing, leading and coordinating science, technology and innovative efforts to support national economic development. This partnership aims to strengthen the cooperation between the public and private sectors in exploring Web3 and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) as part of the Philippines’ national digitization and financial inclusion strategy.

The Philippines is emerging as a major hub for blockchain adoption in Asia-Pacific, driven by a young, tech-savvy population and a supportive government that is integrating technology for transparency and efficiency. DOST’s mandate includes promotion and adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, including blockchain and artificial intelligence, to foster continuous innovation in the country, resulting in job creation and economic growth. As the Philippines embraces Web3 technologies, the need for transparent, verifiable, and secure digital infrastructure becomes increasingly important for the government, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders.

Sancho Mabborang, undersecretary for regional operations DOST, said,

“This partnership between DOST and The Hashgraph Group strengthens our commitment to bring digital innovation to every region of the Philippines. By introducing Web3 and Hedera-powered solutions through our regional offices, we are empowering communities, universities, and industries to take part in the global digital economy. This collaboration ensures that innovation and opportunity reach all Filipinos, driving inclusive and sustainable growth across the nation.”

Through this strategic partnership, DOST and The Hashgraph Group will seek to empower Filipino communities, academic institutions, and industries with Hedera-powered solutions and applications. DOST, through its regional offices, and The Hashgraph Group will collaborate to prioritize the specific Web3 regional requirements, including capacity building, knowledge-sharing, and for developing real-world solutions for startups, enterprises, and governments.

The signing ceremony in Switzerland not only covered the collaboration agreement but also included the signing of six separate agreements with the first six of 17 administrative regions, which included National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Regional Office III – Central Luzon, Regional Office VI – Western Visayas, Regional Office VIII – Eastern Visayas, and Regional Office XI – Davao.

Stefan Deiss, co-founder and CEO of The Hashgraph Group, stated,

“We are very excited to be working with DOST and the regions on developing and deploying Hedera-powered Web3 technologies within the Philippines. We look forward to enabling both the public and private sectors and empowering the Filipino society through training, innovation, and engineering.”

As part of the official signing ceremony, which included a visit by the government delegation of the Philippines to The Hashgraph Group’s Swiss headquarters, the company showcased its Web3 products and solutions, including a demo of its Hedera-powered carbon bank developed for enterprises and government institutions. The Hashgraph Group will work with DOST to develop industry use cases by providing engineering expertise across multiple industries, encompassing venture building, sustainability projects, smart agriculture, smart food systems, water quality traceability, gaming, tourism, and other science, technology, and innovation initiatives.