Workshop @ ICAIHE 2026

International Workshop on Blockchain and Web3 for Education, Research, and Science

BERS 2026

BERS 2026 brings together researchers and practitioners working on blockchain, web3, AI, education technologies, and open science infrastructures to explore trustworthy digital ecosystems for learning and research. The accepted papers highlight blockchain-enabled trust, privacy, security, collaborative data systems, and real-world Web3 applications.

  • ConferenceICAIHE 2026
  • DatesJuly 8-10, 2026
  • VenueTokyo, Japan
  • Accepted Papers3 papers

Accepted Paper Summaries

The BERS 2026 accepted papers address secure blockchain-based AI infrastructures, collaborative data sharing, and applied Web3 systems across transportation, energy, and cross-border application domains.

Paper 101

Secure and Privacy-preserving Traffic Large Models Based on Blockchain

Xiaofeng Zheng; Yinfeng Cao

This paper proposes a security and privacy protection framework for traffic large models that integrates consortium blockchain, federated learning, adaptive differential privacy, and zero-knowledge proof. The framework records model versions and gradient data for trusted lifecycle traceability while keeping sensitive traffic data within local domains. Experiments report model tampering detection within 200 ms, a 68% reduction in membership inference attack success rate, and a 98.7% gradient poisoning interception rate.

  • Traffic large models
  • Blockchain
  • Federated learning
  • Privacy protection
  • Zero-knowledge proof
Paper 110

Blockchain-based Secure Spatio-Temporal Collaborative Load Forecasting for Distribution Network Station Areas

Huiyu Bao; Changze Zheng; Yuwei Ji; Kevin Cao

This paper studies collaborative load forecasting across distribution network station areas where data are distributed across multiple control units. It combines a DDC-LSTNet-skip forecasting network with blockchain-based trust management, off-chain storage, on-chain notarization, and smart-contract access control. The proposed method improves forecasting accuracy while strengthening secure data interaction, result traceability, and operational reliability.

  • Load forecasting
  • Blockchain
  • Spatio-temporal modeling
  • Smart contracts
  • Traceability
Paper 111

A Survey of Blockchain-based Cross-border Applications

Xingxi Ding; Hongyu Liu

This survey organizes blockchain-based cross-border applications across payments, trade finance, identity exchange, and tokenized settlement. It presents a taxonomy covering application objectives, governance structures, settlement models, interoperability mechanisms, privacy designs, and regulatory constraints. The paper argues that practical value depends on off-chain enforcement, data standardization, jurisdictional compatibility, and operational governance as much as the ledger itself.

  • Survey
  • Blockchain
  • Cross-border applications
  • Governance
  • Interoperability

About the Workshop

Blockchain and web3 technologies are increasingly relevant to education, research management, and open science because they provide transparent, tamper-evident, and decentralized mechanisms for trust.

In education, blockchain can support verifiable micro-credentials, secure student records, and interoperable lifelong learning portfolios. In research and science, blockchain can strengthen reproducibility, provenance tracking, data sharing governance, and incentive mechanisms for open collaboration.

This workshop focuses on technical and applied issues at the intersection of blockchain, AI, and digital infrastructures for learning and scientific ecosystems. The topic is timely due to the rapid growth of verifiable credentials, decentralized identity, open science mandates, cross-institution collaboration, and growing concerns about integrity and trust in digital systems.

Scope and Submission

The International Workshop on Blockchain and Web3 for Education, Research, and Science (BERS 2026) invites original contributions on methods, systems, applications, and evaluations that use blockchain and related decentralized technologies to improve trust, transparency, and collaboration in education and scientific research.

The workshop aims to connect researchers and practitioners from AI, blockchain, education, and open science communities and to identify practical pathways from prototypes to deployable solutions.

Submission Format

PDF, following Springer LNCS formatting guidelines and ICAIHE submission categories.

Paper Types

Full papers (12-15 pages), short papers (6-11 pages), and work-in-progress papers (6-7 pages).

Publication

Accepted papers will be published in the Springer CCIS proceedings alongside the main conference proceedings.

Submission Link

Submit your paper through the official CMT system for ICAIHE 2026.

https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/ICAIHE2026

Topics of Interest

  • Verifiable credentials and decentralized identity for education
  • Blockchain-based academic records and diploma verification
  • Smart contracts for research collaboration and funding workflows
  • Provenance, reproducibility, and auditability in scientific research
  • Tokenization and incentive design for open science participation
  • Data sharing governance and consent management in research
  • Privacy-preserving learning and analytics on decentralized systems
  • Blockchain and federated learning for education and science
  • Trusted AI pipelines with on-chain and off-chain integration
  • Decentralized knowledge graphs and scholarly communication
  • Copyright, IP, and licensing automation for educational resources
  • Interoperability standards for cross-institution academic ecosystems
  • Security, scalability, and energy efficiency of blockchain solutions
  • Regulation, ethics, and governance of blockchain in education and science
  • Real-world deployments, case studies, and evaluation frameworks

Important Dates

Workshop/Special Session Paper Due
April 15, 2026 (Extended)
Author Notification
May 1, 2026
Paper Registration Due
May 10, 2026
Camera-ready Submission Due
May 15, 2026

Review Process

All submissions will be reviewed in a single-blind process by at least 2 to 3 expert reviewers following criteria of originality, technical quality, relevance, clarity, and practical impact.

Workshop Organizers