Iagon & Würth: Platform for Secure 3D Printing and Intellectual Property Management

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Navjit Dhaliwal

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

6

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Iagon and Würth's NFT-Smart Contract platform on ORSY Connect secures 3D IP with decentralized storage, automates royalties, and establishes a global marketplace for 3D printing IP and services

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

Iagon will have to closely collaborate with Würth Group (in conjunction with Würth Canada, WAG and Würth IT India) on the proposal. These entities provide the knowledge and expertise on the 3D Printing Industry and will play a key role throughout the entire process.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

N/A

[METADATA] Horizons

Tokenization

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Iagon and Würth aim to create a robust platform that utilizes NFTs and Smart Contracts to control access to 3D intellectual property, automate payments for royalties, and cover storage costs without requiring third-party intervention. This platform, embedded within ORSY Connect (Würth’s Inventory Management Solution), will give Würth’s customers seamless access to purchase 3D printing supplies, printers, and printing IP recipes, all managed within a secure, decentralized blockchain-based system.

The platform will maintain IP ownership integrity by encrypting files and managing their distribution within a decentralized file system developed by Iagon. Smart Contracts attached to NFTs will be the key mechanism for handling payments and access permissions, allowing customers to purchase and print the IP files needed, while manufacturers retain full control. This setup will enable IP owners to monetize their designs easily and cost-effectively.

Würth’s role in the project allows for options like exclusive access to the platform, with branding proportional to their investment in the MVP. Clear agreements and terms will be established before project initiation, and once approvals are finalized, Iagon and Würth will craft a detailed project plan. Throughout this process, Würth Canada, WAG (Würth Additive Group) and Würth IT India will all play a key part in the planning, execution, integration and go-to-market for this initiative. 

Designed to benefit Würth, Iagon, the Cardano blockchain, and the creators of 3D Printing IP, this platform will be open to any manufacturer contributing printable IP. It will also offer flexibility by accommodating 3D printing service bureaus, giving customers the option to outsource their print jobs if needed. This ecosystem is expected to foster widespread adoption, making it straightforward for IP suppliers to sell their work via NFTs or Smart Contracts and for customers to purchase them easily within ORSY Connect. This development seeks to establish a new industry-wide precedent for the sale and distribution of 3D printing IP, setting a standard that can become easily adopted and enabling seamless plug-and-play functionality with traditional 3D printing services and tooling. 

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Our project with Würth Group (in conjunction with Würth Canada, WAG and Würth IT India) and our infrastructure will have a significant positive impact on the Cardano community by advancing the use of Cardano’s ecosystem for real-world, enterprise-grade applications, particularly in the realm of 3D printing and intellectual property protection. 

Based on initial market research from Würth, the Canada and USA initial market potential for 3D printing is between $10 million - $100 million per year, with Würth Additive Group already doing over $10 million in printing annually. Over the next few years the global market size is expected to grow to an over $1 Billion market opportunity. Würth expects to capture a significant portion of this possible market growth and this collaborative project could greatly impact the overall market opportunity, leading to a bigger and wider available market. 

Overall, this presents a significant opportunity for Iagon and Cardano and could greatly benefit the ecosystem.

Here’s how:

1. Promotes Real-World Adoption of Cardano Blockchain: By integrating NFTs and Smart Contracts, this project demonstrates the utility of Cardano’s technology in protecting and monetizing digital assets like 3D IP file
2. Expands Cardano’s Role in Decentralized IP Management: With a decentralized and secure platform for storing, sharing, and monetizing 3D files, the project highlights Cardano’s role in innovative digital asset management. This expands Cardano’s footprint in new industries and increases its appeal to businesses seeking blockchain solutions.
3. Strengthens Decentralized Storage Network: Iagon’s decentralized storage on Cardano strengthens the ecosystem’s infrastructure, adding capacity and showcasing decentralized storage as a viable solution for secure, encrypted file management—key for IP-sensitive industries.
4. Increases NFT Utility on Cardano: This project will leverage NFTs beyond art and collectibles, positioning them as valuable tools for controlling digital rights, access, and royalties. It broadens the scope and utility of NFTs on Cardano, attracting a new user base interested in functional, utility-driven NFTs.
5. Drives Community Engagement and Adoption: With the ORSY Connect platform as a gateway for industry participants to purchase, manage, and use 3D IP, Cardano’s ecosystem will attract more diverse users. Both enterprise users and individual customers will engage with the blockchain, expanding the community and reinforcing Cardano’s reputation for accessibility and innovation.
6. Supports Broader Ecosystem Growth: By showcasing Cardano in a B2B environment, this project encourages other Cardano-native projects, developers, and startups to build complementary solutions or explore partnerships. This could lead to growth in decentralized applications, smart contracts, and IP management solutions within the Cardano network.
7. Enhances Cardano’s Reputation in Compliance and Security: Operating within a decentralized and trusted environment aligns with enterprise compliance needs and strengthens Cardano’s credibility as a secure, enterprise-ready blockchain. The secure management of IP and user-friendly setup for royalty payments aligns with businesses’ demand for transparency and control, positioning Cardano as a preferred choice.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Track Record: Iagon has a working cloud storage solution on the Cardano Blockchain with 7.75 Petabyte of storage and 515 storage nodes as of writing this proposal. The company has delivered solutions such as Ledgerflow and have demonstrated pilots such as for cloud compute as well as the Cyclone hardware device.

Team: Our team consists of experienced developers and experts in the field of blockchain and reputation systems. We have a proven track record of delivering high-quality projects with a strong focus on trust and accountability. Team co-founders include: Dr. Navjit Dhaliwal (has led 3 successful startups, increased revenue over 3 years from 0 NOK to 10 million NOK), Dr. Rohit Gupta (former director of technology for Expedia, currently a senior manager at Google, wrote thesis in decentralized compute in 2005), Dr. Claudio Lima (former CTO at Huawei in east asia, currently educates governments and enterprises on Blockchain architecture) and Dr. Elad Harison (AI/machine learning expert, economics professor).

Communication and Engagement: Iagon has demonstrated regular updates on our company blog, discord as well as twitter updates and spaces. We will continue to update the community and allow for engagement and questions on the proof of concept app if this project gets funded.

The success of the project can be measured using several key indicators:

1. Tokenization of IP Assets: Develop a system for the simple and intuitive onboarding and tokenization of 3D Printing Recipes through NFT technology. 
2. Implementation of Smart Contract: Development of the appropriate smart contract functionality for the sale, distribution and conditional availability of the IP assets.
3. Integration of ORSY: Allow for the seamless integration into the ORSY system through crafted APIs for Partners, Customers and Würth Admin to interact with the system and contracts.
4. Refined User Experience: The platform and user experience must be designed in a manner that is intuitive and does not add additional barriers to entry for the end user. 
5. Streamlined On/Off Ramps: Provide a simplified process for retailers and distributors to off ramp revenue from sales and royalties.

Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

Sharing the outputs and results of the project is crucial for transparency, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination within the Cardano ecosystem. Here are some plans to share the outputs and results:

• Documentation: Outline of the MVP, how it works, its functionalities and how to use and integrate it.
• APIs: Relevant APIs for the integration and interaction with the system and 3rd party applications.
• Public Platform: The platform itself will be open for use by suppliers, consumers and 3rd party service providers upon release.
• Adoption Metrics: Following development and release we will cover the adoption metrics that the platform is producing for both Iagon and the Cardano ecosystem. 

What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

• Reduce costs required to sustain intermediaries
• Allow the automation of royalty payouts based on customer print job requests, while limiting the ability to print additional quantities beyond what was purchase
• Intellectual Property Monetisation 

What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

• Mainnet Launch: Fully functional platform on mainnet. Acceptance: Initial users successfully onboarded.
• Performance Monitoring Tools: Real-time analytics for tracking system performance. Acceptance: Deployed with live data access.
• User Support System: Channels for user assistance and issue resolution.
• Acceptance: Demonstrated via sample support case handling.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Research, Design and Requirements Validation

Objective:

Establish a comprehensive design blueprint for the NFT-based IP management system. This includes detailing technical requirements, architecture, and secure storage mechanisms for 3D IP files.

Outputs and Acceptance Criteria:

• Technical Blueprint: Detailed documentation of system architecture, data flow, and security protocols.
• Data Management Plan: Outline for decentralized file storage and encryption approach.
• Blockchain solution selection: Which blockchain approach is best suited for the project’s needs (Cardano L1, Partner Chain, Hydra or a combination thereof)

Smart Contract Design and Initial Service Development

Objective:

Design initial smart contracts for secure IP tokenization, access control, and royalty distribution to ensure compliance with business rules. Implement off-chain API prototypes to interact with mock contracts. 

Outputs and Acceptance Criteria:

• Smart Contract Prototype: Basic functioning contract that supports tokenized access and royalties.
• Royalty Mechanism: Automated process for royalty calculations and payouts.
• Basic Integration: Concrete design and mock calls documented coming from and going to the ORSY Connect system.

ORSY Connect Integration API and UI Development

Objective:

Develop APIs and UX to integrate the tokenization platform with Würth’s ORSY Connect system, enabling seamless user interactions with 3D IP files.

Outputs and Acceptance Criteria:

• API Documentation: Detailed docs for API calls and parameters for ORSY Connect integration.
• Integration Test with ORSY: Initial tests for data exchange and response handling.
• UX Testing: Work with stakeholders to establish new user interface elements to interact with new integrations, both on the ordering end as well as on the printing devices.

Complete initial development prototype on testnet

Objective:

Provide prototype implementation on testnet for ordering flow. Create an IP management interface that interacts with smart contracts to manage inventory on the blockchain layer.

Outputs and Acceptance Criteria:

• User Portal Beta: Functional beta version allowing IP browsing and purchasing, as well as submitting to a mock print queue. Depending on complexity of ORSY integration might be a custom sample website instead of the full integration.
• Admin Dashboard: Prototype interface for managing IP uploads.

Mainnet preparations and finalize implementation

Objective:

Bring solution to mainnet and integrate with an internal ORSY inventory and test print queue. Address findings and complete MVP of orchestrator and order processing apps based on testnet runs.

Outputs and Acceptance Criteria:

• Mainnet deployment: Contracts can be used on mainnet via test API calls or an actual integration
• Capabilities for initial rollout are complete: Signoff by involved stakeholders that all capabilities required for initial launch are complete.

Deployment and Performance Optimization

Objective:

Launch the platform on the mainnet with ongoing performance optimization and user support mechanisms for scalability.

Outputs and Acceptance Criteria:

• Mainnet Launch: Fully functional platform on mainnet with integration for a Wurth-defined set of customers and print queue providers
• Performance Monitoring Tools: Real-time analytics for tracking system performance.
• User Support System: Channels for user assistance and issue resolution.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Iagon:

1. Navjit Dhaliwal, CEO
2. Holger Mesiats, CTO
3. Nils, Project Lead
4. Mark, Full Stack Engineer
5. Quinn, Smart Contract Engineer

Würth:

1. Mikhail Gladkikh, PhD - Würth Additive Group
2. Dimitrios Mitskos - Würth Canada Systems & Solutions Sr. Manager
3. Richard Kipin - Würth Canada eBusiness Consultant

Additionally, we will need to hire a designed team for this project to ensure the appropriate man-power and time can be delegated to its successful completion in a timely manner.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

The following budget breakdown provides an overview of the anticipated costs essential to making Iagon’s MVP a reality. This allocation supports every critical stage, from development and integration to project coordination and compliance, ensuring that Iagon has the resources necessary to build a robust and feasible MVP.

Outlined in ADA (calculated at a rate of 1 ADA = 0.3 USD), the budget is categorized to cover project management, IT development, compliance, and contingency planning. This structured approach supports operational efficiency, seamless execution, and a strategic reserve for any unforeseen requirements, setting a strong foundation for project success.

While this project aligns with business objectives, it also contributes to the Cardano ecosystem by showcasing a real-world, enterprise-grade use case on Cardano’s blockchain. This initiative opens the door for additional Cardano-based enterprise solutions and fosters wider industry adoption of decentralized systems.

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

This project presents the opportunity for significant value creation within the Cardano ecosystem. There is a market gap for a solution of this type within the 3D printing industry and by working with Würth Canada, this initiative has the backing and potential to establish significant adoption. Würth services millions of customers on an annual basis and has the expertise to understand the needs and trajectory of the 3D printing market, this, combined with Iagons proprietary storage solution and expertise in blockchain technology and development, establishes a collaboration that is well positioned to deliver and attract the attention of an entire industry of participants. Therefore, the cost of this project could translate to a significant use case and adoption generating platform for Cardano.

Based on initial market research from Würth, the Canada and USA initial market potential for 3D printing is between $10 million - $100 million per year, with Würth Additive Group already doing over $10 million in printing annually. Over the next few years the global market size is expected to grow to an over $1 Billion market opportunity. Würth expects to capture a significant portion of this possible market growth and this collaborative project could greatly impact the overall market opportunity, leading to a bigger and wider available market.