Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DIEM (Distributed Ledger Technology: Innovation & Ecosystem Management)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2024-08-31
Evidence suggests that to deliver on the promise of Blockchain technology, participants in Blockchain ecosystems must navigate technological, innovation, governance, and stakeholder tensions at distinct levels: organizational (internal innovation), ecosystem (external innovation) and societal level (consumer, user adoption). Industry, Government, Academia, and other stakeholders must join forces and share expertise to thoroughly investigate the phenomenon and maximize the societal and economic impact of Blockchain technology for EU and global entities. Given that Blockchain technology exists at the intersection of these three distinct levels of analysis (organizational, ecosystem, societal) it is impossible to study the phenomenon without taking into consideration the dynamics that are created at the intersection of these levels.
The DIEM consortium brings together academic, government, and industry expertise to investigate the managerial, economic, and societal implications of Blockchain technology. DIEM is a Doctoral Network that creates a platform for doctoral candidates to engage in the co-production of knowledge by investigating state-of-the-art challenges and societal implications of Blockchain technology across actors and industry boundaries.
The DIEM consortium brings together academic, government, and industry expertise to investigate the managerial, economic, and societal implications of Blockchain technology. DIEM is a Doctoral Network that creates a platform for doctoral candidates to engage in the co-production of knowledge by investigating state-of-the-art challenges and societal implications of Blockchain technology across actors and industry boundaries.
The DIEM DCs have generated 12 academically grounded literature reviews and have collected qualitative data encompassing 36 interviews with blockchain and ecosystem experts across Europe to identify best/worst practices and future developments. This body of knowledge has now been translated into 36 empirical research projects, each DC assuming ownership of three projects.
#1-Strategies for Blockchain Innovation
DC1’s research investigates how to strategize for Blockchain innovation. DC1 is currently finalizing the draft of his literature review, which he aims to submit to journals and conferences soon.
#2-Blockchain-enabled corporate digital innovation architectures
DC2 has conducted an extensive literature review of academic literature on blockchain technology, digital innovation, and corporate strategy. The results of this literature review have provided valuable insights into the potential of blockchain to transform corporate innovation processes. Furthermore, DC2 has initiated conversations with industry experts and practitioners to gain practical insights into blockchain adoption.
#3-Blockchain Business Models
DC3 focuses on how blockchain technology interacts with other emerging technologies to generate disruptive business models. DC3 conducted a literature review on Blockchain in the context of Business Models. She noticed a lack of in-depth knowledge and insights on Blockchain-based business model forms and conditions rendering her paper a valuable and relevant contribution to the management field.
#4-Blockchain, smart contracts and the optimal firm vertical scope
DC4 is currently exploring how the adoption of smart contracts influences firms’ vertical scope within the value chain. The project examines how strategic adjustments and industry dynamics shape the adoption and effectiveness of smart contracts.
#5-Blockchain Organizations & Governance Mechanisms I
DC5 investigates how blockchain enables the intra and inter-organizational exchange of data for the creation of value-adding digital solutions. Currently, DC5 is working on a literature review focusing on the use of Blockchain technology in the public sector, seeking to recognize the expected outcomes and barriers to the implementation of blockchain.
#6-Blockchain for responsible business I: planet
DC6 seeks to understand how Blockchain technology shapes people’s inputs, intentions, and strategies to generate meaningful outcomes for the environment and society. At this stage, the research objective is to investigate the ethical imperatives, both at the individual and organizational levels. The results of a systematic literature review reveal that Blockchain, uncertain conditions, can contribute to societal benefits.
#7-Differences in the Dissemination of Digitized & Digitalized Innovations
DC7 is working on five interrelated projects and completed a systematic literature review analyzing Blockchain’s path to diffusion as an interplay of assimilation process and ecosystem dynamics. The four empirical projects focus on navigating blockchain assimilation in private institutions.
#8-Role of Network Properties on Blockchain Diffusion Processes
DC8 is working on his literature review and developing a theoretical model regarding Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) governance and Artificial Intelligence (AI) agency. For his qualitative research, he is gathering information on how decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) incorporate AI into the governance of DAOs.
#9-Blockchain for responsible business II: humanity
DC9 seeks to explore the integration of a PV forecasting system with an EV charging system to optimize energy management and utilization in a way that maximizes the use of renewable energy and minimizes reliance on conventional grid power. A deep learning model, Bi-LSTM, is employed to predict short-term PV energy generation based on weather features and historical data.
#10-Blockchain Organizations & Governance Mechanisms II
DC10 has been working on Tokenized Science. In one project, DC10 investigates how institutional frameworks influence the governance and adoption of tokenized platforms, with a specific focus on biopharma DAOs. In another project DC10 explores how the increasing role of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and Generative Algorithmic Solutions (GAS) in digital governance introduces both opportunities and challenges.
#11-Blockchain end user adoption and societal challenges
DC11 has been working on a literature review focusing on the contrast between academic sentiment and practical adoption. DC11 has completed a meta-analysis of 126 review articles on blockchain adoption, generating temporal and thematic insights. In addition, real-world blockchain applications will be reviewed, based on web searches, database queries, and project updates to investigate if the application is i) operational, ii) discontinued, or iii) at a more advanced stage.
#12-Blockchain in Government
DC12 has been working on the challenge of implementing blockchain technology in public sector organizations, focusing on harmonizing decentralized blockchain systems with centralized governmental structures.
#1-Strategies for Blockchain Innovation
DC1’s research investigates how to strategize for Blockchain innovation. DC1 is currently finalizing the draft of his literature review, which he aims to submit to journals and conferences soon.
#2-Blockchain-enabled corporate digital innovation architectures
DC2 has conducted an extensive literature review of academic literature on blockchain technology, digital innovation, and corporate strategy. The results of this literature review have provided valuable insights into the potential of blockchain to transform corporate innovation processes. Furthermore, DC2 has initiated conversations with industry experts and practitioners to gain practical insights into blockchain adoption.
#3-Blockchain Business Models
DC3 focuses on how blockchain technology interacts with other emerging technologies to generate disruptive business models. DC3 conducted a literature review on Blockchain in the context of Business Models. She noticed a lack of in-depth knowledge and insights on Blockchain-based business model forms and conditions rendering her paper a valuable and relevant contribution to the management field.
#4-Blockchain, smart contracts and the optimal firm vertical scope
DC4 is currently exploring how the adoption of smart contracts influences firms’ vertical scope within the value chain. The project examines how strategic adjustments and industry dynamics shape the adoption and effectiveness of smart contracts.
#5-Blockchain Organizations & Governance Mechanisms I
DC5 investigates how blockchain enables the intra and inter-organizational exchange of data for the creation of value-adding digital solutions. Currently, DC5 is working on a literature review focusing on the use of Blockchain technology in the public sector, seeking to recognize the expected outcomes and barriers to the implementation of blockchain.
#6-Blockchain for responsible business I: planet
DC6 seeks to understand how Blockchain technology shapes people’s inputs, intentions, and strategies to generate meaningful outcomes for the environment and society. At this stage, the research objective is to investigate the ethical imperatives, both at the individual and organizational levels. The results of a systematic literature review reveal that Blockchain, uncertain conditions, can contribute to societal benefits.
#7-Differences in the Dissemination of Digitized & Digitalized Innovations
DC7 is working on five interrelated projects and completed a systematic literature review analyzing Blockchain’s path to diffusion as an interplay of assimilation process and ecosystem dynamics. The four empirical projects focus on navigating blockchain assimilation in private institutions.
#8-Role of Network Properties on Blockchain Diffusion Processes
DC8 is working on his literature review and developing a theoretical model regarding Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) governance and Artificial Intelligence (AI) agency. For his qualitative research, he is gathering information on how decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) incorporate AI into the governance of DAOs.
#9-Blockchain for responsible business II: humanity
DC9 seeks to explore the integration of a PV forecasting system with an EV charging system to optimize energy management and utilization in a way that maximizes the use of renewable energy and minimizes reliance on conventional grid power. A deep learning model, Bi-LSTM, is employed to predict short-term PV energy generation based on weather features and historical data.
#10-Blockchain Organizations & Governance Mechanisms II
DC10 has been working on Tokenized Science. In one project, DC10 investigates how institutional frameworks influence the governance and adoption of tokenized platforms, with a specific focus on biopharma DAOs. In another project DC10 explores how the increasing role of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and Generative Algorithmic Solutions (GAS) in digital governance introduces both opportunities and challenges.
#11-Blockchain end user adoption and societal challenges
DC11 has been working on a literature review focusing on the contrast between academic sentiment and practical adoption. DC11 has completed a meta-analysis of 126 review articles on blockchain adoption, generating temporal and thematic insights. In addition, real-world blockchain applications will be reviewed, based on web searches, database queries, and project updates to investigate if the application is i) operational, ii) discontinued, or iii) at a more advanced stage.
#12-Blockchain in Government
DC12 has been working on the challenge of implementing blockchain technology in public sector organizations, focusing on harmonizing decentralized blockchain systems with centralized governmental structures.
DIEM seeks to contribute to the transformation of Europe into a society capable of building its competitiveness on digital technology through new generation of responsible researchers with the competency to understand how fundamental shifts in digital technology impact across businesses, industries, and society. To this end, the DIEM DCs participate in conferences and industry events on topics like blockchain, digitalization, ecosystems, and management, but also actively participate in the academic community.
The DIEM website, https://diem-dn.eu/,showcases(opens in new window) the research program, news & events, and knowledge hub.
DIEM has generated state-of-the art insights (i.e. literature reviews) in blockchain technology and ecosystems, centering on digital strategies, business models, sustainability applications, smart contracts, technology diffusion, and (digital) ecosystem governance.
The DIEM website, https://diem-dn.eu/,showcases(opens in new window) the research program, news & events, and knowledge hub.
DIEM has generated state-of-the art insights (i.e. literature reviews) in blockchain technology and ecosystems, centering on digital strategies, business models, sustainability applications, smart contracts, technology diffusion, and (digital) ecosystem governance.