Project description
SMEs encouraged to adopt Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies
Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies (BDLTs) have tremendous potential, promissing a more transparent, accountable, efficient and secure way of exchanging information. However, their uptake is hindered by fragmentation and other obstacles. The BLOCKPOOL project aims to change the status quo to enhance innovation capacity in SMEs via increased uptake of BDLTs. The ultimate goal is to serve as a sustainable portal for BDLT technologies for SMEs via a stronger research and training framework, increased research funding and support. The project will also raise awareness and disseminate knowledge and best practices on BDLTs across Europe.
Objective
Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies (BDLTs) cover a revolutionary potential but their uptake and deployment to value chains other than financial ones remains slow. Among other causes, fragmentation and a series of obstacles to their market deployment hamper the diffusion and pace of adoption of BDLTs by SMEs.
Blockpool.eu (https://blockpool.eu/) aims to enhance SME innovation capacity by providing better innovation support. We will use the power of intermediary organisations (clusters, federations...) and cross-regional industrial networks to Pilot the acceleration of SME uptake and deployment of BDLTs. Our consortium thus aims to accelerate the cross-border uptake and deployment of BDLTs by/to European SMEs. Blockpool.eu aims to grow beyond the Pilot Project to become a sustainable Portal for BDLT deployment.
We will build and strengthen SMEs’ and intermediaries’ BDLT capacity in a cross-value chain fashion, and strengthening both supply and demand sides through 1) a Blockchain “deployment pool” and 2) generic support activities. Besides enabling actions toward framework conditions and the capacity increase of SMEs, intermediaries and to another extent policy makers and regulators, Blockpool.eu will develop a Deployment Pool: 25 SME projects will be selected through an Open Call allocating at least 50% of the total project budget to test and validate new BDLT solutions (TRL7+) in most prominent sectors (e.g. supply chain, energy, healthcare, Fintech, Insurance, Legal, Shipping & Social Good). SMEs will also benefit from the support of our Mentors Network, training (MOOC/Webinars), as well as other innovative tools.
That way, Blockpool.eu will contribute to the demonstration of BDLTs to SMEs across EU value chains but also generate impacts at a broader level than the one of its Deployment Pool: we will generate impacts at the level of the framework conditions (economic, social, legal and regulatory) conditioning the uptake and deployment of BDLTs.
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
60322 Frankfurt Am Main
Germany