Transforming industry, trade and markets

• Author: Bellia, M.; Kounelis, I.; Anderberg, A.; Calès, L.; Andonova, E.; Pólvora, A.; Petracco Giudici, M.; Nascimento, S.; Inamorato dos Santos, A.; Rossetti, F.; Papanagiotou, E.; Nai Fovino, I.; Spirito, L.; Sobolewski, M.
• Pages: 67-85

67 5. Transforming industry, trade and markets

TRANSFORMING

INDUSTRY, TRADE

AND MARKETS

5.1. Trade and supply chains

Blockchain enables any type of digital or

digitised asset and associated transaction to be

recorded, certif‌ied and tracked between parties,

no matter the physical distance. So, blockchain-

based systems could facilitate ‘seamless’

and ‘frictionless’ interactions in global and

distributed supply chains between distant and

untrusting actors, including producers, retailers,

distributors, transporters, suppliers and consumers.

The technology’s features guarantee that a

product was processed or distributed by a specif‌ic

actor at a specif‌ic date and time, with little or no

chance that anyone could change that record.

Blockchain brings

many benef‌its and

challenges to

industrial sectors

already experimenting

with the technology,

or soon impacted by

its existence.

The JRC recently developed the #Blockchain4EU

project whereby f‌ive speculative prototypes were

co-created with multiple stakeholders in the f‌ield

(Nascimento, Pólvora and Sousa Lourenço, 2018).

These f‌ictional learning artefacts were designed

to represent in tangible and interactive ways

how blockchain and other DLTs may exist in

the near future as regards f‌ive industrial sectors.

The prototypes are meant to stimulate a foresight

culture in policy by inspiring anticipatory thinking

on opportunities and challenges of a particular

emerging technology. They also aim to engage

and inform other parties, such as industry or

SMEs, already involved with, potentially interested

in, or working in areas that may be impacted by

blockchain and other DLTs in the short or medium-

term. Each material prototype is supported by

infographics and videos, and presented with two

initial questions aimed at starting a conversation

on PESTLE (policy, economic, social, technical,

legal and environmental) dimensions.

 . Foresight and prototyping for policy

Several companies are experimenting with

the integration of blockchain technology in

mobile phones, smart tags and other IoT devices

to scan QR codes in their products’ labels and

access information in a blockchain about their

origin, production process, quality, expiry dates,

lot numbers, and so on.

Looking in particular at the transport and logistics

sector, blockchain technology could facilitate

the exchange of information between

many dif‌ferent actors (manufacturers,

shipping lines, freight forwarders, port and

terminal operators,

and customs authorities),

for instance about the origin of goods, tarif‌f

68

5. Transforming industry, trade and markets

What if you could trust a drone to help transport

donated blood through an encrypted system?

Bloodchain is an assets and f‌leet management

system dealing with multiple supply and

demand points for the collection and transport

of blood. Its decentralised system streamlines

the management, delivery and certif‌ication

of blood and other sensitive biological materials

in automated ways.

 . Bloodchain44

#Transports&Logistics #SupplyChains

#FleetManagement #Tracking #Collection

#Encryption #MedicalSpecimen

Blood Sample

collected

at a donor’s house

Blood Donation Kit

with materials for

remote collection

‘Florence’ Drone

prepared

for automatic deployment

Bloodchain App for donor

sign-up and data management