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 par ties,
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 guara ntee 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 t he #Blockchain4EU
project whereby five speculative prototypes were
co-created with multiple stakeholders in the field
(Nascimento, Pólvora and Sousa Lourenço, 2018).
These fictional lear ning 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 a nd 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 star ting 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 t ags 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 bet ween
many different actors (manufacturers,
shipping lines, freight forwarders, port and
terminal operators,
and customs authorities),
for instance about the or igin 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
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