BLOCKPOOL - EU project to promote and increase acceptance of distributed ledger technology in SMEs

Motivation:

With the introduction of blockchain technology in 2009 as the best-known example of so-called “Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT),” further developments toward Web 3.0 or the “Internet of Value” have begun, not only influencing the exchange of goods, but also breaking with established rules, models, and conditions by making underlying infrastructures (networks, platforms, etc.) obsolete. Blockchain technology has the potential to decentralize many economic sectors and institutional forms of organization while significantly increasing the influence of private individuals on the dynamics of economic and social interaction.

Project:

BLOCKPOOL will contribute to increased acceptance and use of blockchain and distributed ledger (BDLT) technologies among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. This will be achieved by establishing and embedding a tailor-made support system for European SMEs for the adaptation of BDLT within value chains.

First, the main European activities in the field of BDLT will be identified, bundled, and interlinked. In this framework, a pool consisting of 25 companies wishing to test BDLT will be established and scientifically supported in order to evaluate current hurdles and challenges as well as the state of development for this technology. The Europe-wide bundling and networking of key stakeholders' activities will make it possible, in a second phase, to develop additional training offers, sensitizing European SMEs and promoting the adaptation of BDLT.

Our services:

The Innovation Finance Unit is instrumental in mapping Europe-wide activities and bringing key stakeholders together. Our team prepares market analyses in the area of BDLT for European member-states and case studies, and also analyzes typical areas of application. This study is particularly focused on the socioeconomic effects caused by the increasing acceptance and adoption of BDLT.

Client:

European Commission, EU funding programme Horizon 2020

Project partner:

Frankfurt School Blockchain Center (FSBC), Germany
European Crowdfunding Network (ECN), Belgium
University of Nicosia (UNIC), Cyprus
N-ABLE, France
Insomnia Consulting, Spain
European Regional Framework For Co-operation (ERFC), Greece

Project duration:

1.7.2019 - 31.7.2021