Since the creation of Bitcoin and technology Blockchain In 2009, there were many ideas and proposals that emerged around these new technologies that are in constant evolution and development. In the specific case of blockchain, thanks to its excellent characteristics and potential, the blockchain represents a true revolution in the technological world, and beyond that, new use cases have begun to be devised that will allow us to enhance various sectors of our society.
Recently our team talked about the implementation of blockchain technology in the project Fantom, designed to counter the distribution and use of counterfeit and expired medications in Afghanistan. For the developers of the Fantom platform, which is in the testing phase, blockchain represents a feasible and reliable solution that will help combat a serious problem present in Afghan society, which endangers the lives of thousands of people.
Now, although these blockchain implementations represent a great advance and development, the truth is that the usability of the technology goes far beyond being a distributed registry for cryptocurrencies or to manage a database on the medicines that enter and are distributed within a country. Its potential is awakening the interest of hundreds of companies, companies and organizations, which are now attracted to innovate in this technology to significantly improve their processes.
Let's look at some of the most current implementations of blockchain technology that are happening around the world.
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Blockchain in Europe
During a speech at the conference of Digital Finance Outreach 2020, the Executive Vice President of the European Union, Valdis Dombrovskis, called on the organization to promote the adoption of new technologies in development to position itself as a leader and global reference in cryptocurrencies, blockchain and new digital finance.
In this sense, in Europe there is an increase in the number of organizations interested in developing this technology. For example, the European Union held a digital event that brought together more than 170 companies from different countries to present their blockchain-based proposals aimed at the positive transformation of various sectors of society. Now, the European Commission presents its new financing program Horizon 2020, where a total of 180 million euros will be given to companies that implement technology to significantly improve sectors such as security, health, privacy in the management of data and information, among others.
Innovation and development in Spain
In this new financing program of the European Commission, the proposals presented by Madrid and Barcelona are among the most interesting and innovative in the entire country. Among these projects, those aimed at various sectors stand out, such as IoT, cybersecurity, digital finance, implementation of systems for the protection of data and information, management of basic services such as health, water and electricity, and design and creation of smart contracts.
Source:European Commission.
In the graph you can see that the projects with the highest amount of financing delivered are those related to IoT and cybersecurity.
The legal sector also benefits from blockchain technology
Moreover, the fifth edition of Cuatrecasas Acelera is bringing together more than 50 Spanish companies that will present proposals based on blockchain, of which only 6 will be winners. The winning companies will receive a wallet with a total of 80 Tokens that they can exchange for legal advice. With this initiative Cuatrecasas Acelera seeks to enhance productivity, performance and effectiveness within companies in the legal sector, at the same time as it will improve the efficiency of processes thanks to their automation through blockchain and smart contracts. Without a doubt, a technological development that will be very useful within the legal field.
Blockchain in Latin America
Innovation and implementation with blockchain does not escape Latin America, although it is worth noting that in the countries of this continent the evolution of blockchain continues to be slow compared to the United States or Europe. Even so, countries like Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil have not been left behind in the development of new technologies.
A Federal Blockchain for Argentine deputies
The Chamber of Deputies of Argentina announced the incorporation of a Federal Blockchain which will allow them to guarantee transparency and reliability during the voting processes that take place within the organization. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Argentine deputies decided to implement blockchain technology in such a way that it allows them to continue with the Chamber's sessions remotely, to respect prevention and health measures during the pandemic.
For its part, within the Argentine nation, blockchain-based projects are enjoying great popularity and acceptance. To date there is a wide variety of proposals that cover sectors such as: food distribution chains, solid waste treatment, banking and finance and many others.
Mexico, proposal for the distribution of medicines through blockchain technology
The University of Massachusetts in the United States organized a virtual hackathon called MIT COVID-19 Challenge, where proposals and feasible solutions were presented that will help counteract the consequences of the pandemic that is currently being experienced. During the competition, José Feregrino, a student at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico, presented a blockchain-based project that will allow the distribution of medicines and vaccines in a safe and reliable way. The project called Routine Immunization with Blockchain was awarded by MIT with the best proposal in the health category, and ranked third among the winners of the competition.
Likewise, within the Mexican territory, other projects based on private blockchains have been successfully implemented that contribute to improving various production processes such as food distribution, the sending of cross-border remittances, the management of shipping ports, among others.
Baiotraze, a Colombian project that promises to control the production of medicinal cannabis
Based on the blockchain NEM, the project Baiotraze seeks to properly monitor the production of cannabis for medicinal use, which is used worldwide as a treatment for various diseases and conditions. Baiotraze is a digital platform implemented by the company BAIOT which will allow patients to monitor the cultivation and production process of the medicine to ensure that it is natural.
Likewise, although this project was implemented to monitor the cannabis production process, its founder indicated during an interview that they hope to extend it to other important areas.
And for the Colombian nation, the implementation of blockchain technology will bring great benefits to the country; For example, Karen abudinen, Minister of ICT he pointed that blockchain technology is a great tool to guarantee security and transparency in transactions, so its application in different sectors will also make Colombians trust more in the processes carried out by the State. Abudinen pointed out processes such as the management of procedures and documents, elections, payment and taxes, among others.
Uruguay, betting on energy innovation
The greatest authority in the energy sector of Uruguay, the National Administration of Power Plants and Electrical Transmissions (UTE) will implement blockchain technology as it is the most effective tool to improve the management of electrical resources within the country. According to the entity's modernization plans, by 2023 the energy sector will experience a total digital transformation with the incorporation of intelligent and integrated networks throughout the country that will help control energy consumption in an efficient and environmentally friendly way.
Although this is a brief summary of the many implementations that exist today regarding blockchain, there is no doubt that entrepreneurship and interest in the technology is increasingly growing around the world.
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