• DIGITAL SME kicks off new EU-funded project BlockStand as project leader, supporting participation of European experts in blockchain standardisation activities, alongside Small Business Standards (SBS), the International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA) and UNINFO as partners

• BlockStand is a new building block for EU leadership in global blockchain standardisation, ensuring the reflection of European values in internationally used standards

• Over a two-year cycle, the project will feature a Blockchain Standardisation platform, a web-based one-stop-shop for any stakeholders to connect and find all resources on blockchain standardisation

• An Experts Selection Process will be launched in July 2023, with €400.000 available for European experts’ participation in technical committees and for other blockchain-related standardisation activities

Blockchain is a crucial technology to the EU’s industrial leadership on the international level. At times of increasing geopolitical strife, EU values and standards should not be taken for granted; on blockchain standardisation, BlockStand will play its part. Through the completion of its objectives, BlockStand will not only enable European leadership in global blockchain standardisation but will also ensure that internationally used blockchain standards reflect European values. By coordinating experts’ input and reflecting SMEs’ needs in blockchain standardisation activities, the project is an essential means to prop up Europe’s strategic autonomy.

To this extent, an Experts Selection Process will be launched in the beginning of July. With a total funding amount of €400.000, applicants can receive support for their active participation in relevant technical committees, or for any other blockchain-related standardisation activity. Other outcomes include a Standardisation Gaps & Recommendations Atlas, a European Blockchain Standardisation Roadmap, and a European Blockchain Leadership Outlook. An Executive Management Board, comprised of high-level experts in the blockchain field, will also provide strategic steering to the project.

BlockStand will create an online blockchain community platform comprised of all relevant stakeholders. Its aim is threefold: support the implementation of the Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation chapter on blockchain and DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology), reinforce links with the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI) and the European Blockchain Partnership (EBP), and finally support participation of European standardisation experts in international and European standard developing organisations.

DIGITAL SME invites all interested stakeholders to get together through this new leading project, and drive the European blockchain standardisation community. For regular updates about the funding calls and other pertinent information, a preliminary expression of interest to the project can already be submitted.

The BlockStand project is funded by the European Union under grant agreement no. 101102757

Press contact:

Lucas Asmelash (Communications Officer)

l.asmelash@digitalsme.eu 

About the European DIGITAL SME Alliance

The European DIGITAL SME Alliance (DIGITAL SME) is the largest network of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the ICT sector in Europe, connecting more than 45,000 digital SMEs. The Alliance is the joint effort of 30 national and regional SME associations from EU member states and neighbouring countries to put digital SMEs at the centre of the EU agenda. Through its advocacy work in all areas of digital policy and regulation, and thanks to its active presence in technical committees such as ISO/IEC, IEEE, CEN-CENELEC and ETSI, DIGITAL SME has been able to achieve decisive strategic successes for SMEs in the area of digitalisation.

About INATBA

Launched in 2019 with the support of the European Commission, INATBA – International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications, is a highly influential association advocating for blockchain and DLT adoption in Europe and globally. INATBA is mainly known for its work with regulatory authorities and policymakers and is appraised for its contributions to Markets in Crypto Asset Regulation (MICA), Transfer of Funds Regulation (TFOR), electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services (eIDAS), the EU-funded CHAISE Project, the EU Pact for Skills, Academic & Governmental Advisory Bodies, and its passionate diverse global community of CEOs, CTOs, Heads of Policy, Public/Institutional Relations, Legal, Marketing & BizDev, Developers, Policymakers. To learn more, visit www.inatba.org.

About SBS

Small Business Standards (SBS) is a European non-profit association (aisbl) co-financed by the European Union and EFTA Member States. As an Annex III organisation under Regulation (EU) 1025/2012, its goal is to represent and defend small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) interests in the standardisation process at European and international levels. To learn more, www.sbs-sme.eu.

About UNINFO

UNINFO is a not for profit association and an Associated Body to UNI (the Italian Standards Organisation) responsible for the information technologies field. UNINFO represents Italy in standardisation activities at the European and international levels for the ICT sector, and organises the participation of national delegations in the standardisation work. On blockchain, it has taken a leading role at CEN-CENELEC’s JTC19, dedicated to blockchain and DLT standardisation activities. To learn more, www.uninfo.it.