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Internationally, COVID-19 has placed new demands on technological innovation. In Austria, numerous businesses have risen to the challenge.
That is why $26M of taxpayers’ money has been allocated to 45 different COVID-combating startups following an emergency call from the government. From this fund, $67,300 has been dedicated to a grant for blockchain project QualiSig.
Blockchain, the technology that powers Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, has long been touted by developers as having the capability to transform many industries. QualiSig’s use of the technology to fight the pandemic is far from the only government-backed initiative around the world, and it seems we could be on the verge of a new blockchain-powered age.
QualiSig: Austrian public-private blockchain partnership
What is QualiSig?
QualiSig is an Austrian blockchain project that has been dubbed a “security system for electronic data traffic.”
The central aim of the project is to guarantee Austrian citizens a higher degree of security in relation to COVID-19 prevention and control. In addition, it can provide safe communication channels between the government and citizens during other times of crisis.
The project was developed by A-Trust GmbH, with key developmental contributions being provided by the research institute, Donau-Universität Krems. The whole project runs on the Ignis child chain, part of the Ardor blockchain from the software company, Jelurida. Now, backed by the Austrian administration, QualiSig aims to form a key part of the national crisis response.
What is QualiSig used for?
Several potential uses of QualiSig have been identified in relation to critical COVID-19 responses, such as allowing key workers to conduct door-to-door blood tests and even unannounced PCR tests in areas where an outbreak has occurred.
Three prototypes are soon to be published as open-form solutions:
- COVID-19 responses that occur on the ground will be registered by QualiSig. For example, door-to-door personnel can have their identities confirmed by citizens simply scanning a QR code with their smartphone to do this, giving them peace of mind that those they are letting into their home are genuine health workers.
- Sensitive data such as PCR test results will be stored in an extremely secure digital archive, which can only be viewed via entering a digital signature in an interface.To prevent fake news, certain information that is of benefit to the public and counteracts misinformation will be stored on non-encrypted blockchain tokens. Thereafter, it will be displayed on the company’s website alongside the author’s signature to confirm their validity.Users can then use these communications and integrate them with relevant apps, such as combining a COVID-19 test result with a flight ticket using Apple Wallet.
- Communications between the government and civilians are facilitated by QualiSig. Sensitive data such as requests for COVID-19 PCR or antibody tests will be protected from third-party interference thanks to the encryption of blockchain technology.
On the whole, QualiSig is providing the kind of solutions we need to re-emerge from national lockdowns into a brighter world that is better equipped to deal with the new normal.
Other state-backed blockchain initiatives
Austria isn’t the only country adopting blockchain technology for key state activities. In fact, we found 41 countries with state-backed blockchain programmes solving issues in fields from agriculture to medicine.
Below are some of the most notable projects due to what their aim is and where they are doing it.
- The United States is harbouring the technology for projects like DARPA’s cybersecurity shield and the Naval Air Systems’ Fleet Readiness Center. Even The United States Postal Service plans to incorporate blockchain to authenticate user information.
- In the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Land Registry has set up a digital asset management platform to investigate the potential impact of blockchain on the real estate industry.
- Mexico, a country some would not associate with technological innovation, has launched both a public procurement blockchain network and a way to integrate blockchain into local agricultural activities.
- In the United Arab Emirates, The Smart Dubai project is leveraging blockchain to create a ‘strategic roadmap’ database of key metrics in an attempt to make Dubai the happiest city on earth.
- China has over 500 reported blockchain projects registered, and many of them are led by the government. One of the most interesting is the Xiong’an-based 6,667-hectare afforestation blockchain project, designed to manage the lifecycles of trees and combat climate change.
- Blockchain innovations are sweeping across Africa, like in Liberia, where the Ministry of Finance has signed an MoU with a leading blockchain company to digitise government services and create e-government platforms.
The unstoppable progress of blockchain technology
With the exponential growth of cryptocurrencies, the influence of blockchain technology on finance has been clear for a while but is only emerging clearly now as major companies start to take it seriously. Now, in the wake of this wave of new state-backed projects, the applications of blockchain technology clearly extend far beyond the realms of decentralised finance (DeFi).
QualisSig is utilising blockchain technology to tackle one of the greatest issues of our time, COVID-19. Moreover, in the background, it is being used to improve public services and lay the foundations of a sustainable future.
It feels like we’re only beginning to tap into blockchain’s potential, and it’s quite possible we’re on the cusp of another technological revolution.
The post Austrian blockchain project QualiSig battles COVID-19 appeared first on Invezz.
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