2018-11-12 | dotmagazine:

| Digitalbusiness

The Need for Government Blockchain

Blockchain technology offers massive potential for state administration. Stephan Zimprich, Leader of the eco Competence Group Blockchain, looks at how this foundational technology could transform e-government. 
Blockchain technology offers massive potential for automating and accelerating processes of state authorities and, ultimately, it could completely transform state administration. Blockchain provides government agencies with new instruments to facilitate complex and trustable interactions between government and citizens. The arrival of this disruptive technology on the scene could not have happened at a better time, given the demand for simplified and at the same time more transparent administrative processes – a demand testified to in Germany by recent research.

70 percent of German companies want a federal blockchain 
According to a study by eco and YouGov [1], 81 percent of companies in Germany would like more opportunities to securely exchange data with government agencies. But here’s the rub: 44 percent of corporate decision-makers do not have confidence in data security when exchanging data electronically with public authorities and government agencies. A total of 68 percent, however, think that innovative solutions such as blockchain could help here. In the view of 70 percent of the respondents, the state should offer companies the opportunity to transfer company data to public authorities protected by blockchain technology.

Concrete blockchain projects needed 
In order to respond to this growing demand for a federal blockchain, the eco Competence Group Blockchain hosted an event on the topic of blockchain and e-government in Düsseldorf in September 2018 . Here, 25 experts and stakeholders gathered to explore concrete blockchain project scenarios. For example, Peter Adelskamp, CDO of the state capital Düsseldorf, introduced the city’s recently launched service portal and identified possible approaches for the application of blockchain in the portal – such as facilitating data exchange and transparency in the registration process for residents’ parking permits.

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