INATBA Launches COVID Task Force in Partnership With Governments, Academics and Industry
Group Will Identify Blockchain Solutions to Address Challenges Caused by Pandemic
BRUSSELS, April 16, 2020 — The International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA), together with the European Commission and University College London — Centre for Blockchain Technologies, today launched a global initiative that convenes public and private entities committed to quickly activate blockchain solutions that address challenges caused by the COVID pandemic.
The INATBA COVID Task Force will convene key players in the global blockchain ecosystem to identify deployable technology solutions that address governmental, social and commercial challenges caused by COVID. Working on an expedited timetable, the Task Force will analyze, sort, package and present solutions to governments and organizations to deliver real value quickly.
For governments, the Task Force will leverage INATBA’s expertise and neutrality to identify deployable solutions that are most applicable to their specific needs. For the private sector, the Task Force will serve as impartial curator of solutions, convening partners and managing relationships to adapt the solutions as needed and ensure that specific needs are being met.
The Task Force will build an industry-wide intelligence engine that identifies and catalogues all blockchain related solutions that can assist with the global challenge. The database will establish the state of readiness of each solution, identify any additional work required to make the solutions ready for market or fit to solve the identified issues. The process will include the ability to curate collaborations between technology providers to deliver the best solutions.
“The COVID pandemic has caused profound stress to the global systems and services people use every day, at a governmental, social and commercial level. Leveraging its position of technology, commercial and political neutrality, INATBA is uniquely equipped to lead this vital team of global blockchain leaders to address that stress and support those services,” said Marc Taverner, executive director of INATBA.
Paolo Tasca, executive director of the UCL’s Centre for Blockchain Technologies, said the centre will support the Task Force’s research and analysis of blockchain projects.
“What’s happening in Europe is a humanitarian crisis of cruel proportions that represent a critical threat to the health and well being of our community. This emergency urges all of us to collaborate to provide innovative solutions to the challenges and needs posed by this pandemic,” Tasca said. “As a founding member of the INATBA COVID Task Force, the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies will provide its powerhouse of talent, expertise and knowledge to facilitate the adoption of emerging technological solutions to the monumental socio-economic challenges we are currently facing.”
Gerard de Graaf, Director of the Digital Single Market at the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology at the European Commission, said, “As we face unprecedented challenges caused by the Coronavirus outbreak, it is crucial that we take collective action and unify our efforts to mobilise all the available tools and expertise to support the Member States to protect their citizens.”
“Supporting this goal, the European Commission invites our counterparts to cooperate with this important initiative, to present the challenges and issues caused by the Coronavirus outbreak through this trusted platform to identify and leverage technology solutions,” he added.
As part of its core mission to foster public and private engagement, INATBA also recently joined the World Economic Forum’s COVID Action Platform. The WEF platform brings together the World Health Organization, corporate CEOs and top experts from leading global organisations to coordinate multi-stakeholder contributions into the fight to combat the global spread of coronavirus.
The INATBA COVID Task Force is inviting new members to join in advance of a formal kick-off. Any government, academic or corporate entity interested in this initiative should complete the relevant forms found at inatba.org.
The International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA) offers developers and users of DLT a global forum to interact with regulators and policy makers and bring blockchain technology to the next stage.
Initiated by the European Commission and launched in April 2019, the association already has a membership base of more than 150 organizations, from start-ups to key industry players of various sectors. The association is additionally supported by an Advisory Board including organizations like OECD, World Food Program, the World Bank, and the United Nations.
The core objectives of INATBA are to:
• Establish a permanent dialogue with public authorities and regulators.
• Promote open, transparent and inclusive global governance models for blockchain and DLT.
• Support the development and adoption of interoperability guidelines and global standards.
• Develop sector-specific guidelines and specifications.
MEDIA CONTACT
John Mercurio
INATBA Head of Communications
