On Monday, NASA Ames Research Center published a paper about a permissioned blockchain framework that addresses privacy and security issues for FAA air traffic data using certificate authority, smart contract support and secure communication channels. The impetus for the proposal is that the FAA is mandating national adoption of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast system, but, as the paper argues, the system leaves a question mark around certain security concerns. Also in security, a report found that only approximately 48 percent of businesses can detect a breach of their IoT devices – and that there will be more than 20 billion connected devices by 2023. In addition, of 950 IT professionals surveyed, 23 percent believe blockchain could be the answer for securing IoT devices. The results of the study suggest that 91 percent of organizations that do not use blockchain technology today are likely to consider it going forward.
In supply chain initiatives, a major U.S.-based international automaker and other companies at various stages of the mineral supply chain launched a pilot to monitor the responsible production, trade and processing of cobalt. The eventual goal is to explore an open, industrywide blockchain platform for tracking minerals used in consumer products. The World Wildlife Fund was also active in supply chain this week. The WWF Australia launched a tool that enables businesses and consumers to track food using QR codes and blockchain technology. In other enterprise news, a major U.S.-based package delivery and supply chain management company made a strategic investment in Inxeption Corporation, a blockchain-based B2B e-commerce platform that helps merchants increase online sales.
A major energy company in Spain is using Energy Web Foundation, a blockchain-based platform purpose-built for the energy industry, for a renewable energy pilot. One of the company's takeaways from the test drive was to use blockchain tech to issue a guarantee of origin so that consumers have a verifiable certificate about the source of the energy they consume. The largest cargo shipping company in Israel, Zim, has been piloting a blockchain-enabled platform for electronic bills of lading for over a year, and is now making the offering available to its clients for selected trades. Zim said the value proposition includes improved workflow and digitization of paper-based processes. Finally, Vermont put out an RFI to test whether blockchain technology can improve the efficiency, accuracy, security and transparency of regulatory processes. The pilot program will allow new captive insurance companies to register with the state.
For more information, please refer to the following links:
- NASA Eyes Blockchain Tech to Secure Aircraft Flight Data
- NASA: Air Traffic Management Blockchain Infrastructure for Security, Authentication, and Privacy
- Use of blockchain technology to help secure IoT data, services and devices doubles in a year
- Ford Motor Company, Huayou Cobalt, IBM, LG Chem and RCS Global Launch Blockchain Pilot to Address Concerns in Strategic Mineral Supply Chains
- Inxeption Announces Investment from UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund
- WWF Launches Blockchain Tool to Track Food Along Supply Chain
- Major Spanish Energy Company to Use Blockchain in Renewable Energy Tracking
- Israel's Top Cargo Shipping Firm Zim Opens Blockchain Platform to All Clients
- Vermont: Department of Financial Regulation and Secretary of State Collaborate on Captive Insurance Blockchain Pilot
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