La caiguda d’audiències i patrocinadors obliga els eSports a redefinir el model econòmic

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Article taken from the medium meta data

El sector afronta la davallada d’ingressos amb reestructuracions internes i amb la mirada posada en les noves tecnologies

Les principals competicions de ‘League of Legends’ o ‘Valorant’ han perdut fins al 20% d’audiència el 2023, però el públic de l’oci electrònic creix moderadament de manera global | RDNE Stock project (Pexels)

La covid-19 va suposar un enorme impuls per al món dels eSports, que va veure duplicada l’audiència durant els mesos de confinament i li va permetre escalar el negoci i atraure cada cop més patrocinadors. Tanmateix, aquest 2023 ha començat a mostrar signes d’esgotament: les principals competicions de League of Legends registren un 17,4% menys d’hores de visualització que l’any passat, mentre que la Valorant Champions ha perdut un 20% d’audiència. “Estem pagant el preu per haver volgut córrer abans que caminar i hem ignorat els reptes de la indústria fins que no ens ha quedat més remei que afrontar-los”, assenyala l’informe Los Esports en 2023: Game Over o Insert Coin?, un document elaborat per Esports Bureau i Esports Professional amb la intenció d’identificar aquests problemes i trobar maneres de sobrepassar-los.

L’estudi, que s’ha presentat aquest dimecres al centre Ca l’Alier de Barcelona, ha fet un repàs dels principals temors que sobrevolen actualment la indústria dels esports electrònics. En primer lloc, la caiguda d’audiències, un fet que s’ha notat especialment en les principals competicions, però que no és generalitzada: l’audiència d’eSports en plataformes de streaming ha crescut un 4,1% durant el segon quadrimestre de 2023, acumulant 717 milions d’hores. És un creixement menor que el de 2022 (16%) o, especialment, que el de 2021 (61%), però demostra que encara s’està captant nous públics.

El segon gran condicionant del sector és la situació econòmica global, un acostament a la recessió econòmica que ha tingut efectes en les empreses. Durant el 2023 s’han produït acomiadaments generalitzats, s’han venut més del 20% de les places de franquícies en les lligues professionals i han tancat una desena de clubs, entre els quals destaquen noms com Astralis, FaZe Clan o GFinity. A escala espanyola, l’estudi considera que s’han mogut unes quantitats de diners desproporcionades amb la realitat: “Si et gastes 200.000 euros en una plaça, 300.000 en mantenir un equip i la teva única via d’ingressos és el generador de continguts que se’n va de la teva entitat, s’il·lustra clarament per què hem creat un model que no és sostenible”.

Dels patrocinadors a la IA i la ‘blockchain’

De fet, una de les principals conclusions de l’informe és que aquest model econòmic, sostingut en els patrocinadors i els creadors de contingut, anirà perdent rellevància de manera progressiva. Per una banda, molts clubs ja han començat a perdre partners importants en els darrers mesos, i per l’altra, el sector no ha acabat de trobar la manera de generar ingressos amb les retransmissions. “Portem 10 anys sense saber com monetitzar de manera directa els espectadors… Els usuaris ho tenen tot gratis. És arribar, endollar el mòbil i ni tan sols identificar-se a Twitch per poder estar consumint contingut”, apunten els autors.

En aquest sentit, l’estudi considera que la manera de revifar una indústria en perill de davallada es basa a potenciar tres pilars: els esdeveniments presencials, la comunitat i les capacitats tecnològiques. Sobre aquest darrer punt, els autors insisteixen en les possibilitats que pot obrir la implementació de la blockchain: “Ben aviat suposarà un canvi de paradigma per al sector. Models de patrocini que canviaran, drets d’imatge per als jugadors, tokenization d’actius en clubs i, fins i tot, un potencial model de gestió de drets de streaming similar al que es va implementar en el seu moment en el futbol amb els drets de gestió de televisió”. L’informe també para atenció a la revolució de la intel·ligència artificial, de la qual esperen un impacte en el desenvolupament dels videojocs en què competeixen els esportistes —i com això pot fer modificar les normatives— i en l’expansió de l’anàlisi de les dades de rendiment dels jugadors.

 

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CBCat articles are carefully written and selected to promote developments in the blockchain and Digital Asset sectors, but readers are advised to seek professional advice before taking any action based on any of the above links and information . The Blockchain Center of Catalonia assumes no responsibility for any action that readers of the article may take.

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Challenges of using blockchain against disinformation

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Article taken from the medium Blockchain Observatory

The use of blockchain in the media to combat disinformation has been focused on trying to control access to content, an erroneous approach, according to José Juan Mora, founder and CTO of Colloquium, engineering company specializing in blockchain technology. Mora spoke these words at a panel discussion on the "Challenges of the use of blockchain in the fight against disinformation from a technological perspective", held at the Faculty of Law of the Complutense University.

Blockchain disinformation

Kolokium's CTO explained that the use of blockchain has focused on solutions that aim to replace current communication channels with others based on blockchain technology. In his opinion, instead of focusing the solution on the news repository, it would be more appropriate to focus on the management of micro-communities, since these would allow users to generate channels of trust. Which will allow us to filter and trace the information and news that reach us, he assured.

The debate was part of the Conference on "Disinformation, Participation and Blockchain" organized by the Institute of Parliamentary Law at Complutense. The debate also had the participation of Carol Lago, director of innovation and manager of blockchain and cryptoLAB in Grant Thornton; and Marcos Carrera, head of blockchain and Web3 Iberia at Fujitsu. The debate was moderated by Covadonga Fernández, director of Blockchain Observatory.

Collaborative platforms

For Lago, the key to combating disinformation would be in the massive adoption of "user friendly" collaborative platforms based on the practice of "Single Source of Truth" (SSOT). In Spanish, the only source of truth. These platforms would be powered by information confirmed by a majority mass of people, reputationally reliable source or geolocation.

An SSOT, Carol pointed out, is not a system, tool or strategy. Rather it is a state of the data, in the sense that all can be found through a single point of reference, which combined with AI could generate validated information in a short time. Lago was concerned about how to prevent the spread of algorithmic biases

Blockchain data infrastructure

For his part, Carrera referred to the society of trust and affirmed that the basic pillars of a healthy society have to do with reliable sources of data and information. In this regard, he stated that Fujitsu, within its international and transversal Trust data initiative, in the area of ​​Digital Swift, is committed to the creation of a trust data infrastructure based on blockchain. "With a trust infrastructure that collects trust data and keeps it immutable and accessible, we can generate a guarantee model and a trust model without requiring third parties, organizations or trusted entities".

In this regard, he stated that Digital Shift helps various verticals. Among them, health, sustainable manufacturing industry. He also referred to "Trust Society", which is in charge of providing digital tools to society and organizations with the aim of guaranteeing transparency, veracity and security of the data that are used to make decisions. Carrera indicated that as a responsible company and oriented towards ESG goals, Fujitsu wants to offer companies and public bodies the best digital tools that allow them to make the best decisions. Data can be the difference between a wrong path or a business opportunity, he said.

Blockchain and Law

Mora also underlined the importance of blockchain technology in the field of Law, by allowing to build solutions whose rules cannot be transgressed even by the developers themselves. For the world of Law, this means the emergence of a technological tool that allows rules and laws to be implemented, ensuring that they cannot be altered by the developer.

Technology, Mora said, cannot be above people. As engineers, we must understand the regulatory framework, to guarantee users' rights. For this reason, we must not build solutions that, based on innovation or disruption, serve to undermine the rights of users, he indicated.

Legal framework for digital identity

The CTO of Kolokium also alluded to the efforts, which both the academy, for its research work, and the regulatory bodies, are developing to generate an adequate legal framework on digital identity. Blockchain technology makes it possible to generate digital identity models for people, machines and processes. For this reason, it is important to start exploring the legal repercussions that in the future may have the legal recognition of an autonomous machine or process, Mora indicated.

The closure of the day was in charge of Rafael Bustos Gisbert, professor of Constitutional Law and director of the Institute of Parliamentary Law. The meeting, organized by Manuel Pereiro, from the University of Valencia-Complutense, had the participation of the research project "Cybersecurity in electoral processes. Guarantees against misinformation and other information disorders on platforms", led by Rafael Rubio Núñez, professor of Constitutional Law. The Department of Constitutional Law of the Complutense University of Madrid, the Research project "Strengthening democracy and the rule of law through AI", of the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain; the research group "Technology and democracy", of the Complutense University of Madrid; and Blockchain Observatory.

 

If you have comments on any of the content of the CBCat newsletter, if you would like to discuss a topic, or if for some reason any of the links above do not work, please contact us at: info@cbcat.io

CBCat articles are carefully written and selected to promote developments in the blockchain and Digital Asset sectors, but readers are advised to seek professional advice before taking any action based on any of the above links and information . The Blockchain Center of Catalonia assumes no responsibility for any action that readers of the article may take.

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Generative AI will star at the new edition of the AI ​​& Big Data Congress

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News taken from the medium meta data

The 9th edition of the AI ​​& Big Data Congress will deal with specific topics of AI, such as its impact on the world of work or its relationship with cyber security | CITIZEN

La generative artificial intelligence has impacted a large part of society in recent months through applications such as ChatGPT or Midjourney, but it does not take by surprise theAI & Big Data Congress, the event dedicated to this technology that already has nine editions behind it. Once again, the congress organized by the Center of Innovation for Data Tech and Artificial Intelligence (CITIZEN) and coordinated by the technology center Eurecat returns to Barcelona to discuss the present and the future of algorithms and techniques based on massive data.

This year's edition, which will take place on September 27 and 28 at the AXA Auditorium in Barcelona, ​​will collect the feelings of surprise, concern and enthusiasm generated by the latest demonstrations of generative AI to transform them into presentations and debates Among the most prominent names stands out that of Inma Martínez, international expert in digital technologies and member of several advisory boards who will open the conferences with a talk on data governance and the future of work with AI as the main trigger. "The emergence of generative AI, exemplified by the famous ChatGPT, has definitively put AI at the center of the debate", said the director of CIDAI and director of Eurecat's Digital Area, Joan Mas. A movement with which, unlike other technological trends, he believes that "it is more than likely that we will have to live with it".

During the two days in which theAI & Big Data Congress more than 40 national and international speakers who specialize in these technologies will pass through the event, such as the co-founder of Big Onion and president of the social council of the UPC, Montse Guardia; the managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa of Microsoft Data & AI, Jens Hansen, or the head of the area of ​​Data and Intelligence in Europe at NTT Data, David Pereira.

Among the topics discussed, the talks will delve deeply into several specific aspects of the new generative artificial intelligence, such as its effect on the business and work world, the ethics of its use or its explainability. Likewise, there will be space to analyze the feasibility of data spaces or whether the relationship between AI and cyber security is that of adversaries or collaborators. As usual, the appointment will also have a time slot in which several start-ups i scale ups that base their business model on some specific application of artificial intelligence will explain their initiatives.

 

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CBCat articles are carefully written and selected to promote developments in the blockchain and Digital Asset sectors, but readers are advised to seek professional advice before taking any action based on any of the above links and information . The Blockchain Center of Catalonia assumes no responsibility for any action that readers of the article may take.

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The UPF In Residence incubation program hosts two blockchain projects

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More information on the website of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Up to seven cultural, social or artistic innovation projects will be supported during this year by the incubation program In Residence, which takes place in theWorkshops area from the Poblenou campus of the UPF. The main objective of the program, in which students, alumni and other members of the UPF community participate, is to provide tools and resources for them to develop their projects with the collaboration of the university community and the mentorship of ad hoc experts.

Workshops area of ​​the Poblenou campus. Source: UPF

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On October 24, Barcelona will host the record-breaking European Blockchain Convention

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Barcelona is preparing to host Europe's biggest blockchain event from October 24 to 27. The European Blockchain Convention 9 (EBC9), which will be held in the Catalan capital, will be the largest edition since the event began in 2018 with an estimated 5,000 delegates.

On the last weekend of October, Barcelona will become a hive of industry experts who will attend EBC9, a three-day cryptocurrency event. The conference also coincides with the expected El Clàssic match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

300 founders, CEOs and industry experts will take part in the European Blockchain Convention 9, including high-level executives from Nansen, Fidelity, Fabric Ventures and Animoca Brands. In addition to senior figures from leading blockchain companies, there will be speakers from traditional companies such as Banco Santander and Volkswagen. Executive staff from Binance Labs and Galaxy Digital will also be in attendance.

Victoria Gago, co-founder of the European Blockchain Convention, stated: “We have seen a significant increase in registrations and interest from both exhibitors and sponsors following the remarkably positive response we received at our previous edition. Taking advantage of this momentum, we are moving the EBC9 to Fira Barcelona, ​​a much larger venue. Being the largest convention center in Spain, it offers ample space for exhibitors, a greater variety of content and more attractive experiences.”

"We are extremely excited to bring together the worlds of TradFi, digital assets and web3," shared the co-founder Daniel Salmeron. “The participation of so many traditional banks and financial institutions demonstrates their commitment and optimism about the future of cryptocurrencies and digital assets.”

The ninth edition of the European Blockchain Convention will incorporate a diverse agenda that will address regulatory challenges, CBDCs, privacy, institutionalization of crypto, DeFi, sustainability, tokenization and the rise of AI.

In addition to round tables and workshops on three stages, the program includes an exhibition area of ​​3.000 m² for sponsors and exhibitors. There will also be AMA sessions with speakers, a 1-on-1 meeting area and five themed lounges for networking. Other events scheduled for EBC9 are an investor meeting, an art gallery and the second edition of the EBC Awards for emerging companies.

At the top of the list of side events, there will also be a Hackathon in which more than 200 hackers, more than 30 mentors and 20 teams are expected to participate in a span of 48 hours.

For more information on the European Blockchain Convention, including sponsorship, ticketing and the full list of speakers, visit the official website at www.eblockchainconvention.com.

About the European Blockchain Convention

Launched in 2018, the European Blockchain Convention is Europe's most influential blockchain event, connecting industry professionals, startups and technology leaders. The event provides a platform to share ideas, foster collaborations and explore the vast potential of blockchain, cryptocurrencies and digital assets.

 

If you have comments on any of the content of the CBCat newsletter, if you would like to discuss a topic, or if for some reason any of the links above do not work, please contact us at: info@cbcat.io

CBCat articles are carefully written and selected to promote developments in the blockchain and Digital Asset sectors, but readers are advised to seek professional advice before taking any action based on any of the above links and information . The Blockchain Center of Catalonia assumes no responsibility for any action that readers of the article may take.

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NFC and Blockchain: Alliance against Product Piracy

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Article taken from the medium CONFILE LEGAL

Product piracy is a global problem that affects multiple industries, from fashion to technology, and has a significant economic impact. To combat this phenomenon, the combination of emerging technologies such as Near Field Contact (NFC) and the block chain (Blockchain) offers an innovative and promising approach.

NFC: Protection at the Physical Level

NFC technology has become a powerful tool to protect physical products from piracy. It works by embedding a small NFC tag in genuine products. When consumers want to verify the authenticity of a product, they simply hold their mobile device close to the NFC tag. This action triggers a real-time response that proves whether the product is genuine or fake.

Manufacturers can use NFC technology to track and authenticate their products at every stage of the supply chain. This helps prevent the infiltration of counterfeit products and makes it easier to identify any attempted counterfeiting.

Blockchain: Immutable Digital Trace

The block chain, or Blockchain, provides an immutable digital trail of a product's authenticity. Every time an authentic product is created, it is recorded in a block on the blockchain. Each block is linked to the previous one, creating an unalterable sequence of records. This fundamental feature ensures that information about the authenticity of a product is impossible to modify or remove without leaving an obvious trace.

When a consumer uses NFC to verify a product, authenticity information is collected and stored on the blockchain. This creates a transparent and trusted verification history that can be consulted at any time. Consumers can verify the provenance and authenticity of a product directly from their mobile devices.

The Synergy of NFC and Blockchain

The combination of NFC and Blockchain is a powerful strategy to combat product piracy. While NFC protects at a physical level by enabling instant authentication, Blockchain adds a layer of digital security by storing an immutable record of each authentication verification.

This approach has several advantages:

  1.  Comprehensive Protection: Offers complete protection, both in the physical and digital worlds. Genuine products are protected from manufacture to consumption.
  2. Transparency: Allows consumers to easily verify the authenticity of a product, promoting trust in the brand and reducing the purchase of counterfeit products.
  3. Tracking and Compliance: Facilitates the tracking of products along the supply chain and compliance with regulations and quality standards.
  4. Data Collection: Provides manufacturers with valuable data on the authenticity of their products and consumer behavior.
  5. Piracy Deterrence: By making counterfeiting more difficult and costly, it deters infringers from engaging in illegal activities.

The Future of Product Authentication

The fight against product piracy is a constant challenge for companies and governments. The combination of NFC and Blockchain offers an innovative and effective solution that protects the authenticity of products and gives consumers the confidence they need when making their purchases. As these technologies continue to evolve, we are likely to see a significant reduction in product piracy and a boost in the protection of intellectual property and product authenticity worldwide.

 

If you have comments on any of the content of the CBCat newsletter, if you would like to discuss a topic, or if for some reason any of the links above do not work, please contact us at: info@cbcat.io

CBCat articles are carefully written and selected to promote developments in the blockchain and Digital Asset sectors, but readers are advised to seek professional advice before taking any action based on any of the above links and information . The Blockchain Center of Catalonia assumes no responsibility for any action that readers of the article may take.

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The ABC of programming languages

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Article taken from the medium meta data

Year after year, the engineering and technological professions lead the index ofquality occupations which is drawn up annually by the Generalitat's Work and Productivity Model Observatory. Either to enter this sector, because our occupation requires us to interact with machines or because we want to learn something new, the programming it is a highly valued skill. However, there are hundreds of programming languages available, each with its particularities and specific uses. What is the best way to start?

Python, C and C++ are the top rated programming languages ​​by developers in the latest TIOBE index

For Jordi Petit, PhD in Computer Engineering and full professor at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), the key lies in the objective that has led us to be interested in the subject: "Instead of saying 'I will use this language ', it would be more worthwhile to think about the application and look for the most suitable programming language". The expert considers that all languages ​​are "adequate" to begin with, as long as you have persistence and patience: "Learning to program is not something overnight: you need time, trying things of increasing complexity. Start with small things to make them bigger". Not only that, but it also ensures that much of the knowledge learned in one language can be reused in others.

Petit: "Learning to program is not something overnight: you need time, trying things of increasing complexity. Start with small things to make them bigger"

Taking these considerations into account, and with the intention of getting closer to the tools most used by professionals today, we have selected the six programming languages ​​best rated by members of the sector in the last update of theTIOBE index, one of the most weighty rankings within the industry.

Python

Created in 1991 by Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum, Python is one of the most popular languages ​​today thanks to its readability. "It is a language that is very easy to use for many different users, both for computer scientists and for people who learn to program to do certain tasks, such as mathematicians or statisticians," says Petit. It is an interpreted language, meaning that it does not need to be compiled to run the applications. It is the same category in which JavaScript falls, from which it differs by being "much more readable and pleasant to program in".

One of its differentiating factors is that it allows the use of libraries already written in other languages, such as C or C++. "Language does many things for you, and it's good because it makes you gain speed when programming, but you lose speed when executing the program", points out the UPC professor. The situation takes a turn if we analyze it from the point of view of the time spent by the programmer: "With Python it might take you 10 times less to program a task than with C++. On the other hand, maybe the solution is not optimal and you do not have such fine control of the computer”.

Petit: "Python does a lot of things for you, and it's good because it makes you speed up when programming, but you lose speed when you run the program"

According to the report State of the Developer Nation produced annually by SlashData, Python agglomerates a community of almost 17 million users, and is particularly used in fields such as data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. However, it is not very popular in web and mobile development.

C and C++

At the beginning we mentioned that we would analyze six programming languages, but the proximity between C i C++ it leads us to talk about it together. C was born in 1972 from the minds of Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson at the AT&T telephone company's Bell Labs, and has since established itself as a standard for programming operating systems. “C offers a lot of control and efficiency. In an operating system that controls all the operations of the computer, we want it to react very quickly and not use more memory than it needs", explains Petit.

Originally, C was a relatively small language, but the needs of programmers led them to expand it considerably. From here, in 1983, C++ emerged, a much more complex version of the original C that differs from it by being object-oriented, but from which it inherits its syntax. For practical purposes, this means that it is compatible with any program written in C. "The language has adapted to more programming needs and methodologies, but it still makes mastering it more difficult," the expert explains.

C and C++ stand out for their rigidity, which allows you to have very detailed control over computer processes, but also makes them less resistant and open to vulnerabilities

Both the original C, which is still used today, and C++ are languages ​​that stand out for their rigidity: "C++ is used in many types of applications, especially systems, where you are somehow interested in having a great control over the computer's processor, its memory, the instructions you execute…”. This iron control that the language grants is accompanied, of course, by its flaws: "You cannot request certain operations without corrupting the data, and it makes them a little less resistant, it is easier for them to have vulnerabilities". According to SlashData's survey, C and C++ are especially popular for embedded systems and IoT applications, but not so much in web development and cloud applications.

Java

Jordi Petit defines Java as "a reduced C++", and the fact is that the language designed in 1995 by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems was born taking C++ as a reference to apply it to the world of household appliances with the desire "to reach home automation solutions" in toasters and other appliances. As a compiled language, the intention was to use it with a virtual machine as an intermediary, but its creators quickly realized its potential on the Internet: "With the emergence of web pages, they realized that they could make applications that already incorporated their graphical interface and that ran in the same way on all computers”.

The result is a language that makes it possible to program applications that run the same on all systems, with an efficiency halfway between C++ and Python, but also with much more security than the former. According to developers surveyed by SlashData, Java is mostly used for desktop and cloud applications, but it doesn't have as many followers in fields like artificial intelligence, the machine learning or data science. It should be mentioned that, although you might mistakenly think that it has some kind of relationship with JavaScript, it actually has nothing to do with it: its creators decided on this name because, as Petit relates, “JavaScript was winning because of portability, and they wanted to make something that worked in all browsers."

JavaScript

With more than 19,6 million users, JavaScript is, according to SlashData's report, the language with the largest developer community. Created by Netscape in 1996, the language was born from the need to make web content more dynamic. "It had a boom in popularity with the growth of web pages, which meant that it is now also used with servers, and not only with internet clients," says Petit.

Thus, JavaScript is responsible for most mobile and interactive elements of web pages, and is also often used when developing applications for third-party ecosystems and in cloud environments. Like Python, it is also an interpreted language, but it stands out for its solidity: "It is a very resistant language, because if something goes wrong in the browser, the user will not notice it". The UPC professor considers that it is a language "not too difficult to learn", but that it has become more complicated over time, with the addition of new functionalities, and that it has certain exceptionalities that must be learned to master - him

JavaScript was born out of the need to create more dynamic content for web pages, which until then were fundamentally static

C#

C Sharp o C# it is the latest and youngest of the languages ​​we have selected. Created by Microsoft in 2000 as part of the .NET platform, it is an object-oriented language that shares features with Java and C++, from which it derives. Given its young age, at least compared to its predecessors, Microsoft's proposal incorporates features of other languages, such as Visual Basic, whose programming speed it adopts.

Nowadays, C# is mainly used for desktop applications and for programming video games, since it is the language used by Unity 3D, one of the main graphics engines of the sector. However, it is not a very popular tool in the development of artificial intelligence solutions, machine learning or IoT devices.

If you have comments on any of the content of the CBCat newsletter, if you would like to discuss a topic, or if for some reason any of the links above do not work, please contact us at: info@cbcat.io

CBCat articles are carefully written and selected to promote developments in the blockchain and Digital Asset sectors, but readers are advised to seek professional advice before taking any action based on any of the above links and information . The Blockchain Center of Catalonia assumes no responsibility for any action that readers of the article may take.

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BxCat Food: The conference that explores blockchain technology in the agri-food sector

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The BxCat Alimentació, a day dedicated to technological innovation in the agri-food sector and with a special focus on the application of blockchain technology, will take place on the morning of October 4 at the Recinte Feral el Sucre, in the city of Vic ( Carrer de la Llotja, 7). The event is organized by CBCat (Blockchain Center of Catalonia), of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, together with the CETT-UB, Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy, and with the collaboration of theAjuntament de Vic, Generalitat de Catalunya i Nostra Alimentaria milk.

The conference will bring together prominent industry professionals, innovative companies and technology experts to discuss the benefits and opportunities that blockchain offers in this growing field. The main objective of BxCat Alimentació is to promote knowledge and the exchange of synergies in the application of decentralized technologies in the agri-food sector to promote the growth of companies. 

The event will feature inspiring presentations, round tables with industry experts and presentations from companies in the sector who will share their experiences and best practices in the use of these technologies to improve the supply chain and traceability of agri-food products .

"With great enthusiasm, we announce BxCat Alimentació, a unique event that unites the agri-food world, the blockchain, and other decentralized technologies", he declared Albert d’Anta, responsible for the CBCat. "These tools have the potential to radically transform the sector and, through this event, we aim for industry professionals to learn first-hand how blockchain is impacting the agri-food sector, and how they can take advantage of these opportunities to create a better future sustainable and efficient."

Dr. Maria Abellanet, president of the CETT-UB, highlighted CETT-UB's "firm commitment to take a step forward in exploring the application of technologies such as blockchain in sectors such as food". In this sense, he emphasized the importance of working collaboratively with the technology sector to move towards sustainability and responsibility. Abellanet highlighted CETT-UB's collaboration with CBCat, with the signing of an agreement between both institutions in June, with the aim of "promoting activities and projects related to the technological field and training" and which has already found form in the realization of this first conference on blockchain and food.

"This day positions our city in the sector that explores blockchain technology, specifically in the agri-food sector," he added Albert Castells, mayor of Vic, "It's another step to put Vic on the map as a pioneering industry and a city of talent and opportunities."

The agenda of the event includes a variety of sessions with topics such as innovation in the agri-food sector, success stories of companies that are already applying blockchain technology, discussions on the challenges and opportunities of its implementation, as well as a dedicated space for the networking among the attendees.

Participation in BxCat Alimentació is free, but places are limited. Interested parties can register through the event's official website: https://www.bxcat.cat/. Updates on confirmed speakers and the final schedule will be posted regularly on the same website.

 

If you have comments on any of the content of the CBCat newsletter, if you would like to discuss a topic, or if for some reason any of the links above do not work, please contact us at: info@cbcat.io

CBCat articles are carefully written and selected to promote developments in the blockchain and Digital Asset sectors, but readers are advised to seek professional advice before taking any action based on any of the above links and information . The Blockchain Center of Catalonia assumes no responsibility for any action that readers of the article may take.

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Vottun, blockchain templates open to companies

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Article taken from the medium meta data

El blockchain has an increasing presence in the digital world. This technology, which works to store information in a cryptographic and decentralized way, is already applied in different industries beyond virtual currencies, where it became popular. one start-up Catalan, Vottun, is committed to "democratizing" the block chain to other business sectors and designing solutions that are easily applicable in the day-to-day life of customers.

The platform introduces a program to energize and reward the community of creators by rewarding them with non-fungible crypto-values

The company, which is defined as a platform multiblockchain, offers its customers the possibility to choose the most suitable template with a single click. There are many blockchain networks, and depending on the business activity, one will fit better than another. So, among the most demanded models in the Catalan company we can find those that refer to the NFT, non-fungible cryptocurrency in English; traceability methods, payment systems or certificate generation.

During the five years of life of Vottun, the aim has been to "break this initial barrier generated by new technologies", as pointed out by the co-founder and director of business development, Marta Vallés. "When something is new, it is very difficult to find talent and a professional who knows how to develop it" and, for this reason, they have opted to create "all kinds of templates, white labels, where every company or developer can take the solution blockchain or Web 3 that suits you and set up a case in a quick and simple way".

Vallès: "When a technology is new, it is very difficult to find talent and a professional who knows how to develop it. That's why we provide all kinds of white label templates, fast and simple"

The co-founder of the company emphasizes that "there was a boom in the implementation of the blockchain a few years ago and now what companies are looking for is the practical side, the need to use this technology”. For this reason, they propose easy and quick solutions to different customers. In fact, they have a presence in more than 100 countries and in national and international companies from different sectors such as video games, food, pharmacology or NFTs. Among those at national level, the Bank of Spain stands out, with whom they are already working to operate with crypto-assets.

'Tokens' to energize the developer community

One of the next steps of the start-up is to energize and reward the community of developers, outside the company, who make use of Vottun's base templates. Those professionals who develop an application from the platform have the possibility to obtain rewards in the form ofutility token, non-fungible crypto-values, and generate an income with them.

According to the company, the future of the internet goes through NFTs, which they define as "the simple fact of giving ownership to a digital element". After the sudden interest it generated in the world of virtual art or video game avatars, it is currently being seen in the creation of experiences or in the management of event tickets. "When you give the digital asset a use and experience, that's when everything makes sense", Vallès points out, who believes that, in the coming years, digital assets will be integrated in a simple and natural way into society.

If you have comments on any of the content of the CBCat newsletter, if you would like to discuss a topic, or if for some reason any of the links above do not work, please contact us at: info@cbcat.io

CBCat articles are carefully written and selected to promote developments in the blockchain and Digital Asset sectors, but readers are advised to seek professional advice before taking any action based on any of the above links and information . The Blockchain Center of Catalonia assumes no responsibility for any action that readers of the article may take.

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Blockchain in digital health records

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Article taken from the medium Blockchain Observatory

The potential of blockchain technology in healthcare is increasingly becoming a topic of conversation in the industry. Blockchain has the potential to transform the administration of digital health records, improving data security, privacy and interoperability.

In an environment where trust and the protection of sensitive information are critical, the implementation of blockchain in healthcare promises innovative solutions to facilitate the secure exchange of data between healthcare providers and patients.

In this article, we will explore the fundamental role that blockchain technology plays in digital health records. Likewise, how it contributes to improving the quality of medical care in the digital age. We will discuss the security and privacy benefits it offers, as well as its ability to improve efficiency and reduce costs in medical records management. In addition, we will look at prominent use cases, such as Sendsquare and eHealth Estonia, to illustrate how these solutions are being successfully implemented around the world.

How blockchain transforms health records management

The potential of blockchain technology in the management of digital health records has become increasingly relevant due to the challenges presented by the current system. Cyber ​​attacks and the vulnerability of confidential patient data have created the need to adopt stronger measures to protect the integrity of information.

In the past, we have witnessed cyber-attacks on health systems, such as the WannaCry attack that affected numerous institutions in the United Kingdom or the data compromise in the healthcare group in Singapore. These incidents underscore the importance of safeguarding healthcare systems against malicious attacks.

Blockchain technology offers an effective solution to these problems. By leveraging a secure distributed ledger, health records are stored immutably, ensuring data integrity.

But in addition to improving security, this technology also addresses the problem of fragmentation and isolation of health records. By using a distributed network, healthcare providers can access and share data efficiently, which encourages interoperability and improves collaboration between different healthcare entities.

By adopting this innovative technology, we can build a more robust and patient-centered healthcare system, benefiting everyone involved in the healthcare process.

4 Benefits of Using Blockchain in Health Records

Implementing blockchain technology in digital health record management offers a number of significant benefits that improve the way medical data is stored, accessed and used. Here are four key benefits:

Greater security

Blockchain technology uses advanced cryptographic algorithms and a distributed record system to ensure the security of health records. The data stored in the blockchain is immutable and resistant to manipulation, which protects the integrity and confidentiality of medical information.

Greater privacy and control for patients

Blockchain allows patients to have greater control over who can access their health records and under what conditions. Medical data is encrypted and linked to a unique patient identity. This ensures that they are only shared with the patient's explicit consent. Providing greater privacy and security of personal information.

Improved efficiency and interoperability of health records

Blockchain technology standardizes and centralizes health records in one place accessible to authorized healthcare providers. This streamlines the search and retrieval of medical information, saves time and resources, and improves interoperability between different electronic medical record systems.

Cost reduction and elimination of intermediaries

By eliminating middlemen and trusted third parties, blockchain technology reduces the costs associated with storing and sharing health data. Administrative processes are simplified, which leads to greater efficiency and resource savings.

In summary, blockchain technology in the management of digital health records provides greater security, privacy and control for patients, improves the efficiency and interoperability of medical records, and reduces costs by eliminating unnecessary intermediaries. These benefits promise to transform the way medical data is managed and improve medical care in general.

Two Blockchain success stories in health record management

Blockchain adoption has shown promise in improving medical record management. Two examples that illustrate the potential of this technology are Sendsquare and eHealth Estonia.

 

Sendsquare: Efficient clinical data management in South Korea

In South Korea, Sendsquare, a FLETA Blockchain Foundation, has developed a successful clinical data management system called eCRF. This project has been recognized as outstanding by the South Korean Government's National IT Industry Promotion Agency, also known as NIPA. In collaboration with Hanyang University and St. Mary's of Seoul. The project shows promising applications of blockchain technology in the field of health.

Sendsquare's eCRF system uses blockchain technology to record interactions between patients and providers through smart contracts. The cloud-based medical record is associated with viewing permissions and data retrieval instructions. This guarantees the security and privacy of clinical information. Once a record is created by a physician, it is verified and viewing permissions are authorized by the patient.

 

eHealth Estonia: Blockchain Efficiency in Medical Record Management

eHealth Estonia is another notable example of how blockchain technology is effectively used to achieve efficient medical records management. This platform, which was launched in 2005, began to actively adopt blockchain technology in 2016 in partnership with Guardtime.

By using a blockchain-based Keyless Signature Infrastructure (KSI), eHealth Estonia has managed to store 95% of medical records on-chain. This includes digital prescriptions and doctor requests.

The implementation of blockchain in eHealth Estonia has provided an orderly and efficient national health online infrastructure. Records are updated automatically and the platform has proven to be able to handle large volumes of medical data.

 

If you have comments on any of the content of the CBCat newsletter, if you would like to discuss a topic, or if for some reason any of the links above do not work, please contact us at: info@cbcat.io

CBCat articles are carefully written and selected to promote developments in the blockchain and Digital Asset sectors, but readers are advised to seek professional advice before taking any action based on any of the above links and information . The Blockchain Center of Catalonia assumes no responsibility for any action that readers of the article may take.

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