The BSTART project started on January 10, 2019 and ended in March 2023 after a duration of 50 months. The Interreg North-West Europe project was funded with a total of 4.9 million euros. The aim was to facilitate access to blockchain technology for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including those in the healthcare sector. Nine partners from five North-West European countries were involved in the project.
The fields of application for blockchain are almost limitless. The BSTART project has therefore identified sectors that could particularly benefit from blockchain technology: the agricultural and food sector, logistics and healthcare. This is because blockchain is considered one of the major innovations for enabling the fast and secure exchange and storage of information of all kinds. The data, for example on payment transactions, can be stored decentrally in databases. They are considered tamper-proof, as not only the data itself but also all transactions are automatically documented.
This technology can be used wherever data is exchanged and stored. However, the effort involved in converting company processes accordingly has so far been very high and represents an almost insurmountable hurdle for many SMEs.
Role of BioRegio STERN
BioRegio STERN Management GmbH is one of the nine partners. Together with the French cluster "Medicen Paris Region", it worked on the topic of healthcare. The aim was to identify the potential for SMEs through blockchain technology and to make it easier for companies to get started. Ultimately, blockchain should help with the implementation of secure data transfer.
Study on blockchain technology in the healthcare sector
BioRegio STERN commissioned the "Blockchain Technology in Life Sciences & Health" study in order to precisely identify the potential for SMEs in the healthcare sector and highlight corresponding solutions. The survey of entrepreneurs clearly showed that most of them do not know how they can access blockchain technology and implement it in their companies.
The study therefore formulates concrete recommendations for action for decision-makers: these include training and information services, the establishment of a central point of contact, support in implementing the technical infrastructure and concrete incentives in the form of tax breaks or subsidies for SMEs that use blockchain solutions. Above all, legal uncertainties and a lack of standardization are the biggest hurdles to integration and should be eliminated through clear guidelines and rules.
"Blockstart was just the beginning. For most SMEs, the topic is still completely new. But if they can overcome the hurdles, this technology has huge potential," explains project manager Dr. Klara Altintoprak from BioRegio STERN.
Solutions for digital health applications
Many companies are unaware of the benefits of blockchain technology. To find out to what extent this technology offers advantages for a company, Blockstart has laid the foundations to facilitate access to blockchain technology: a comprehensive training program for SMEs from the EU that supports companies in their decision-making.
Read the full article Solutions for Digital Health Applications here.
A new digital era for SMEs in the agri-food, healthcare and logistics sectors
Faced with the challenge of opening up new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in an increasingly connected and digitalized business landscape, eight partners with expertise in blockchain technology, digitalization, logistics, business development and technology transfer have joined forces to build the Blockstart ecosystem. They have launched a multi-layered training program aimed at SMEs in the above-mentioned sectors to optimize their processes and make them more efficient with the help of blockchain technology. A total of 14 experts were recruited for the program. In courses, they imparted practical knowledge not only about blockchain technology, but also about opening up new business areas and regulatory issues relating to medical technology products. Since 2019, more than 30 small and medium-sized companies from Northwest Europe have already benefited from the comprehensive Blockstart SME training program.
Read the full article A New Digital Era for SMEs in Agrofood, Health, and Logistics here.
Visit the Blockstart project website.
“Blockchain and DLT are completely new to us. We learned about the basics and typical use cases as well as use cases which might make sense for HeartGo. The trainers structured and delivered the topics nicely.”
HeartGo
“If there was an option of “excellent”, I would tick that instead! Christoph was brilliant at not only delivering the content but helping in navigating the medical device landscape for products that are “un-traditional” and require some additional critical thought.”
Bronic Co. LTD
“We are currently putting together the technical specification of our product, so it has helped a lot to define the attributes relevant to blockchain and the overall role of blockchain in the product architecture.”
Lemsford Mill Controls Ltd
“We are still ongoing in the Blockstart programme and might yet meet partners for collaboration.”
Royal Eijkelkamp
The BSTART project partners
From the Netherlands:
- Brightland Smart Services Campus (Leadpartner)
- Christelijke Hogeschool Windesheim
- Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost Nederland
- Software-Entwickler ChainPoint B.V.
From France: Cluster Medicen Paris Region
From Belgium: Innovationszentrum Multitel asbl
From Great Britain: Universität Surrey
From Germany: BioRegio STERN Management GmbH