We are happy to announce that our first project with ADA (Austrian Development Agency) was completed successfully. During a year long research, we explored topics around blockchain & sustainability, taking into account all UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For that endeavour, our Cryptoeconomics Research Lab has partnered with RCE Vienna, a sustainability competence centre at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, who provided the expertise on sustainability and impact assessment.

Combining blockchain and sustainability expertise resulted in a unique opportunity of having the right interdisciplinary approach for tackling topic’s diverse range of questions and complexities and helped equip us with the appropriate know-how and the tools needed.

During the first phase of the project, we explored and assessed blockchain’s potential to help address the SDGs. As a second step, we mapped possible pilots projects that make sense in the context of development cooperation. We used an integrative and case study based approach to analyse the potential connections and contribution of blockchain to the SDGs. Considering the multidimensional facets of the SDGs, the term „integrative“ reflects a systemic setting in which our target groups such as impact entrepreneurs, development agencies, CSOs, business networks, and international institutions had the chance to interact and share knowledge with those holding expertise on blockchain and derived technologies.

WHAT WE DID

Consolidating the knowledge retrieved, we published a project report summarizing project findings. At the same time the report provides a roadmap for policy makers and future pilot projects describing opportunities and best practices of blockchain for the implementation of the SDGs.

Another major project output was the two-day, free of charge [UN]BLOCKED conference held in April 2019 at the Vienna University of Business and Economics. The conference successfully brought researchers, policy makers, startups, industry experts and students together and attracted 600 visitors.