Upgrade the existing research and technological development capabilities by expanding the human potential and fostering a critical mass of researchers with interdisciplinary expertise in blockchain and related technologies (distributed computing, security and applied cryptography, AI, machine learning, big data and cloud computing) and design thinking. BIG is looking at new ways to boost the potential of these emerging technologies in application areas such as health, energy, digital citizenship, transport and creative industries as well as their economic impacts. BIG will dedicate resources to design and other creativity-enhancing practices for exploration of innovative solutions for blockchain and distributed ledger technologies via design studios, developing unexpected uses of technology, testing of unusual application domain solutions, and working on social innovation/acceptance. This will serve to investigate and support new ways of examining and communicating the potential of blockchain technologies, as well as guide and assess their impacts in important societal challenges.
