The overall goal of BIG Project – “Enhancing the research and innovation potential of Tecnico through Blockchain technologies and design Innovation for social Good”- is to expand the research and innovation potential of Técnico-Lisbon, contributing to foster a digital ecosystem taking advantage of Blockchain technologies and design Innovation for social Good through the hiring of an ERA Chair and the associated team.
The BIG ERA Chair activity aims to unlock the full potential of interdisciplinary research while strengthening innovation and knowledge transfer activities in close collaboration with local and global industrial partners.
The BIG ERA Chair on Blockchain technologies and design Innovation for social Good is pursuing the following strategic objectives:
Upgrade the existing research and technological development capabilities
This will be achieved 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.
Improve the innovation potential and impact of Lisbon and Portugal
The goal is to boost Portugal to be a key platform in the Euro-Atlantic region of the EU through design-driven innovation for the data economy. This goal will be pursued by unravelling the impact of open innovation in blockchain technologies on advanced training and knowledge transfer, and by expanding the human capital and the creative research capabilities of individuals and organisations with the ultimate goal of materializing opportunities offered by blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. Examples include investing in creating testbeds for decentralised, trusted, transparent, user-centric digital services and stimulating new and improved business models that promote decentralised social innovations. These testbeds will enable the industry stakeholders to test and market solutions in strategic application areas aligned with the smart specialization strategy, for instance, tourism, transportation, mobility and logistics, creative industries and the blue economy.
Raise international awareness
The goal is to promote the research institutes (LARSyS and INESC-ID) and connect Técnico – Lisbon and its industry affiliates to the global knowledge networks: work with mentoring institutes based at prestigious universities in Europe (CNRS, EPFL, Polimi and Soton), which have agreed to serve as advisors to the project by sharing their knowledge and promoting the exchange of key personnel; BIG will continue to deepen the strong partnerships established with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which include joint research and advanced training programs and help position BIG and Lisbon as a brokering platform in the Euro-Atlantic region for the data economy.