Last February 7, Australia’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources launched The National Blockchain Roadmap: Progressing towards a blockchain-enabled future, as reported by the CoinDesk. The roadmap details how the country seeks to leverage the economic and social opportunities created by the technology in the next five years.
The three key areas it focuses on are regulations and standards; skills, capability and innovation; and international investment and collaboration.
Its publication also served to formally hold the National Blockchain Roadmap Steering Committee responsible for offering guidance on matters that include the government’s existing programs. It is also expected to share its input on what support can be obtained. Furthermore, it is likewise tasked to provide advice on the other blockchain uses cases in the pipeline.
Besides the creation of the steering committee, the other key recommendations specified in the roadmap are the following:
* Creation of a collaborative model for the government, academia and industry to join forces
* Exploration of the three uses cases by carrying out a full economic analysis of wine exports; and probing and credentialing the Know-Your-Customer check project
* Setting up of a group of government blockchain users
* Identification of examples of functional blockchain government services around the world
* Involvement in the efforts to determine and pose a challenge to government grant applicants concerning policy and service delivery areas
* Making sure that broader policy efforts will be blockchain-integrated
* Creation of formal blockchain qualification structures
* Collaboration with Austrade on blockchain-integrated inbound investment program as well as on the development program targeted to blockchain startups in the country
* Finding ways on how the country can benefit most from the existing bilateral agreements affecting blockchain collaboration across the globe
* Making sure that Australian businesses link to the blockchain
The roadmap is an expression of where the Australian government aspires to be as far as a blockchain-enabled society is concerned. Then again, it is more of a general guide than an enumeration of its concrete steps towards that goal.
Even so, it is still an indication of its desire to leverage the potential value of the blockchain-enabled economic transformation to foster economic growth, create jobs, boost productivity, increase national revenue and save the business money.
As the country strives to become a global blockchain leader, expect it to explore ways on how to effectively combine science, technology and industry to address current problems and build a better future for everyone.
