SETsquared Surrey collaborates with University in €5million Blockchain testbed project

Surrey Technology Centre tenant SETsquared Surrey is working with the University of Surrey on a project called Blockstart, which has just been awarded €5 million funding from the European Union. The project will support startups and small-to-medium-sized-enterprises (SMEs) in using Blockchain technologies to boost their businesses.

As part of the project, SETsquared Surrey will be providing SMEs with business development and coaching services so they can plan effectively and adapt to their ever-changing markets. Blockstart will also use the University of Surrey’s world leading blockchain test bed to help advise SMEs on technologies and R&D opportunities.

Many SMEs find it difficult to adopt new technologies because the scale of their business is often too small. The Blockstart project is designed to change this. Partners of the project spreading across Europe form an ecosystem of business networks, incubators and blockchain experts that will identify and take on the greatest challenges facing SMEs in health, logistics and agrifood. This ecosystem then provides business support, networking opportunities and a testing environment.

Caroline Fleming, Head of Incubation at SETsquared Surrey, said: “This project is a great opportunity for small business to test and integrate state-of-the-art technologies in their current and future business models. SETsquared will be there to support small businesses in any way we can.”

Professor John Collomosse, Professor of Computer Vision at the University of Surrey’s Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing leading on Surrey’s Blockchain testbed, said: “We are delighted to be part of this collaborative project, bringing our expertise in new technologies, especially artificial intelligence and blockchain, to the table. We will be helping small businesses to test new blockchain solutions, in a way that safeguards their business interests.”

Companies that are interested in the Blockstart project can register their interest by emailing [email protected].

The following parties are involved in the Blockstart project:

• Brightlands Smart Services Campus (lead, Netherlands)
• Windesheim University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands)
• Medicen Paris Region (France)
• Eastern Netherlands Development Company (Netherlands)
• Multitel (Belgium)
• BioRegio STERN (Germany)
• University of Surrey (Great Britain)
• Option Public (France)
• ChainPoint (Netherlands)
• Bax & Company (intermediary)