From the preceding articles about the influence of blockchain technology in various sectors such as the sports industry and healthcare, we can affirm that blockchain deploys its effects in different areas given its characteristics in terms of decentralized character, certified registry and chronological order. The influence of this technology can be foreseen in the national initiatives established by the Government of Spain regarding the digitalization of Public Administrations. In this line, one of the most outstanding initiatives is found in the Spain Digital Agenda 2026 project, aimed at establishing the next steps in the process of public digitization and structured in three different categories: infrastructure and technology, economy and citizenship.
Briefly going into the theoretical content of the proposal, it is centered on the digitalization of the Administration, having as a starting point to increase connectivity between them and to promote the culture of cybersecurity in the systems and entities as well as to raise awareness about the use of intelligent systems and the implementation of Artificial Intelligence in the actions of the Public Administrations. Similarly, another of the objectives of the Agenda España Digital 2026 project focuses on focusing the digitalization process on citizens, giving priority to the acquisition of sufficient digital skills in the field and that they acquire the necessary knowledge about the digital rights of citizens contained in Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the European Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation).
The influence of Blockchain technology can be seen in the planned creation of a citizen laboratory for technological innovation in the General State Administration (GobTechLab), whose ultimate goal is innovation in the technologies and services used in the public sector and the promotion of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. This plan is based on European Union projects such as the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI).
In addition, the Agenda España Digital 2026 project incorporates a total of 8 objectives in the digitalization and digital transformation process:
Plan for the connectivity and digital infrastructures of society, the economy and the territories.
2. 5G technology promotion strategy.
3. National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (ENIA)
4. National Digital Skills Plan.
5. SME Digitalization Plan (2021 - 2015)
6. Public Administration Digitalization Plan (2021 - 2025)
7. Spain, Audiovisual Hub of Europe: Plan to boost the audiovisual sector.
8. National Cybersecurity Plan.
Focusing on the digitalization process, the Digitalization Plan for Public Administrations, whose purpose is to promote the creation of digital public services for citizens and the development of public policies aimed at the digital transformation process and the democratization of new technologies in order to create common services for the various public administrations, so that all have free access to the documentation issued and act, in the exercise of their functions, on the basis of the same principles of administrative action and objective criteria for action.
Returning again to the influence of blockchain technology, we must indicate that, in its application to Public Administrations, we are referring to the possibility of promoting the transfer of information in a secure manner thanks to its decentralized nature, while allowing to carry out an immutable record of the operations that are carried out, aspects that represent an added value to the performance function of the administrations. For this reason, it can then be stated that when we talk about Blockchain technology in relation to Public Administrations we are referring to the administrative procedure, since, thanks to its characteristics, it would allow a considerable reduction of deadlines, simplification of procedures and bureaucratic formalities, greater transparency, control over procedures and greater security at the operational and procedural level. This being so,
What are the main or potential use cases for this technology within the public sector?
One of the scenarios for the use of this technology would be in the procedure for granting public aid and subsidies as well as in the public procurement process. For this purpose, the telematic application would mean that, once validly issued and received by the system, an automatic assessment of the applications would be carried out through the prior algorithmic configuration of the systems, so that, through the interpretation of pre-established standards or scales, they could establish a proposal for the award of aid or, in the case of public procurement, a considerable reduction of the personnel selection processes and a greater agility in the procedure, avoiding undue situations or delays.
Another scenario would be in the bidding process, so that, as in the previous scenario, the companies would submit their application and the system, after automatic evaluation and in substitution of the contracting board, would establish a proposal for awarding the bid, thus reducing the deadlines and allowing for an exhaustive record of the presentation of prints.
A more novel and already discussed way would be the implementation of blockchain technology to the electoral voting process, converting traditional voting into electronic voting. The rationale would be the immutability and security of the votes, aspects that would promote a considerable increase in electoral votes at the same time as an advantage on an ecological and economic level in terms of the reduction in the printing of ballots.
Finally, other cases of use are found in the transportation sector, where the application of Blockchain technology would mean a transformation of transportation flows and an improvement in the management of the supply chain, since it would allow knowing, registering and monitoring the different geographical areas, choosing, in case of distribution of goods, the route that is more efficient, safe or that allows the distribution to a certain number of people. It would also allow the user to know everything related to the distribution procedure, management and delivery of the requested product from the moment the payment is made, giving him greater security and control over his order or request.
