IBM, Microsoft, PricewaterhouseCoopers, ConsenSys, and several additional corporations are set to attend the U.S. State Department’s Blockchain Forum on October 10.
On October 10, the U.S. State Department is scheduled to host a blockchain forum at the George C. Marshall Center in Washington, DC. The one-day workshop, organized by the Blockchain@State initiative, will bring together various State Department divisions, other U.S. government agencies, and representatives from the private sector.
The group stated that the event’s mission is to “examine both the policy impacts and practical uses” of the technology in relation to U.S. diplomatic initiatives. The initiative itself was established earlier this year.
In addition, the group aims to monitor blockchain advancements and keep the department updated on emerging applications of the technology. The U.S. State Department is actively seeking to enhance its research capabilities to support a newly formed working group dedicated to blockchain.
The group, under the supervision of Thomas Debass, director for innovation and acting special representative for global partnerships, will monitor blockchain developments and provide bi-weekly briefings to keep the initiative informed of emerging applications in the field.
Companies Confirmed to Attend the Blockchain Forum
Among the participating companies are IBM, Microsoft, PricewaterhouseCoopers, ConsenSys, and several others. The blockchain workshop will feature case presentations shared by these firms as part of the broader discussion.
In addition, the workshop will include discussions on how blockchain technology can contribute to solving global challenges, such as humanitarian crises, with several sessions focused on real-world applications.
While certain aspects remain unspecified — with the keynote speaker listed merely as a “High-Level U.S. Government Official” on EventBrite — confirmed participants include Toomas Ilves, the former president of Estonia, and Frontis Wiggins, chief information officer of the U.S. State Department.
This represents the State Department’s second engagement in a blockchain-centric event this year, following an inter-agency forum it organized in July.