IOTA

<blockquote>TL;DR: IOTA has successfully completed the final phase of the European Blockchain Pre-Commercial Procurement. Alongside our fellow finalists Chromaway and Billon, we've developed pre-commercial products for Intellectual Property Rights Management and Digital Product Passports, demonstrating scalability and sustainability, and are now in conversations with commercial partners to further support and drive this important European initiative in its new governance form as EUROPEUM-EDIC.
</blockquote>
We're thrilled to announce that IOTA has successfully completed the third and final phase of the European Blockchain Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP).
In 2021, we were selected as one of seven projects from 30+ applications to participate in the European Blockchain PCP, funded by the European Commission. The PCP aims to design new DLT solutions for Europe – first to be integrated into the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-building-blocks/sites/display/EBSI/Home" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">EBSI</a>), an open, permissioned network of blockchain nodes across Europe that supports cross-border credential attestations for individuals and organizations; then as part of the next evolution of EBSI, the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium for Blockchain (<a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/blockchain-creation-europeum-edic" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">EUROPEUM-EDIC</a>), which will provide next-generation infrastructure to support scalable, energy-efficient, and secure blockchain applications.
<img src="https://academy-public.coinmarketcap.com/optimized-uploads/df80c793ef4a470fbec096ded109c749.png">
Since this journey began in 2020, we've documented every phase – in our announcements for <a href="https://blog.iota.org/ebsi-building-a-distributed-ledger-technology-for-europe/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Phase 1</a>, <a href="https://blog.iota.org/phase-2-eu-blockchain-pre-commercial-procurement/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Phase 2A</a>, and <a href="https://blog.iota.org/iota-eu-blockchain-pcp/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Phase 2B</a>, as well as material like <a href="https://files.iota.org/comms/IOTA-EBSI-leaflet.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">leaflets</a>. Now, along with our partners <a href="https://www.digimarc.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Digimarc</a>, <a href="https://www.upc.edu/en" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya</a>, <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-details/43251814/101060078/CREA2027" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Musika Peripherika,</a> <a href="https://www.softwareag.com/en_corporate.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Software AG,</a> and <a href="https://uncommon-digital.it/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Uncommon Digital</a>, we are excited at the opportunity to apply the learnings and further develop the prototypes created during the PCP to bring them to market.
<h3 id="what-we-built-overview-of-the-iota-ebsi-solution">What We Built: Overview of the IOTA-EBSI Solution</h3>
The solution we’ve developed for the European Blockchain PCP combines our DAG-based Tangle distributed ledger technology with open-source building blocks, open APIs, and potential third-party platforms in the future European Blockchain services ecosystem.
<ol>
 <li>Core DLT Layer: Built on the <a href="https://blog.iota.org/stardust-upgrade-iota-tokenomics/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Stardust</a> version of the Tangle protocol, this layer uses a Decentralized Coordinator with a Proof-of-Authority consensus mechanism involving EU member states and institutions. It includes IOTA Node Extensions (<a href="https://wiki.iota.org/tutorials/hornet-inx-interaction" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">INX</a>) for recording transactions related to identities and audit trails on the ledger, ensuring decentralization, efficiency, and interoperability with a single endpoint and simplified Core Node. The solution scales thanks to our “Tangle Tree” data sharding concept (see more below) and IOTA Smart Contract Chains that are EVM-compatible.</li>
 <li>Satellite Systems: These systems link third-party platforms through IOTA-EBSI connectors and feature an Auditable Item Graph for object traceability and composability capturing digital twins of physical or digital objects – a key ingredient of our Digital Product Passport prototypes (see below).</li>
</ol>
<h3 id="what-we-built-solution-prototypes">What We Built: Solution Prototypes</h3>
As part of out involvement in the PCP, we developed new solution prototypes with our partners.
<img src="https://academy-public.coinmarketcap.com/optimized-uploads/572f2a7ab0ed4eb79899f6399154915e.png">
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Management: By using smart contracts, NFTs, and decentralized identities (DIDs) in an IPR Marketplace accessible via an EU Digital Identity-compatible credential wallet, we automate and ensure fair, transparent royalty payments for music in films. Read more <a href="https://blog.iota.org/ipr-management-iota/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.
<img src="https://academy-public.coinmarketcap.com/optimized-uploads/24ef60c1c4f44e89b741dd29ae109736.png">
Digital Product Passports (DPP): We developed solution prototypes for an <a href="https://blog.iota.org/dpp-for-electronics-iota/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Electronics DPP</a>, tracking device life cycles from manufacturing to recycling, and<a href="https://blog.iota.org/dpp-plastics-iota/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Plastics DPP</a>, recording the transformation of agricultural plastic waste into bioplastic.
<h3 id="iota-s-innovations-tested-in-pcp">IOTA's Innovations Tested in PCP</h3>
IOTA successfully developed and demonstrated its tech advancements across the following categories:
<ul>
 <li>ScalabilityWe've demonstrated the capability of the Tangle at the largest and most diverse scale yet, including under adverse conditions. With 30 full entities (each one corresponding to an EU member state) and one Decentralized Coordinator (DeCoo) node each, we created a testing environment of around 100 nodes deployed across various cloud providers and 12 geographical regions. We also found that the Hornet Node software can handle at least 80K reads per second with small-size payloads.We developed our Tangle Tree sharding concept and demonstrated its capacity for exponential scalability – &nbsp;branches of the Tangle connected in a parent-child relationship to other branches. Testing it across 100 Tangles, we reached approximately 90K confirmed transactions per second, aligning with the PCP’s ambitions for transaction rate and scalability.In the final phase of the PCP, tests confirmed the effectiveness of horizontal and vertical network scalability within a Tangle Tree structure. This setup involves a root Parent Tangle (Level 1) and several Child Tangles (Level 2) that regularly commit by anchoring themselves to the Parent Tangle. The horizontal scalability of these Child Tangles is constrained only by the throughput capacity of the Parent Tangle.</li>
 <li>SustainabilityWe developed a new methodology to assess the energy consumption of a complex Stardust setup; in the first application of the methodology, we were able to demonstrate that energy consumption scales logarithmically (i.e. much slower than linearly) with the number of transactions.We've also found that a single instance of an IOTA Stardust Tangle consumes significantly less energy than other solutions, including Hyperledger Besu used by EBSI. By deploying more nodes that process only part of the Tangle Tree blocks, we've managed to increase throughput without increasing the load per node. This approach not only enhances energy efficiency but also makes the use of low-powered nodes feasible, enabling renewable and locally produced power, and achieving carbon neutrality.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://files.iota.org/comms/EBSI_IOTA_Showcase_Presentation.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Download a PDF about our work for the European Blockchain PCP</a>
<ul>
 <li>Security and PrivacyWe ensured compliance with industry standards for security and privacy by aligning with <a href="https://www.cisa.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CISA</a>, <a href="https://www.nsa.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">NSA</a>, and <a href="https://www.nist.gov/cybersecurity" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">NIST</a> recommendations.We developed our Quantum-Resistant Cryptographic roadmap with a prototype using CRYSTALS-Dilithium signatures for quantum-ready signature schemes and &nbsp;Decentralized Identity verification methods.We conducted cybersecurity and data protection assessments, including a comprehensive Cybersecurity Risk Assessment compliant with <a href="https://www.nist.gov/cybersecurity" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">NIST-800 </a>standards and a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for the Core DLT and Electronics DPP prototype solution. We tested eIDAS2 compatibility with a Credential Custodial Wallet using W3C VCs/VPs and OpenID4VP, ensuring alignment with the <a href="https://eu-digital-identity-wallet.github.io/eudi-doc-architecture-and-reference-framework/1.1.0/arf/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">EUDI ARF</a>.</li>
 <li>Object Identification and Data ProcessingOur solution implements an auditable item graph to track objects and their historical data. The graph consists of descriptive digital twins of items auditable through the IOTA ledger, as well as linked data and multiple vocabularies (such as schema.org, <a href="https://www.gs1.org/voc/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">GS1 Web Vocabulary</a>, and the <a href="https://vocabulary.uncefact.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">UN/CEFACT</a> buy-pay-ship vocabulary), and a <a href="https://aig-connector-ui.iota-ec.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Web UI</a> for demonstration purposes.Together with <a href="https://blog.iota.org/epcis-2-0-a-global-standard-to-build-trusted-and-decentralized-supply-chains-with-iota/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">EPCIS 2.0</a>-compliant repositories, the auditable item graph supports our DPP prototype solutions with effective object traceability and data processing capabilities.</li>
 <li>Robustness and Technical MaturityOur work in the European Blockchain PCP helped make our solution even more robust, with comprehensive API documentation, disaster recovery plans, interoperability with other blockchains – including EVM-compatible blockchains and others offered by the PCP – and integration with external data sources, such as MongoDB and IPFS. Furthermore, our solution utilizes and adheres to multiple international standards, including <a href="https://www.iso.org/standard/82527.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ISO/IEC 21000-23 standard</a> and <a href="https://openid.net/specs/openid-4-verifiable-presentations-1_0.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">OpenID4VP</a> for the use cases.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="the-future-beyond-ebsi">The Future Beyond EBSI</h3>
Completing the European Blockchain PCP is just the beginning. An IOTA-EBSI Sandbox is designed to continue the development of the pilot use cases, with a focus on having a complete set of functionalities. This sandbox is available for the EU member state authorities and EBSI projects to experiment with.
As EBSI evolves into EUROPEUM-EDIC, we aim to establish a partnership with this new entity. Adopting our PCP results, including the DPP and IPR Management prototypes, within EUROPEUM-EDIC will further enhance the European blockchain ecosystem.
<h3 id="advancing-commercial-adoption-together">Advancing Commercial Adoption Together</h3>
We're also now in conversations with partners, governments, and governmental agencies to help scale our solution and use cases into commercial products.
📧
Our Technology Adoption department is spearheading commercialization efforts with an ecosystem of partners: reach out to partnerships@iota.org if you’re interested in pursuing these opportunities.
According to Dominik Schiener, Chairman of the IOTA Foundation: "EBSI is a crucial step towards a cohesive digital future for Europe, providing the necessary framework for innovation and collaboration across various sectors. This initiative not only aligns with our goals but also strengthens Europe's position in the global digital landscape”.
Participating in the European Blockchain PCP &nbsp;has allowed us to develop and showcase scalable, sustainable, and secure solutions for Europe’s blockchain future. Our work in this initiative highlights IOTA's commitment to enhancing Europe's digital infrastructure. IOTA
<h3 id="links-in-this-article">Links in this Article</h3>
IOTA Foundation Resources
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://blog.iota.org/ebsi-building-a-distributed-ledger-technology-for-europe/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">EBSI: Building a Distributed Ledger Technology for Europe</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://blog.iota.org/phase-2-eu-blockchain-pre-commercial-procurement/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">IOTA Selected for Phase 2 of the EU Blockchain Pre-Commercial Procurement</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://blog.iota.org/iota-eu-blockchain-pcp/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">IOTA Enters Next Phase of EU Blockchain PCP</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://files.iota.org/comms/IOTA-EBSI-leaflet.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">IOTA x EBSI Leaflet</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://blog.iota.org/stardust-upgrade-iota-tokenomics/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">IOTA’s Stardust Upgrade and the Evolution of $IOTA Tokenomics</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://wiki.iota.org/tutorials/hornet-inx-interaction" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">IOTA Node Extensions INX</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://blog.iota.org/ipr-management-iota/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Smart Contracts, Smarter Rights</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://blog.iota.org/dpp-for-electronics-iota/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Digital Product Passports for Electronics</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://blog.iota.org/dpp-plastics-iota/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Transforming Plastic Waste with DPPs</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://blog.iota.org/epcis-2-0-a-global-standard-to-build-trusted-and-decentralized-supply-chains-with-iota/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Introducing EPCIS 2.0</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://aig-connector-ui.iota-ec.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Auditable Item Graph Web UI</a></li>
</ul>
European Commission and EUDI Resources
<ul>
 <li>European Commission Press Release: <a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/blockchain-creation-europeum-edic" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Blockchain: Creation of EUROPEUM-EICD</a></li>
 <li>EUDI Wallet: <a href="https://eu-digital-identity-wallet.github.io/eudi-doc-architecture-and-reference-framework/1.1.0/arf/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">EUDI Architecture and Reference Framework</a>.</li>
</ul>
Industry Standards and Specifications
<ul>
 <li>schema.org</li>
 <li><a href="https://www.gs1.org/voc/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">GS1 Web Vocabulary</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://vocabulary.uncefact.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">UN/CEFACT</a></li>
 <li>ISO Standards</li>
 <li><a href="https://openid.net/specs/openid-4-verifiable-presentations-1_0.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">OpenID</a></li>
</ul>
Governmental and Security Resources
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.cisa.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CISA</a></li>
 <li>NSA</li>
 <li><a href="https://www.nist.gov/cybersecurity" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">NIST</a></li>
</ul>
Partners and Collaborators
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.digimarc.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Digimarc</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.upc.edu/en" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-details/43251814/101060078/CREA2027" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Musika Peripherika</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.softwareag.com/en_corporate.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Software AG</a><a href="https://uncommon-digital.it/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Uncommon Digital</a></li>
</ul>
Follow us on our official channels for the latest updates: <a href="https://discord.iota.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Discord</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/iota" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/iotafoundation/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/iotafoundation/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/iotafoundation" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">YouTube</a> | <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/iota/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CoinMarketCap</a>

IOTA Successfully Completes European Blockchain PCP

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