Josef Gustafsson
Josef Gustafsson is project coördinator at the department of Community Affairs for the Administrative Board of Skåne in Sweden.How is the county administrative board of Skane involved in blockchain; can you tell us a bit about your (latest) developments?
At the county administrative board of Skåne we are exploring how to use blockchain as a tool for democracy and increase citizen engagement.
Our plans are to test blockchain technology in referendums in two urban development projects in Skåne. Giving citizens the opportunity to express their opinion and vote on how their neighborhood will look like. During the project, we have also explored the prevalence of blockchain in public sector in Sweden. The findings show that it is not a common practice, despite blockchain being a promising technology to use to increase the overall digitalization of the sector.
Which blockchain topics do you find the most interesting or promising?
I find it interesting how blockchain can provide decentralization and openness and to use it as a tool to increase engagement and participation. While simultaneously dealing with the suspicious reputation of blockchain due to its association to cryptocurrencies. It is a tricky balance, but providing success stories of blockchain implementation, like the BLING project, can hopefully disprove the reputation.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned so far by working together with international partners in this European project?
It would probably be the expertise and inspiring examples provided by the project partners in BLING. Together they provide wonderful examples of implementation possibilities for Blockchain technology. The project helps to visualize how blockchain technology can provide public good.