Research institute integrates IoT and blockchain sectors

Making full use of Wuxi's achievements in the Internet of Things industry, Canada-China IoT and Blockchain Research Institute's Wuxi branch has made substantial efforts in boosting the integration of the blockchain and IoT industries.

Canada-China IoT and Blockchain Research Institute is a non-profit organization, which was initiated by academicians and big names specializing in IoT, blockchain and finance in Toronto, Canada.

Devoted to promoting the application of blockchain technology in IoT, the research institute set up its first branch in Wuxi in East China's Jiangsu province in August.

"The talent pool, the relatively mature IoT industry and sound blockchain application environment are the decisive reasons why the Canada-China institute located its branch in Wuxi," said Chen Qing, general manager of the institute's Wuxi branch.

Among the factors that hinder the development of blockchain technology is the shortage of professionals. Fortunately, Wuxi has clustered a group of blockchain professionals and some IoT professionals who can be easily trained in blockchain experts, according to Chen.

Not only technology professionals, but also government officials have accumulated abundant knowledge on the IoT industry and are capable enough to discern promising projects, Chen added.

"Applying to IoT industry is the main development orientation of blockchain. Wuxi, with its favorable industrial base, offers a test field for blockchain technology," Chen said.

The IoT is widely used in several key fields in Wuxi - intelligent manufacturing, smart city, intelligent agriculture and healthcare.

Chen added that the Canada-China institute's Wuxi branch is cooperating with Wuxi's intelligent manufacturing companies.

"Meanwhile, Wuxi has been in the lead of smart city construction, which also provides a valuable opportunity to apply blockchain technology," Chen said.

"The concrete collaboration has been under discussion," Chen said, adding that "We will launch our first blockchain technical product on Sept 17, the third day of the ongoing the 2018 World IoT Expo. And this product is researched and developed independently."

Featuring data security and operational flexibility, the blockchain product meets users' customized demands and protects their information safety, according to Chen.

When it comes to future product planning, the general manager said the Wuxi branch will continue to develop customized blockchain products, which will be suitable for different applications.

"The blockchain industry calls for steady efforts. We prefer to take time to walk slowly, but firmly," said Chen, answering a question on his vision for the industry.

As an effort to foster sound and sustainable development of the blockchain industry, Canada-China IoT and Blockchain Research Institute's Wuxi branch is shouldering the responsibility to develop all the courses for a blockchain training program, which is the only one authorized by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

According to Chen, the Wuxi branch will use its application experience as a reference, aiming to develop practical and systematic courses.

The blockchain training program has recruited 30 to 50 students since late September. The training period ranges from eight days for enterprise employees to 30 days for industry professionals.