Guidance sought on legal aspects of operating the EBSI infrastructure
The European Commission plans to launch a call for tenders to obtain legal advice as it moves forward with a public sector blockchain initiative.
The contract, valued at €60,000, will request proposals that address “all conceivable relevant legal questions and challenges arising from the operation of the EBSI infrastructure.” The advice should cover issues at the network level as well as for specific use cases.
EBSI, the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure, is intended to serve as a foundational blockchain platform for public sector services. Over time, it is expected to interoperate with private sector platforms.
The initiative aims for every member of the European Blockchain Partnership to operate at least one node. This includes the 27 European Union member states, along with Liechtenstein, Norway and the European Commission itself.
Development of EBSI will receive funding beginning in 2021 through the Digital Europe Programme, which focuses on strengthening the EU’s strategic digital capabilities.
Tender applicants are asked to provide feedback and legal recommendations on potential legal entities or frameworks to manage the EBSI infrastructure. They should also assess the legal implications of different governance models for permissioned public blockchains.
Separately, a project financed by the European Commission under the Next Generation Internet initiative is seeking applicants to develop a new software ecosystem for trusted, traceable and transparent ontological knowledge management.
This initiative will award €123,000 in non-dilutive funding to selected teams from a €4.2 million program fund. The support consists of a seven-month program offering free coaching and access to infrastructure.
Caroline Barelle, Coordinator of Ontochain, said the project aims to help build a more open and accessible internet.
“Digital life today extends our physical world and requires the same level of critical, moral and ethical thinking. By developing Ontochain with the community, we aim to contribute to a more distributed and transparent internet that upholds values such as diversity, equality, privacy and participation,” she said.
The Ontochain program is accepting applications until 15 January 2021.