A Slovakian startup is poised to make its mark in the local aerospace and defense industries while also serving as a blockchain evangelist, 3IPK cofounder and CEO Maria Capova believes.
3IPK is a developer of blockchain-based digital solutions automating certification, supply chain, maintenance and program management processes for aerospace, automotive, defense and nuclear sectors. Based in Bratislava, her company recently celebrated a significant achievement when it became the first blockchain technology company accepted for membership in the Security and Defense Industry Association of the Slovak Republic.
Ms. Capova began her career in the corporate world but soon decided she liked the challenge of building a startup. She had a colleague with an idea for the aerospace sector and together they partnered with DECENT, a fellow Slovakian company. Developers of the blockchain protocol DCore, a platform allowing users to create or migrate applications into a blockchain environment, DECENT has expanded to locations across Asia as well as Europe and the United States.
“We met the DECENT guys and partnered with them as they sawbig potential in using blockchain technology,” Ms. Capova said. “Once theyexplained the features and advantages of blockchain we saw its potential.”
The DECENT partnership yielded other advantages, she added.Their blockchain is easier to modify so it meets the needs of individualclients.
3IPK works with aerospace companies through a series ofsteps beginning with simplifying and securing the capture of design dataapprovals which reduce the cost of certification. Smart contracts are deployedto automate contractual terms and execution and introduce trust.
Blockchain technology can make significant contributions todefense and aerospace by making processes efficient and more transparent, Ms.Capova said.
“The big issues with the supply chain are that it’s deep andglobal, so it’s hard to track data across the whole supply chain. Now you cantrack data and build trust and transparency.”
With immutable data stored in the blockchain forever,parties can track back if there is trouble with a part to learn who approvedthe data and when. Each step is time stamped and everyone knows who isresponsible for delivery. Counterfeiting is prevented via detailed partprovenance. Smart contracts automate contract execution in compliance withagreed-upon terms.
An important feature 3IPK offers their clients is theability to improve the certification process. Every part’s certification andapproval status can be verified in real time, and those parts can come with a100 percent originality assurance through a unique fingerprintingidentification system based on Smart Dust, Ms. Capova said. It combinesapprovals and other verified information in a blockchain and matches it withongoing work to keep a current record of different components. The informationis distributed in a decentralized method, but in a different sequence each timeso hackers cannot detect an exploitable pattern.
Privacy is crucial to this industry and blockchain technologycan assist by certifying participants so only those with permission can accessspecific documents, Ms. Capova explained.
“If documents are for government purposes they need accessto data limited for security reasons,” Ms. Capova said.
She’s excited about the opportunities coming with 3IPK’smembership in the Security and Defense Industry Association of the SlovakRepublic. Even though Eastern Europe boasts a very strong technology community,government awareness of blockchain technology in the Slovak Republic is limitedto Bitcoin, which has a checkered reputation.
“They don’t see or understand the technology behindblockchain and they don’t see the potential it has,” Ms. Capova said.
This is a golden opportunity for 3IPK to tout blockchaintechnology’s benefits to the Slovak Republic’s top aerospace companies andgovernment officials at a crucial stage in 3IPK’s development, Ms. Capova said.
“It’s a big opportunity for us as a startup company to getin the network of Slovak companies that work in the defense industry,” Ms.Capova said.
The safety offered by blockchain technology is attractive tothe defense industry where security is paramount, Ms. Capova said. Fighter jetsand drones will communicate with each other via satellite and their systemswill exchange valuable data.
“The security of data is going to be important,” Ms. Capovaconcluded. “We see a big opportunity for blockchain in this industry.”
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