IEEE Driving Collaboration on Advancing Blockchain Adoption Within the Pharmaceutical Industry

PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY, USA, 18 April 2017 – IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, and the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA), today announced an important first step in its efforts to bring key stakeholders together in order to advance the adoption of blockchain within the pharmaceutical industry, and establish a forum for building consensus on technical and data standards. The Pharma Supply Blockchain Forum, presented by the IEEE Blockchain Special Interest Group (SIG), unites executives, regulators, and technology innovators across the pharmaceutical supply chain to share ideas and explore applicable solutions that help define the critical steps required to transition from consideration of blockchain technologies to adoption. The first Pharma Supply Blockchain Forum will be held on 6 June 2017 at John Hopkins University in Rockville, MD.

“While there has been significant focus on blockchain for various healthcare applications, IEEE is providing a framework for open and collaborative discussion on the necessity for standards and enhancement of patient care by tackling data interoperability in an area that is primed for adoption: the pharmaceutical supply chain,” said Greg Adamson, IEEE Blockchain SIG chair. “We are bringing together a ‘blockchain knowledgeable’ group of pharmaceutical industry executives who are evaluating the challenges and opportunities with this technology to transform their supply chain model in synch with the next generation of patient-driven healthcare.”

The Pharma Supply Blockchain Forum is the first in a series of transformative events presenting a non-biased, educational program with the goal of developing a roadmap for advancing adoption of the technology in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Forum participants will get a comprehensive understanding of the real costs of data interoperability, the necessity of building consensus for technical and data standards, and the impact of the convergence of patient and data identity on the blockchain. The speaker faculty includes a well-balanced mix of industry experts, academic researchers, tech innovators, and regulatory leaders.

To learn more about participation opportunities and educational and networking activities, please visit the Forum website. Attendee seats are available on a first-come first-serve basis.

Visit the website to learn more about IEEE Blockchain initiatives.

[Note to Editors: Accredited press will be granted complimentary registration to the Forum. Journalists will need to apply for accreditation before 15 May 2017. Please submit your accreditation request to Maria Palombini.]

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IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) is a collaborative organization where innovators raise the world’s standards for technology. IEEE SA provides a globally open, consensus-building environment and platform that empowers people to work together in the development of leading-edge, market-relevant technology standards, and industry solutions shaping a better, safer and sustainable world. For more information, visit https://standards-qa21.ieee.org.

IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at https://www.ieee.org.