Another Link in the Blockchain

International experts, scholars, public figures and decision-makers joined together to focus on blockchain technology at a BMI conference held in Montenegro. The increasingly popular financial tool enables secure online activity and verification of transactions between parties, without requiring a central or trusted management entity. The conference discussed the possible applications of the technology by social and governmental institutions for various social purposes.

Greetings were given by conference convener and TAU benefactor Dr. Boris Mints, the founder of BMI and a member of TAU’s Global Campaign Cabinet. “Today we have an excellent team of experts, to whom I would like to express my special gratitude. I am sure that we will have the opportunity to participate in interesting discussions that will allow us to come to an even deeper understanding of the fundamental trends in blockchain technology in various spheres of human activity.”  

Opening remarks were delivered by BMI Head Prof. Itai Sened of TAU’s School of Public Policy. The keynote speaker was Prof. Katarina Adam of the University of Applied Sciences, Berlin. Among the participants were the Hon. Vaclav Klaus, co-founder of the Vaclav Klaus Institute and former President of the Czech Republic; Mrs. Dragica Sekulic, Minister of Economy of Montenegro; Mr. Igor Luksic, former Prime Minister of Montenegro and BMI Board Member; Ms. Yael Rozencwajg, CEO Blockchain Israel; and Ms. Eve Guterman, TAU BMI Fellow.

A highlight of the conference was a meeting with Milo Djukanovic, President of Montenegro, who said: "Along the path toward our final goal of making Montenegrin society truly European while achieving credible and sustainable development, we are aware of the challenges ahead of us, primarily regarding a deficit in knowledge. Hence the partnership with institutions like the Boris Mints Institute of Tel Aviv University is of great value, particularly in relation to the Institute's activities in water, renewable energy, food safety, reduction of poverty and inequality, and conflict solving.”

“We believe that this conference will be merely the beginning of international cooperation in research and policy making between BMI and prominent figures in the field of blockchain, continued President Djukanovic.

Past BMI conferences have been held in Israel, Finland, Malta, Georgia and Armenia.