Dear Colleagues,

In the past few years, “blockchain” has become one of the most popular words in the field of technology. A blockchain is a distributed database that does not require a central authority to be maintained and that cannot be tampered with or hacked. Transparency, traceability, efficiency, and security are some of the benefits promised by blockchain technology. Thanks to these few valuable features, the blockchain paradigm is now overwhelming all sectors connected to industrial development, as it holds the potential to disrupt the traditional business models characterizing the supply chain, the manufacturing and service industries.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect research contributions or recent developments on industrial case studies, applications, methodologies, or strategies that, making use of blockchain technology, strengthen or innovate supply chain management and the manufacturing and service industries. We invite the submission of high-quality original technical and survey papers addressing both theoretical and practical aspects, including ethical and social implications. We hope that this Special Issue will not only represent a showcase for promising research but will also contribute to raising awareness about blockchain technology and its impact on the next generation of business relationships.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Blockchain in the industry and in the supply chain management;

- Blockchain decentralized applications;

- Blockchain security;

- Blockchain-based trust and regulation mechanisms;

- Blockchain applications for the vendor rating;

- Blockchain and Industry 4.0;

- Blockchain and IoT;

- New emerging business models driven by blockchain;

- New business relationships and activities based on smart contracts;

- Blockchain based knowledge and innovation management;

- Challenges to be addressed for blockchain mass adoption;

- Social and ethical implications brought by the adoption of the blockchain;

- Blockchain startups and innovative applications (founders of the startups are encouraged to submit papers of their goals and how they expect to add value to blockchain applications).

Dr. Ferdinando Chiacchio
Guest Editor

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