4. Technological Description
E-co.lab will employ two main technologies: Blockchain technology and Participatory Guarantee Systems (SPG) technology. The development of certifications combining these two technologies, Blockchain and SPG, is pioneering and has not been adopted or developed in the world to date.
Blockchain technology offers exceptional benefits for certification solutions, such as: transparency, since all records are visible to authorized parties, which increases trust; security, since data is encrypted and virtually immutable, which reduces the risk of fraud; decentralization, since there is no need for a central authority, which can reduce costs and increase efficiency; and traceability, which facilitates the monitoring of the complete history of a certification.
SPG are characterized by Social Control and Joint Responsibility, which makes it possible to generate credibility appropriate to different social, cultural, political, institutional, organizational and economic realities. Social Control is a process of generating credibility, necessarily recognized by society, organized by a group of clients and partners who work with commitment and seriousness. It is established by the direct participation of its members in collective actions to assess the compliance of the practices to be certified with the technical regulations. Joint Responsibility occurs when all participants in the group commit to complying with the technical requirements of the practices to be certified and are jointly responsible in cases of non-compliance by some of its members.
The Blockchain and SPG certifications proposed by E-co.lab present, at a minimum, the following benefits:
Social Control - Social Control refers to the active participation of civil society in the inspection and monitoring of institutions and processes. SPG are formed by citizens, non-governmental organizations, educational and research institutions, and other interested groups. Their objective is to ensure the transparency, efficiency, and accountability of certification actions.
Joint Responsibility - Joint Responsibility implies that all those involved in a process share responsibility for its results. SPG can act as joint and several liability agents, verifying information and ensuring that ethical standards are followed.
SPG Validation: SPG can validate certifications and documents using transparent and participatory methods. They can verify authenticity, integrity and compliance with established standards.
The Blockchain and SPG certifications proposed in E-co.lab will follow, at a minimum, the following life cycle:
Preparation - Formation of the SPG organization, electing the actors with the necessary expertise in an independent and impartial manner.
Creation and Issuance - The certification is created according to the respective validation requirements. Relevant details are recorded in the blockchain, such as holder information, date and type of certificate.
Validation and Signature - The certification is validated and digitally signed to ensure its authenticity. This involves verifying the identity of the holder and confirming the data.
Storage in the Blockchain - The certificate is inserted into the blockchain. Each block contains a hash of the previous block, ensuring the integrity and immutability of the data.
Continuous Verification - During the lifetime of the certificate, it can be verified at any time. The transparency of the Blockchain allows third parties to confirm its validity.
Renewal and Update - When the certificate is about to expire, it can be renewed. Updates can also be made to reflect changes in the data.
Expiration: After a specific period of time, the certificate expires, requiring its renewal.
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