Lufthansa Group and SAP have partnered to launch the first “Aviation Blockchain Challenge” to explore the blockchain technology in an aviation context.
According to the press release, this is in a bid to look for blockchain-based solutions that make the traveller’s customer experience, processes, supply chains and maintenance procedures smoother and more interconnected.
“Blockchain is one of the game-changing technologies of our time, which we are systematically addressing as part of our digital strategy for the Lufthansa Group. We look forward to discussing innovative solutions and initiating experiments together with our partner SAP at the Aviation Blockchain Challenge,” Thorsten Dirks, member of the executive board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and in charge of Eurowings and Aviation Services said.
“By combining our aviation industry expertise with the blockchain technology of a world market leader, we are creating the ideal worldwide framework for addressing blockchain entrepreneurs with an affinity for travel and mobility,” he added.
Categories
Airline Challenge
Make airline operations flawless and more accurate
In this category, ideas are sought that improve airline specific operations and related processes, for example by optimizing the sharing of data across the company and departmental boundaries.
Traveller Challenge
Make the travel experience more efficient and convenient
In this category, ideas are sought along the entire travel chain that offers clear added value for travellers – from booking and purchasing flights to loyalty programs and airport identification. The overriding goal is to make the travel experience more efficient and seamless.
Supplier Challenge
Make Supply Chain & Maintenance transparent and interconnected
This category is about ideas that have the potential to rethink maintenance and related aspects of the aviation supply chain – from document tracking and digitization to the transparent verification of documentation.
Idea submissions
Open until: 31/08/2018
Submit your idea or describe your solution and show us how you would change the aviation world using Blockchain! No matter at what stage, or where you are from, we welcome any idea offering solutions in one of our three categories.
PHASE 2
Mentoring & Pitch Preparation
All selected teams are granted the possibility to receive dedicated mentoring from our SAP Blockchain specialists and Lufthansa Innovation Hub experts focused on their special use case to take the idea to the next level!
Final Pitch
It’s time to take the stage for all finalists and convince the audience at Lufthansa Innovation Forum about your idea. Pitch in front of Lufthansa Group and SAP Senior Management and persuade the influential jury that your idea has the potential to change the travel industry!
- A Global stage for your idea incl. international press coverage and media awareness
- Potential pilot project with Lufthansa Group
- Professional mentoring for all shortlisted teams
- Possibility to pitch in front of senior management
- Coverage of travel expenses (up to 2500€ per team)
- Finalists can get access to Blockchain-as-a-Service from SAP in order to build or improve their MVP
- Office space for up to 3 months in the Berlin ecosystem – to work on your idea together with us.
Rules
There are hardly any restrictions, but there are a few things that matter for us:
- Early-stage startups are welcome just like any other team, without a registered company.
- All ideas should solve one problem of our three categories with a sharp Blockchain-based solution
- Just like Blockchain, good ideas are spread all over the world. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you are based in Germany or if your company was founded in Bora Bora
- Even if your home base is in Bora Bora, we need the finalists to be physically present at the Lufthansa Innovation Forum in Frankfurt, Germany 23. October 2018 to pitch your idea.
Deepak Krishnamurthy, chief strategy officer and executive vice president of SAP, will be co-sponsoring the first Aviation Blockchain Challenge.
“SAP is excited to partner with Lufthansa on this startup innovation challenge to reinvent the traveller experience, airline operations and supply chain with Blockchain. With our industry-leading SAP Leonardo Blockchain platform and Lufthansa’s market leadership and expertise in Aviation, we can foster a new innovation ecosystem that can potentially transform the entire travel industry,” Krishnamurthy said.
