Siemens, recognized as Europe’s largest industrial technology company, is at the forefront of innovation as it collaborates with distributor ledgers for the Internet of Things (IoT) builder, Minima. This strategic partnership aims to integrate blockchain technology into Siemens’ devices across various sectors, including automotive, robotics, and energy.
Working alongside Siemens’ Cre8Ventures division, an initiative dedicated to accelerating industrial transformation through collaborations with startups in artificial intelligence, digital twins, cybersecurity, and more, this alliance heralds a new era of technological advancement. The companies jointly announced this initiative in a press release on Tuesday.
The evolution of computing capabilities, progressing towards the edges of networks, has underscored the necessity for enhanced security and data integrity within these edge devices. Here, IoT-level blockchains provide a critical solution. As noted by Minima CEO Hugo Feiler, this represents a fascinating transformation in the perception of blockchain technology, which was once seen as contrary to the interests of large enterprises due to its decentralized nature, which tends to eliminate various intermediaries.
Feiler stated in an interview, “But as power goes to the edge on these devices, even large enterprise clients need to ensure resilience through that. Therefore, the ability for these significant enterprises to operate a decentralized system is mission-critical for them. Decentralization is not merely about removing middlemen; it also enables them to extend their reach and improve service delivery.”
Last year, Minima revealed its collaboration with semiconductor giant ARM to develop a microchip equipped with a decentralized ledger embedded within it. This partnership with Siemens complements Minima’s prior work with ARM and advances the objectives of the European Union’s Chips Act, introduced in 2022, which aims to diminish reliance on foreign chip manufacturers.
“Minima allows IoT devices to function as full nodes, enabling them to independently engage in a blockchain network without the need for external servers or centralized intermediaries. This innovation eliminates central points of failure and guarantees fully decentralized security, data integrity, and trustless verification,” a Siemens representative stated. “Our collaboration introduces cutting-edge AI capabilities, data integrity, and decentralized trust mechanisms to the Siemens Cre8Ventures Digital Twin Marketplace.”
