Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IMLThe SKALA project addresses the development of scalable artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain solutions that enable companies to quickly leverage the interaction between AI and blockchain technology.
SKALA: Skalierbare KI- und Blockchain-Lösungen
The goal is to equip companies with flexible, high-tech solutions to optimize processes in production, logistics, and supply chain management in a profitable, efficient, and sustainable manner. The research question focuses on the synergistic interaction of AI and blockchain technology to overcome existing challenges in digital transformation and how low-effort implementation can be achieved, especially in companies. Artificial intelligence analyzes large amounts of data and makes automated decisions. Blockchain technology stores this data securely and transparently. Together, these technologies enable transparent and efficient control of processes in value networks.
How can AI and Blockchain automate value networks?
Many companies work with isolated IT solutions and face the challenge of automating processes securely and efficiently across company boundaries. The SKALA project addresses the question of how scalable AI and blockchain solutions can create an open, interoperable network that enables transparency, sovereignty, and high speed in production, logistics, and supply chain management, and provides concrete answers to real problems in real processes.
Project goal: Scalable AI and blockchain solutions for the logistics industry of the future
The overall goal of the SKALA project is the synergistic interaction of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. Scalable AI and blockchain solutions are intended to enable companies to achieve secure and trustworthy process automation and autonomization – from the shop floor to the network level. The focus is on open source components such as software modules, AI models, smart contracts, and adapters for connecting third-party systems. Open source means that the developed software components are freely available. Companies can use, adapt, and jointly develop them.
These components enable the networking of processes in production, logistics, and supply chain management throughout Germany and Europe. The SKALA project takes a modular approach: all solutions can be combined and integrated into existing IT infrastructures via standardized interfaces.
The project addresses key challenges such as interoperability, data integrity, verification, and compliance. The combination of AI and Blockchain creates solutions that are particularly accessible and usable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Project profile
| Project | SKALA Project – Scalable AI and Blockchain Solutions for automation and autonomization in value creation networks |
|---|---|
| Duration | June 2024 – December 2025 |
| Funding | Approximately 5 million euros |
| Funding | German Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation |
| Cooperation partners | Fraunhofer IML, Fraunhofer ISST, TU Dortmund University (Chair of Corporate Logistics, Chair of Materials Handling and Warehousing) |
| Project management | Fraunhofer IML |
“The combination of AI and blockchain offers enormous potential for optimizing processes, increasing transparency, and significantly improving efficiency in supply chains. Our goal is to provide concrete answers to real problems in real processes. ”
Dr.-Ing. Maximilian Austerjost, Project Manager, SKALA Project, Fraunhofer IML
The role of research partners in the SKALA project
| Fraunhofer IML | Development of AI and blockchain components, open source publication, community building |
|---|---|
| Fraunhofer ISST | Data spaces, data management, open source development |
| TU Dortmund (LFO, FLW) | Development and validation of AI methods, demonstrators, scientific support |
LogiDO as an implementation platform
LogiDO provides companies with a platform that specifically supports them in transferring the solutions developed in the SKALA project into their own practice. LogiDO offers tools, guidelines, and integration aids to facilitate the application, integration, and implementation of the open source components from SKALA. This accelerates the transfer of research results into industrial applications and provides companies with concrete support in implementation.
