Bitfury, QEDIT and other blockchain firms recognized as Technology Pioneers by World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recently announced its selection of the most promising Technology Pioneers of 2019.

This year’s cohort lists 56 early to growth-stage companies that are pioneering new technologies and innovations ranging from the use of artificial intelligence to fight human trafficking, driverless trucks, quantum computing systems, compostable packaging, and blockchain solutions to tackle disinformation.

The focus areas of this year’s Tech Pioneers include agtech, smart cities, cleantech, supply chain, manufacturing, cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles and drones. The diversity of these companies extends to their leadership as well, as 25% of 2019 Tech Pioneers are female led.

Blockchain companies included in the selection include

• Bitfury: Focused on developing and delivering cutting-edge blockchain hardware and software solutions.
• Guangzhishu Technology: A provider of blockchain-based privacy-preserving computation solutions.
• QEDIT: An enterprise solution for preserving data privacy using Zero-Knowledge Proofs. The QEDIT protocol, based on zero-knowledge proof cryptography can be built on top of any public or permissioned blockchain. QEDIT’s privacy solution helps banks to ensure confidentiality when transferring assets on decentralized networks, and also enables companies to set up supply chain management systems with their whole ecosystem, while preserving confidentiality.
• Skuchain: Aims to empower enterprises to grow their global trade with blockchain.

“We’re excited to welcome QEDIT to this year’s innovative class of technology pioneers,” said Fulvia Montresor, Head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum. “QEDIT and its fellow pioneers are leaders in using novel technologies to transform their industries. We see great potential for these next generation companies to shape solutions to global challenges and improve society for years to come.”

Jonathan Rouach, CEO and Co-founder of QEDIT; Sarah Zhang, CEO of Points (Guangzhishu Technology); and others will be participating in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions. This meeting, also dubbed “Summer Davos” will be held in Dalian, China, July 1-3. Many Pioneers will also attend the Annual Meeting in Davos, in January 2020, and continue to contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years.

The WEF’s Technology Pioneers cohort of 2018 also included a number of blockchain firms including BitPesa, Everledger, EVRYTHNG, Grid Singularity, Horizon State, and Melonport.