CY-Chain

CY Initiative project, funded by Cergy Paris Université

Funding Organisation : CY Initiative - Cergy Paris Université
Amount of funding : 186 k€
implementation period : 09/2025 – 08/2028 (36 months)
Chief Scientific Coordinator : Patrick Barban (CY - Cergy Paris University)
Local Scientific Coordinators for Le Havre Normandy University : Cyrille Bertelle et Claude Duvallet

Partners

  • LEJEP - Laboratoire d’études juridiques et politique (CY Cergy Paris UniversitĂ©)
  • FSM - Fondation des sciences de la modĂ©lisation (Y Cergy Paris UniversitĂ©)
  • LITIS – Laboratoire d’Informatique, du Traitement de l’Information et des Systèmes (UniversitĂ© Le Havre Normandie)
  • LERN - Laboratoire d’économie Rouen Noramndie (UniversitĂ© Rouen Normandie)

Project Description

Blockchain-based contracting is the process of recording pre-existing contractual commitments on the blockchain, with a view to optimising contract performance. Blockchain technology enables contractual commitments to be integrated onto the blockchain in order to benefit from the technology’s features relating to evidence and automation. These features facilitate contract performance by incorporating certain contractual clauses onto the blockchain.

The project builds on the findings of a previous project examining the barriers to blockchain-based contracting. The consortium, comprising the universities of Cergy, Le Havre and Rouen, aims to continue this work by refining the use cases for blockchain technology in the context of contractual commitments.

Two approaches are therefore being considered.

  • The first relates to the difficulties involved in transcribing the existing off-chain contract to integrate it on-chain. The risks of incorrect translation must be minimised to prevent faulty smart contracts from being implemented. The use of artificial intelligence may help to facilitate this transcription and boost user confidence. This research will also draw on a case study using an example of contractual coding proposed by the INCOTERMS published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to define the allocation of risks and costs in contracts for the carriage of goods. This case study needs to be rolled out on a larger scale and integrated into suitable software.
  • The second relates to payment difficulties, in connection with the current transformation of currency as envisaged by the European institutions. The study of these transformations will help to strengthen blockchain-based payment methods and lead to the development of suitable software for blockchain-based contracting aimed at businesses.