The World Bank Group's Technology and Innovation Lab, from Concept to Development: A Case Study in Leveraging an IT Department to Support Digital Transformation

Abstract

blockchain lab was launched in June 2017, largely as a result of the actions of a small but dedicated group of volunteers who were interested in how blockchain technology could be used to solve the world’s most difficult and intractable development challenges. This article describes the evolution of the blockchain lab from an informal working group to a fully staffed technology and innovation unit comprising two labs: one for blockchain and a second for artificial intelligence (AI). It also highlights, THE WORLD BANK GROUP’S TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION LAB, FROM CONCEPT TO DEVELOPMENT