Insights into the FLORA Project Phases , Date: 2023.03.27, format: Article, area: Authority

It was possible to set the stage for the FLORA support system in the first half of 2018, when a successful technical feasibility study (proof of concept) was carried out. This feasibility study was then followed from August 2018 onwards by the development of a pilot system for the location in Dresden, which was successfully piloted from April 2021 onwards with Saxony’s State Directorate (“Landesdirektion Sachsen”), and put into live operation in August 2022.

The BAMF is currently working to connect additional locations and states ("Bundesländer") to the FLORA support system, whilst at the same time continually expanding the functionalities of the system. It was possible for instance to include the use of the FLORA support system in the other locations in Saxony, namely in Chemnitz and Leipzig, as well as in Brandenburg, in the spring of 2023.

Project phase I – feasibility study (proof of concept)

Project phase I aimed to implement a proof of concept and to identify fundamental added values offered by using blockchain for the asylum procedure. The aim in concrete terms was to use the proof of concept to show how blockchain technology can support communication and cooperation between authorities in the asylum procedure. The proof of concept that was developed stored the current status changes in the individual asylum procedure of each displaced person. A change in status for instance indicates that the BAMF has already issued an asylum notice for the individual in question, and whether it was positive or negative. Other participating authorities can use this status to initiate their own processes. If the BAMF’s notice was positive, the competent immigration office can for instance issue a residence permit directly and with virtually no delay.

The proof of concept was developed along with a comprehensive technical, 'business value' and legal evaluation, the results of which can be found in the white paper entitled "Supporting communication and cooperation in the asylum procedure with Blockchain technology".

Project phase II – the pilot phase in Dresden

Project phase II was intended to develop and pilot a support system based on FLORA together with the BAMF’s branch office in Dresden and Saxony’s State Directorate.

The development of the pilot system was launched in August 2018, and it was followed from May 2020 onwards by a prolonged test phase involving preparing the FLORA support system for pilot operation. It was then ultimately possible to commence pilot operation in April 2021, and the FLORA support system supported staff at the BAMF’s branch office in Dresden and at Saxony’s State Directorate for the first time in processing asylum applications. The pilot phase enabled the FLORA support system to successfully prove its added value in technical terms, so that the system’s official live operation was initiated in August 2022.

The pilot phase was also accompanied by a comprehensive ‘business value’ evaluation. The results of this evaluation can be found in the white paper entitled "Piloting and evaluating the FLORA support system in the context of the AnkER facility in Dresden".