Building trust: bridging technology with social interactions

Are you interested in how trust impacts digital transformation? Are you a social science, information systems/security, or supply chain expert? If so, then please join us on 27th March 2025 in Bristol for a SPRITE+-funded event to discuss how digital transformation impacts trust building in organisations. 

The workshop is titled "Building Trust: Bridging Technology with Social Interactions" and seeks to explore strategies for addressing imminent trust-building challenges by drawing on insights from the conveners’ recent study, which explores the intersection of socially-enabled and technology-enabled trust-building.

Keynote speaker: Dr Svetlana Abramova

Dr Svetlana Abramova is a scientist at the Austrian Institute of Technology affiliated with the Digital Currency Ecosystems research group of the Complexity Science Hub since May 2024. She obtained her Ph.D. at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Innsbruck, where she continued her academic career as a postdoctoral researcher and assistant professor before joining the AIT.

Her research interests span empirical and theoretical perspectives on digital money, decentralized payment systems, security, and privacy, with a strong focus on economic, human, behavioral, and social aspects. She is particularly interested in interdisciplinary and multi-method research, at the frontier between computer science, data analytics, economics, and social sciences.

In particular, Svetlana has contributed to paving the way for behavioral research of the heterogeneous and globally dispersed cryptoasset ecosystem, exploring motives, socio-economic, and behavioral characteristics, security, and privacy risk perceptions of cryptoasset investors.

She has published in top-tier academic conferences, coordinated several research projects on a national and international level, co-organized the WEIS’23, and served on multiple program committees.

Key discussion points:

1. Has trust changed in the era of blockchain and central bank digital currencies? Dr Vahid Mirza Beiki (University of Surrey, UK)
2. What are the antecedents of trust building in the era of digital transformation? What is the social design that enables trust?  Dr Fabio Rocha de Neves (Edinburgh Napier, UK)
3. How can organisations and supply chains establish swift trust to support resilience? Prof. Nachiappan Subramanian - University of Sussex, UK.

Highlights:

1. Networking: Structured time for informal and formal discussions to foster collaborations among academics, industry experts, and professionals.
2. Social program: A catered lunch and dinner to provide a relaxed environment for further networking.

The space is limited to 30 participants. Do not miss this unique blend of interdisciplinary discussions! Thanks to SPRITE+, the event is FREE, and we are offering a few grants to cover travel costs for PhD candidates and postdocs. Please indicate to be considered for this in your registration, providing your journey details here. 

We invite attendees to:

• Contribute their perspectives and insights during interactive sessions.
• Engage in discussions with peers and experts.
• Share feedback on the presented concepts to refine trust-building strategies and models.

Draft Agenda
1. 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Registration and Welcome Coffee and rolls: Participants check in and receive badges/event materials
2. 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM: Opening remarks (Dr Aniekan Essien and Dr Nikolai Kazantsev)
3. 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM: Keynote Address
"Trust in the Era of Blockchain and Digital Currencies"
Speaker: Dr. Svetlana Abramova (Austrian Institute of Technology)
Focus: Behavioral, economic, and social aspects of trust in digital money systems.
4. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch Break
5. 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM: Opening - Afternoon
Speaker: Prof. Palie Smart - Associate PVC for Global and Civil Engagement (University of Bristol)
6a. 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM: Parallel Session 1: Trust in Blockchain and Digital Currencies
"Has Trust Changed in the Era of Blockchain and CBDCs?"
Speaker: Dr. Vahid Mirza Beiki (University of Surrey, UK)
Focus: Shifts in trust dynamics with blockchain and central bank digital currencies.
6b. 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM: Parallel Session 2: Social Design for Trust
"Antecedents of Trust-Building in Digital Transformation"
Speaker: Dr. Fabio Rocha de Neves (Edinburgh Napier University, UK)
Focus: Social designs that foster trust in digital ecosystems.
6c. 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM: Parallel Session 3: Swift Trust in Supply Chains
"Establishing Swift Trust for Resilient Organizations"
Speaker: Prof. Nachiappan Subramanian (University of Sussex, UK)
Focus: Strategies for fostering swift trust to enhance supply chain resilience.
7. Coffee Break 2:15 PM - 2:30 PM:
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Panel Discussion
"Bridging Technology with Social Interactions to Build Trust"
Panelists include all speakers. Moderated discussion on interdisciplinary approaches to trust-building.
8. 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Closing Remarks
Summary of insights and future directions for research and practice. Networking opportunity for attendees.