The Ethereum Foundation is proud to announce the commencement of the Academic Grants Round 2024, signalling a renewed commitment to advancing research and innovation within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Through this initiative, the foundation offers a staggering $1 million allocated towards funding, to stimulate research that advances the Ethereum ecosystem by concentrating on a broad range of domains, including formal verification, p2p networking, economics, game theory, applied and theoretical cryptography, security, consensus protocols, and society and legislation.
Overview of Ethereum Foundation Academic Grants
Building upon the resounding success of the previous year’s grants round, which saw the funding of 43 projects spanning 20 countries, the Ethereum Foundation is poised to further amplify its support for academic endeavors. The 2023 round garnered an unprecedented 250 applications, indicative of the burgeoning interest within the global academic community towards Ethereum research.
In the Academic Grants Round 2024, the Ethereum Foundation is eager to expand its reach by inviting researchers and institutions from a more diverse range of countries to participate. Through this concerted effort, the Foundation seeks to nurture a vibrant ecosystem of academic research that addresses key challenges and unlocks new frontiers within Ethereum.
Benefits of Ethereum Foundation Academic Grants
The Ethereum Foundation Academic Grants Round 2024 offers substantial benefits to selected projects, including:
- Funding: With up to $1 million earmarked for distribution among chosen projects, recipients stand to receive significant financial support to advance their research agendas.
- Projects are envisaged to cover a duration of 6 to 12 months, allowing researchers ample time to delve deep into their respective areas of inquiry and produce impactful outcomes.
Requirements for Ethereum Foundation Academic Grants
To be eligible for consideration, for Ethereum Foundation Academic Grants, projects must meet the following criteria:
- Formal Academic Research: Projects must generate formal academic research to advance knowledge within the Ethereum ecosystem.
- Open-Access Output: Research outputs must be accessible to all, with a free and permissive license facilitating widespread dissemination of findings.
What is Not Eligible
- Illegal Activities: Any activities that contravene the legal framework of the jurisdiction in which the work is conducted are ineligible for funding.
- Financial Products and Services: Projects centered around financial products or services. Such as trading platforms or investment products, are not within the purview of this grants round.
- Art or Social Impact Projects: Endeavors that fall outside the scope of academic research within the specified domains will not be considered.
- Retroactive Funding: Requests for funding retroactively for work already completed are not permissible.
- Token Launch or Public Funding: Projects with plans for a token launch or seeking public funding are ineligible for consideration.
How to Apply
Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for the Ethereum Foundation Academic Grant should follow these steps to apply:
- Visit the Ethereum Foundation (EF) website at https://esp.ethereum.foundation/academic-grants/apply
- Prepare a written proposal in PDF format, ensuring that it includes a detailed description. Budget, and timeline for the proposed scope of work.
- Include an applicant profile, as well as a public repository or link to published work.
For more information, visit Ethereum Foundation website at https://esp.ethereum.foundation/academic-grants
Selection Criteria
Applications for Ethereum Foundation Academic Grants are evaluated based on:
- Impact of Research Output: The potential impact of the proposed research on advancing knowledge and addressing key challenges within the Ethereum ecosystem.
- Quality of Work and Experience: The expertise and track record of the research team in the relevant domains.
- Clarity and Organization: The clarity, conciseness, and organization of the proposal, ensuring that objectives and methodologies are articulated.
- Alignment with Wishlist Areas: The degree to which the proposed research aligns with the priority areas outlined by the Ethereum Foundation.
- Long-Term Involvement: The potential for sustained engagement and contribution to the Ethereum ecosystem beyond the duration of the grant.
- Visualizations: The inclusion of visualizations that aid in elucidating complex concepts for a non-technical audience.
Application Deadline
Submit your application before the deadline of Monday, March 4th, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does the Ethereum Foundation have an Indirect Costs Policy?
Yes, the Ethereum Foundation has an indirect costs policy in place for Academic Grants.
Who can submit proposals for the Academic Grants Round?
Academic institutions, consortia of universities, research centers, think tanks, and individuals with prior research experience are eligible to submit proposals.
What makes for a good proposal?
A good proposal should provide sufficient information regarding the research goals, the problem being addressed, and academic output. Previous research work, team composition, and estimations regarding time and budget.
What stage does my idea or project need to be in?
Ideas and projects at any stage of development are welcome, including the idea phase, proof-of-concept, work-in-progress, or fleshed-out projects.
What is the budget available for this round?
The grant round has up to $1 million available in total, which will be distributed among selected projects.
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