DSF Grants

The DSF runs grant programs to empower stakeholders in its University Network. These grant programs are in the areas of research, education and innovation. You can learn more about the general types of programs we run and fund on this page.

About our grants

All open grant opportunities are outlined below. These grants include specific information related to their purpose, eligibility criteria, size, and any other pertinent information.
Grant calls are typically open for a fixed period of time and may or may not have a rolling application assessment process. Grant applications are evaluated in respect of the grant terms and initially evaluated for suitability and completeness of application. Once you submit a grant application you should be contacted within five working days to confirm successful submission.
If successful at this first stage, the grants are evaluated by a team of DSF Scientists before being passed on to the DSF Grant-giving Committee which will provide recommendations on the suitability of grant applications for awards. At the final stage, successful grantees are notified and a grant contracting process takes place.
You’ll be updated about the grant evaluation process as it is ongoing.
Grants are subject to being paid in tranches, with tranche payments only being made on successful performance.

General eligibility criteria

Specific eligibility criteria are contained in the individual grant program information.

Current Open Grant Programs

Contents
  • Purpose
  • Eligibility criteria
  • Assessment criteria and application form
  • Finance and budget
  • Duration
  • Application process
  • Grant agreement
  • Post award monitoring
  • Payment terms
  • Contact details
1. Purpose

This Call aims to promote three major educational activities on distributed ledger technologies. Applications are expected to be for running multiple programs over at least a three-month period (not one-off events/programs):

Activity 1: Blockchain for Executive Education programs

Applications to design and run a series of blockchain programs for executives and business leaders who want to learn about blockchain technology and its potential applications in their organisations.

Education Program Themes

Introduction to blockchain technology:

This may include an overview of how blockchain technology works, its key features and benefits, and its potential applications in different industries.

Cryptocurrencies:

This may include an overview of how cryptocurrencies work, their impact on the financial industry, and the different types of cryptocurrencies available.

Smart Contracts:

This may include an introduction to smart contracts, how they work, and their potential applications in different industries.

Token design:

This may include an overview of what token economics is and why it is important in the context of blockchain-based systems. It should also include an explanation of how tokens are designed and how the characteristics of a token can impact its value and functionality.

Decentralised applications:

This may include an overview of decentralised applications (DApps), how they differ from traditional applications, and their potential applications in different industries.

Blockchain security:

This may include an overview of blockchain security, including the different types of attacks that can be launched against a blockchain network, and how to protect against them.

Blockchain governance:

This may include an introduction to blockchain governance, including how decisions are made on a blockchain network, and the different types of governance models that can be used.

Blockchain integration:

This may include an overview of how blockchain can be integrated with existing systems and technologies, and the potential benefits and challenges of such integration.

Industry-specific applications:

Many blockchain executive programs may focus on specific industries, such as finance, healthcare, supply chain, and others, and explore how blockchain can be applied in these industries.

Blockchain and other emerging technologies:

Blockchain can be combined with other emerging technologies to create new use cases. These executive programs can showcase how and when to combine these emerging technologies together.

Web 3.0:

This may include an explanation of the key features of Web 3.0, such as interoperability, decentralisation, and semantic web technologies.  This may also include a discussion of the challenges and opportunities presented by Web 3.0, such as data privacy, interoperability, and governance.

Cryptocurrencies:

This may include an overview of how cryptocurrencies work, their impact on the financial industry, and the different types of cryptocurrencies available.

Smart Contracts:

This may include an introduction to smart contracts, how they work, and their potential applications in different industries.

Token design:

This may include an overview of what token economics is and why it is important in the context of blockchain-based systems. It should also include an explanation of how tokens are designed and how the characteristics of a token can impact its value and functionality.

Decentralised applications:

This may include an overview of decentralised applications (DApps), how they differ from traditional applications, and their potential applications in different industries.

Blockchain security:

This may include an overview of blockchain security, including the different types of attacks that can be launched against a blockchain network, and how to protect against them.

Blockchain governance:

This may include an introduction to blockchain governance, including how decisions are made on a blockchain network, and the different types of governance models that can be used.

Blockchain integration:

This may include an overview of how blockchain can be integrated with existing systems and technologies, and the potential benefits and challenges of such integration.

Industry-specific applications:

Many blockchain executive programs may focus on specific industries, such as finance, healthcare, supply chain, and others, and explore how blockchain can be applied in these industries.

Blockchain and other emerging technologies:

Blockchain can be combined with other emerging technologies to create new use cases. These executive programs can showcase how and when to combine these emerging technologies together.

Web 3.0:

This may include an explanation of the key features of Web 3.0, such as interoperability, decentralisation, and semantic web technologies.  This may also include a discussion of the challenges and opportunities presented by Web 3.0, such as data privacy, interoperability, and governance.

Expected number of programs, learning hours and students:

Typical program format (learning hours)
Number of programs
Number of students/learners per program
Individual program duration
From 6 hours to 12 hours
More than 12 hours 
> 3
> 15
> 2
> 20

Activity 2: Developer education and student and professionals learning events

These education events could include one of more of the following programs:

Event Themes

Developer coding bootcamps:

Description: Intensive training programs designed to equip aspiring developers with the necessary skills to succeed in the industry.

Goals: To provide practical and hands-on experience for participants to learn programming languages and frameworks, build real-world projects, and network with peers and mentors in the field.

Format: Instructor-led sessions, individual and team-based projects, mentorship and support, networking opportunities.

Reading groups

Description: Structured discussion groups centred around a particular topic or theme, with assigned readings and facilitated conversations.

Goals: To foster intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and deeper understanding of complex concepts.

Format: Regular meetings, assigned readings, discussion questions, facilitator-led conversations, peer feedback.

Research symposiums and dissemination

Description: Conferences or workshops that showcase research findings and promote knowledge sharing and collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders.

Goals: To promote the dissemination of research findings, facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, and advance the state of knowledge in a particular field.

Format: Keynote speeches, panel discussions, poster sessions, paper presentations, networking opportunities.

Lunch and learns

Description: Informal learning sessions held during lunch breaks or other designated times, often led by experts in a particular field or topic.

Goals: To provide accessible and convenient learning opportunities for busy professionals, facilitate knowledge sharing and networking, and promote continuous learning.

Format: Informal presentations, Q&A sessions, peer-to-peer discussions, networking opportunities.

Challenge-based initiatives

Description: Competitions or events that challenge participants to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems or industry-specific challenges.

Goals: To promote practical education and skills development, encourage creativity and innovation, and foster collaboration and teamwork.

Format: Challenge statements, time-limited competitions, project showcases and demos, peer feedback and mentorship, networking opportunities.

Industry tool provider workshops

Description: Training sessions or workshops led by experts from industry tool providers, aimed at educating participants on the latest tools and technologies used in the field.

Goals: To provide practical knowledge and hands-on experience with industry-specific tools and technologies, and promote best practices and standards.

Format: Instructor-led sessions, hands-on activities and demonstrations, peer feedback and support, and networking opportunities.

Lab practicals

Description: Practical demonstrations and hands-on learning on blockchain technology

Goals: For students to complement their courses or to introduce technical aspects of blockchain to learners (students, professionals etc).

Format: Single lab sessions or multiple sessions led by instructors in-person or online

Sponsorship for students to work on OSS projects

Description: Programs that provide funding and mentorship for students to contribute to open-source software projects.

Goals: To promote practical education and skills development, encourage community engagement and contribution, and support the development of open-source software.

Format: Mentorship and support from open-source project leaders, project-based work, peer feedback and support, networking opportunities.

Student & company project collaboration

Description: A collaborative project that brings together students and industry professionals to work on real-world projects.

Goal: Through this program, students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to practical projects while receiving guidance and mentorship from experienced professionals. Industry professionals, on the other hand, will benefit from fresh perspectives and innovative ideas from students while helping them to gain valuable industry experience.

Format: call for project proposals from industry professionals, student applications, project selection, team matching, project work with check-ins and feedback, and project presentations.

Reading groups

Description: Structured discussion groups centred around a particular topic or theme, with assigned readings and facilitated conversations.

Goals: To foster intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and deeper understanding of complex concepts.

Format: Regular meetings, assigned readings, discussion questions, facilitator-led conversations, peer feedback.

Research symposiums and dissemination

Description: Conferences or workshops that showcase research findings and promote knowledge sharing and collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders.

Goals: To promote the dissemination of research findings, facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, and advance the state of knowledge in a particular field.

Format: Keynote speeches, panel discussions, poster sessions, paper presentations, networking opportunities.

Lunch and learns

Description: Informal learning sessions held during lunch breaks or other designated times, often led by experts in a particular field or topic.

Goals: To provide accessible and convenient learning opportunities for busy professionals, facilitate knowledge sharing and networking, and promote continuous learning.

Format: Informal presentations, Q&A sessions, peer-to-peer discussions, networking opportunities.

Challenge-based initiatives

Description: Competitions or events that challenge participants to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems or industry-specific challenges.

Goals: To promote practical education and skills development, encourage creativity and innovation, and foster collaboration and teamwork.

Format: Challenge statements, time-limited competitions, project showcases and demos, peer feedback and mentorship, networking opportunities.

Industry tool provider workshops

Description: Training sessions or workshops led by experts from industry tool providers, aimed at educating participants on the latest tools and technologies used in the field.

Goals: To provide practical knowledge and hands-on experience with industry-specific tools and technologies, and promote best practices and standards.

Format: Instructor-led sessions, hands-on activities and demonstrations, peer feedback and support, and networking opportunities.

Lab practicals

Description: Practical demonstrations and hands-on learning on blockchain technology

Goals: For students to complement their courses or to introduce technical aspects of blockchain to learners (students, professionals etc).

Format: Single lab sessions or multiple sessions led by instructors in-person or online

Sponsorship for students to work on OSS projects

Description: Programs that provide funding and mentorship for students to contribute to open-source software projects.

Goals: To promote practical education and skills development, encourage community engagement and contribution, and support the development of open-source software.

Format: Mentorship and support from open-source project leaders, project-based work, peer feedback and support, networking opportunities.

Student & company project collaboration

Description: A collaborative project that brings together students and industry professionals to work on real-world projects.

Goal: Through this program, students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to practical projects while receiving guidance and mentorship from experienced professionals. Industry professionals, on the other hand, will benefit from fresh perspectives and innovative ideas from students while helping them to gain valuable industry experience.

Format: call for project proposals from industry professionals, student applications, project selection, team matching, project work with check-ins and feedback, and project presentations.

Expected number of programs/events, running hours and students:

Typical event format (running hours)
Numbers of programs
Number of students/learners per program
Indivual events/sessions
Up to 3 hours
More than 3 hours 
> 4
> 15
> 3
> 15

Activity 3: On/offline university credited modules on DLT

Credit based modules and courses inside Universities, or the development of education materials including case studies.
Description:
The on/offline university credited modules program involves the development and delivery of credit-based modules inside universities. These modules can be delivered online or offline and cover various topics relevant to distributed ledger technologies and other emerging digital technologies. Additionally, the program may also involve the development of educational materials such as case studies, readings, and assignments to support the delivery of the modules.
Goal:
The goal of the on/offline university credited modules program is to provide students with high-quality educational content that meets the needs of the academic disciplines offered by the university. The program aims to leverage technology and innovative pedagogical methods to create engaging, accessible, and effective learning experiences that promote deep understanding and skill acquisition. Additionally, the program seeks to provide a platform for faculty members to share their expertise, research, and best practices with students in a structured and systematic manner.

Expected number of students per course:

Accredited course learning hours
Number of students/learners per program
Course duration
Up to 75 hours
More than 75 hours 
> 15
> 20

2. Eligibility criteria

  • Each project must name one Principal Educator (PE) who is the lead applicant. The PE will be responsible for developing and delivering the project and reporting on the outcomes and budget usage. Each proposal must have a minimum of two applicants.
  • The lead applicant must be affiliated with a DSF University Network member.
  • Senior academics/educators with a proven track record in blockchain education and a history of working with the blockchain industry.
  • Developer academies working with Universities.
  • Undergraduate/Graduate education program directors and module leaders.

3. Assessment criteria and application form

Each of the sections in the application must be completed according to the application form guidance below. Applicants are encouraged to consider the relevant sections below when completing the application. 
Fundable applications will be reviewed by technical and expert reviewers; therefore, it is important that the application is written in a way which is suitable for reviewers of differing expertise.

4. Finance and budget

Total grant amount and research activity period
A total of up to USD 1,300,000 (USD One Million Three Hundred Thousand equivalent) is available for this round of Education Grants funding. Funding will be awarded to projects that run for a period of up to 12 months (starting from the award of the grant).
Amount and call application window 
Applicants are permitted to apply for up to USD 250,000 (USD Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand equivalent) over a  6-month period from the date of this Call. The amount of funding allocated to each applicant will be determined by the scale, nature and quality of the activities to be conducted through the proposed project.

The number of applicants to be awarded has not been pre-determined. The number of awards will reflect the quality of the applications, and the need to provide appropriate funding to deliver the supported programs of work. Applicants will be funded on a rolling basis until the budget is exhausted.
Eligible costs
The grant scheme covers directly incurred costs (direct costs are those eligible project costs that will be incurred by the awardee in carrying out the project work (eg. project-specific clerical and faculty staff, consultancy costs, software licensing costs, technical staff, travel, consumables or equipment costing less than USD 15,000 (USD Fifteen Thousand equivalent) and the salary costs associated with the PEs and collaborators estimated time on the project. Subsidising student costs for events or courses are also acceptable costs. These costs will be charged as the amount that will be spent and could be supported by an audit record. Any funding requested shall only be awarded to named individuals or companies who are in the submitted budget. 
Ineligible costs
The funding is not intended to meet indirect, estates and generic administrative costs including overheads, rent, utilities etc. associated with the proposed project award.

5. Duration

The grant call will remain open until 31 August 2023 (or until all the funding is exhausted).
The education project should last for a maximum of 12 months from the awarding date.

6. Application process

  • Applications are open for submission on a rolling basis.
  • The call will close on 31 August 2023. However, the call may close earlier if many applications are received or once all available funding has been allocated. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  
  • Applicants are invited to submit an application that will undergo a review process carried out by a pool of reviewers. The reviewers are composed of DSF Scientists and the Grant Giving committee.
  • Grants will be reviewed against a set of assessment criteria that match the application form.
  • Applicants will be notified of the funding decisions around 2 to 4 weeks from the Grant Giving committee decision meeting.
  • Applications are treated as confidential, and all steps are taken to ensure confidentiality is maintained. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for further details. 
Typical Date/Time Frame   List of Activities
Submission Date (A)   Application submitted
(B) 
A + 2 days 
Acknowledgement of submitted applications
(C)
B + 5 days 
Initial eligibility criteria check and documental verification of submitted applications
(D)
C+ 2-4 weeks 
Peer-review of submitted applications
(E)
D + 2-4 week 
Grant Giving committee review and decision meeting
PEs are notified via email by DSF
(F)
E + 1 week 
Successful applicants must notify acceptance of the general award conditions by sending an email to grants@dltscience.org
 (G)
F + 1-2 weeks
The grant award process will start with KYC checklist, due diligence and issuance of the Grant Agreement

7. Grant agreement

Applicants should refer to the Grant Terms and Conditions. If awarded, awardees will enter a Grant Agreement with DSF. The terms in the Grant Agreement are standard and non-negotiable. Upon acceptance of a grant award, applicants agree to be bound by these terms.

8. Post award monitoring

Typical funding and reporting guidelines post-award are shown below. 
Typical funding and reporting requirements based on the funding amount and the project length. Payments will be tranched and follow on payments will only occur on successful progression of the project
Funding amount and payment terms
Less than
USD 250,000 (equivalent)
More than
USD 250,000 (equivalent)
Length of project

Less than six months
More than six months


75% upfront payment 
25% paid on receipt of a satisfactory final report
50% upfront payment 
30% paid on receipt of a satisfactory midterm  report 
20% on receipt of a satisfactory final report
50% upfront payment
30% paid on receipt of a satisfactory mid term report and 
20% paid on receipt of a satisfactory final report
50% upfront payment 
20% paid on receipt of satisfactory Q1 report
10% paid on receipt of satisfactory Q2 report
10% paid on receipt of satisfactory Q3 report
10% paid on receipt of satisfactory final report
The format of the reports is free but they must include the details of the results obtained up to that point, activities carried on and both the expenses already incurred and the indication of the costs, as much as possible documented, which are expected to incur until the end of the project.

9. Payment terms

Payments are made in tranches according to the table above. The unit of account is in USD (equivalent). Applicants understand and agree that projects must start and follow their timelines submitted and should not be contingent on payments to begin or continue.

10. Contact details

For further information please contact us at grants@dltscience.org.
Contents
  • Purpose
  • Eligibility criteria
  • Assessment criteria and application form
  • Finance and budget
  • Duration
  • Application process
  • Grant agreement
  • Post award monitoring
  • Payment terms
  • Contact details
1. Purpose

This Call aims to promote research on distributed ledger technologies to tackle two major Grand Challenges that the blockchain communities suffered over the last decade:

Theme 1: Restoring trust in blockchain and crypto through research

The blockchain and cryptocurrency industry has faced challenges with scams, frauds, and security breaches, leading to a loss of trust among investors and the wider public. As part of our efforts to restore trust in this industry, we are calling for research proposals on the following areas:

Research areas

Combatting scammers, pump and dumps, ponzi schemes, and other frauds

We welcome proposals that develop innovative solutions to detect, prevent, and prosecute those who engage in fraudulent activities in the blockchain and crypto space. This includes scammers, pump-and-dump schemes, Ponzi schemes, and other types of fraud.

Addressing trolls, bots, and spammers in crypto social media

We invite proposals that tackle the problem of trolls, bots, and spammers in social media platforms related to blockchain and cryptocurrency. We encourage innovative ideas that can effectively detect and mitigate the impact of these activities on the broader community.

Enhancing security and fighting sybil and hacking attacks

We seek proposals that develop novel approaches to enhance security in the blockchain and crypto ecosystem. This includes solutions to prevent sybil attacks, hacking attempts, and other malicious activities that compromise the integrity of the system. We are particularly interested in ideas that leverage advanced technologies such as machine learning and AI.

Addressing selfish mining and ensuring equitable POS reward incentives

We are interested in proposals that tackle the problem of selfish mining in proof-of-work (POW) systems and address the need for equitable reward incentives in proof-of-stake (POS) systems. We welcome ideas that can provide a fair and transparent mechanism for mining and incentivisation, while preventing abuse and centralisation.

Addressing trolls, bots, and spammers in crypto social media

We invite proposals that tackle the problem of trolls, bots, and spammers in social media platforms related to blockchain and cryptocurrency. We encourage innovative ideas that can effectively detect and mitigate the impact of these activities on the broader community.

Enhancing security and fighting sybil and hacking attacks

We seek proposals that develop novel approaches to enhance security in the blockchain and crypto ecosystem. This includes solutions to prevent sybil attacks, hacking attempts, and other malicious activities that compromise the integrity of the system. We are particularly interested in ideas that leverage advanced technologies such as machine learning and AI.

Addressing selfish mining and ensuring equitable POS reward incentives

We are interested in proposals that tackle the problem of selfish mining in proof-of-work (POW) systems and address the need for equitable reward incentives in proof-of-stake (POS) systems. We welcome ideas that can provide a fair and transparent mechanism for mining and incentivisation, while preventing abuse and centralisation.

Overall, we seek proposals that can contribute to building a more secure, transparent, and trustworthy blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem. We encourage researchers from different disciplines and backgrounds to submit their ideas and collaborate to address these challenges.

Theme 2. New economic, regulation and governance models for the Web 3.0 economy

The new Web 3.0 economy is still without fundamental and sound theory with respect to economics, governance, regulation and pricing. This call seeks to extend or create new fundamental thinking on theory to underly the new Web 3.0 economy.

Research area

Digital asset economics

We invite proposals on new asset pricing theories for cryptocurrencies, tokens and understanding market microstructures, yield products and asset portfolio design for Web 3.0.

The DeFi economy

We invite proposals on decentralised financial products and services, designing incentives mechanisms for distributed systems, the DeFi economy and the convergence of CeFi and DeFi.

Web3. Business models and governance

We invite proposals on new token business models and governance of blockchain ecosystems looking particularly at decentralisation and its benefits and measuring this. We encourage research on decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) as a new form of governance.

Regulation the Web 3.0 economy

We invite proposals that seek to create new regulatory models: automating regulation and compliance and provide guidance on regulatory changes that will promote innovation in the new Web 3.0 economy whilst maintaining protection for consumers and economic systems.

The DeFi economy

We invite proposals on decentralised financial products and services, designing incentives mechanisms for distributed systems, the DeFi economy and the convergence of CeFi and DeFi.

Web3. Business models and governance

We invite proposals on new token business models and governance of blockchain ecosystems looking particularly at decentralisation and its benefits and measuring this. We encourage research on decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) as a new form of governance.

Regulation the Web 3.0 economy

We invite proposals that seek to create new regulatory models: automating regulation and compliance and provide guidance on regulatory changes that will promote innovation in the new Web 3.0 economy whilst maintaining protection for consumers and economic systems.

This call for research proposals presents a grand challenge to extend or create new fundamental thinking on theory to underly the new Web 3.0 economy. Through investigating digital asset economics, DeFi, Web3 business models and governance, and regulation, this call seeks to promote innovation and understanding in the emerging Web 3.0 economy while maintaining protection for consumers and economic systems. We encourage researchers to submit proposals that are innovative, practical, and have real-world applications.

2. Eligibility criteria

  • Each project must name one Principal Investigator (PI) who is the lead applicant. The PI will be responsible for the development and delivery of the project and the reporting on the outcomes and budget usage. Each proposal must have a minimum of two applicants.
  • The lead applicant must be affiliated to a DSF University Network member.
  • General research grants are open to all academics. There may also be specific research grants for Junior Academics (PhD or PostDoc) and Senior Academics (Professorial level)

3. Assessment criteria and application form

Each of the sections in the application must be completed according to the application form guidance below. Applicants are encouraged to consider the relevant sections below when completing the application.

Fundable applications will be reviewed by technical and expert reviewers; therefore, it is important that the application is written in a way which is suitable for reviewers of differing expertise.

4. Finance and budget

A Total grant amount and research activity period

total of up to USD 1,700,000 (USD One Million Seven Hundred Thousand equivalent) is available for this round of Research Grants funding. Funding will be awarded to projects that run for a period of up to 12 months (starting from the award of the grant).

Amount and call application window

Applicants are permitted to apply for up to USD 300,000 (USD Three Hundred Thousand equivalent) over a  6 month period from the date of this Call. The amount of funding allocated to each applicant will be determined by the scale, nature and quality of the activities to be conducted through the proposed project.

The number of applicants to be awarded has not been pre-determined. The number of awards will reflect the quality of the applications, and the need to provide appropriate funding to deliver the supported programs of work. Applicants will be funded on a rolling basis until the budget is exhausted.

Eligible costs

The grant scheme covers Directly Incurred costs (Direct costs are those eligible project costs that will be incurred by the awardee in carrying out the project work (eg. project-specific research staff, consultancy costs, software licensing costs, technical staff, travel, consumables or equipment costing less than USD 15,000 (USD Fifteen Thousand equivalent) and the salary costs associated with the PIs and collaborators estimated time on the project. These costs will be charged as the amount that will be spent and could be supported by an audit record. Any funding requested shall only be awarded to named individuals or companies who are in the submitted budget. 

Ineligible costs

The funding is not intended to meet indirect, estates and generic administrative costs including overheads, rent, utilities etc. associated with the proposed project award

5. Duration

The grant call will remain open unitl 31 August 2023 (or until all the funding is exhausted).
The research project should last for a maximum of 12 months from the awarding date.

6. Application process

  • Applications are open for submission on a rolling basis.
  • The call will close on 31 August 2023. However, the call may close earlier if many applications are received or once all available funding has been allocated. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  
  • Applicants are invited to submit an application that will undergo a review process carried out by a pool of reviewers. The reviewers are composed of DSF Scientists and the Grant-giving committee.
  • Grants will be reviewed against a set of assessment criteria that match the application form.
  • Applications are treated as confidential, and all steps are taken to ensure confidentiality is maintained. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for further details.
  • Applicants will be notified of the funding decisions around two-to-four weeks from the Grant-Giving Committee decision meeting.
Typical Date/Time Frame   List of Activities
Submission Date (A)   Application submitted
(B) 
A + 2 days 
Acknowledgement of submitted applications
(C)
B + 5 days 
Initial eligibility criteria check and documental verification of submitted applications
(D)
C+ 2-4 weeks 
Peer-review of submitted applications
(E)
D + 2-4 week 
Grant-giving committee review and decision meeting
PIs are notified via email by DSF
(F)
E + 1 week 
Successful applicants must notify acceptance of the general award conditions by sending an email to grants@dltscience.org
 (G)
F + 1-2 weeks
The grant award process will start with KYC checklist, due diligence and issuance of the Grant Agreement

7. Grant agreement

Applicants should refer to the Grant Terms and Conditions. If awarded, awardees will enter a Grant Agreement with DSF. The terms in the Grant Agreement are standard and non-negotiable. Upon acceptance of a grant award, applicants agree to be bound by these terms.

8. Post award monitoring

Typical funding and reporting guidelines post-award are shown below.
Typical funding and reporting requirements based on the funding amount and the project length. Payments will be tranched and follow on payments will only occur on successful progression of the project
Funding amount and payment terms
Less than
USD 250,000 (equivalent)
More than
USD 250,000 (equivalent)
Length of project

Less than six months
More than six months


75% upfront payment 
25% paid on receipt of a satisfactory final report
50% upfront payment 
30% paid on receipt of a satisfactory midterm  report 
20% on receipt of a satisfactory final report
50% upfront payment
30% paid on receipt of a satisfactory mid term report and 
20% paid on receipt of a satisfactory final report
50% upfront payment 
20% paid on receipt of satisfactory Q1 report
10% paid on receipt of satisfactory Q2 report
10% paid on receipt of satisfactory Q3 report
10% paid on receipt of satisfactory final report
The format of the reports is free but they must include the details of the results obtained up to that point, activities carried on and both the expenses already incurred and the indication of the costs, as much as possible documented, which are expected to incur until the end of the project.

9. Post award monitoring

Payments are made in tranches according to the table above. The unit of account is in USD (equivalent). Applicants understand and agree that projects must start and follow their timelines submitted and should not be contingent on payments to begin or continue.

10. Contact details

For further information please contact us at grants@dltscience.org.
Contents
  • Purpose
  • Eligibility criteria
  • Assessment criteria and application form
  • Finance and budget
  • Duration
  • Application process
  • Grant agreement
  • Post award monitoring
  • Payment terms
  • Contact details
1. Purpose

This Call aims to promote innovation activities on distributed ledger technologies around Four Major Areas that are of interest to the industry community:

Area 1: OSS projects for Web3 community

The grant program could be open to developers and teams within universities that are actively contributing to the development of open-source blockchain software in the following areas: 
  • security and user experience
  • secure key management
  • vault and custodial solutions
  • Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) solutions
  • interoperability
  • content management systems
  • Enterprise Resource Planning systems
The format of the open-source blockchain-related projects can vary depending on the specific project's goals and objectives. However, in general, such projects should adhere to the following principles:
Open Source License:

The project should be licensed under an open-source license that allows other developers to use, modify, and distribute the software freely.

Modularity: The project should be modular and designed to enable easy integration with other blockchain-related software.

Documentation:

The project should have clear and comprehensive documentation that explains how to use, deploy, and contribute to the software.

Security:

The project should prioritise security by adhering to industry best practices and conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.

Scalability:

The project should be designed to be scalable, ensuring that it can handle large volumes of data and transactions without compromising performance.

Community engagement:

The project should actively engage with the blockchain community, seeking feedback, and encouraging contributions from developers and users.

Interoperability:

The project should support interoperability with other blockchain networks and protocols, enabling seamless integration and cross-chain functionality.

Area 2: Pre-commercialisation activities related to spinouts, startups and SMEs (connected to academia)

The funding program provides grant funding to spinouts, startups, and SMEs connected to academia, aiming to support pre-commercialisation activities related to the development and commercialisation of innovative blockchain-related technologies and solutions. The program covers activities such as product development, market research, prototyping, and testing. The program aims to foster innovation and collaboration within the blockchain ecosystem, ultimately contributing to the growth and advancement of the broader blockchain ecosystem in these areas:
Research & development of POCs involving innovative tokenomics design involving fungibile and non-fungible tokens applied to 
  • digital art
  • media industry
  • supply chain
  • healthcare
  • defi

By incentivising the development of POCs, the program aims to facilitate experimentation with new tokenomic models to ensure greater efficiency, transparency, and security in these industries.

Research & Development furthering the design, role and adoption of blockchain standards and creating reference implementations for
  • digital art
  • media industry
  • supply chain
  • Healthcare
  • defi
Research & development on decentralised content delivery in
  • media and entertainment industry
  • industry with sensitive data (e.g. healthcare)
  • government and public sectors
  • supply-chain
  • banking and finance

Area 3: Hackathons for students, academics and industry in the realm of DLT (in-person and online)

Grant applicants should apply for running at least two hackathons over their grant period rather than one-offs.

Description:

The proposed program consists of Hackathons for students, academics, and industry professionals interested in Distributed Ledger Technology. The program seeks to provide a platform for individuals to collaborate, innovate and learn about emerging digital technologies, with a particular focus on DLT.

Goal:

The program's goal is to foster innovation and creativity in the blockchain ecosystem by providing a space for participants to work together, learn from each other, and develop new blockchain-related solutions. The program aims to engage students, academics, and industry professionals and create opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Format:

The program will be held in-person and online, depending on the circumstances and participants' preferences. In-person hackathons will be held at physical locations that provide the necessary infrastructure and resources for participants. Online hackathons will be conducted through virtual platforms that enable participants to collaborate and work together remotely. Participants will form teams, and each team will be tasked with developing a blockchain-related project from scratch within a limited time frame. The Hackathons will provide access to mentorship, technical support, and resources to guide participants through the development process. The program will culminate in a showcase event where teams present their projects to a panel of judges, who will evaluate and provide feedback on the projects.

List of potential challenges:

  • Supply chain tracking: Develop a blockchain-based supply chain tracking solution that enhances transparency and traceability in supply chains.
  • Decentralised finance: Develop a decentralised finance (DeFi) application that provides innovative financial services using blockchain technology.
  • Digital identity: Develop a blockchain-based digital identity management system that enhances security and privacy while enabling efficient identity verification.
  • Gaming: Develop a blockchain-based gaming platform that provides innovative and secure gaming experiences, leveraging the unique capabilities of blockchain technology.
  • Social impact: Develop a blockchain-based solution that addresses a significant social issue, such as climate change, poverty, or access to healthcare.
  • Interoperability: Develop a solution that enables seamless interoperability between different blockchain networks and protocols, enabling cross-chain functionality.
  • Tokenisation: Develop a tokenisation solution that allows for the creation, issuance, and management of digital assets using blockchain technology.
  • Data privacy: Develop a solution that enhances data privacy on the blockchain while maintaining transparency and auditability.
  • Smart contracts: Develop a smart contract solution that enables secure and automated execution of contract terms and conditions using blockchain technology.
  • NFTs: Develop a solution that leverages non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to create new and innovative applications and use cases.

Area 4: Knowledge transfer activities and events between academia and industry in the realm of DLT 

These grants are for activities related to:
  • Seminars
  • Roundtables
  • Workshops
  • Industry placements
Grant applicants should ensure that they submit for a program of events and activities rather than one-offs, with at least 3 planned activities over the period of their grant duration. In the case of student placements, a minimum of 5 students must be placed.

2. Eligibility Criteria

  • Each project must name one Principal Innovator (PI) who is the lead applicant. The PI will be responsible for the development and delivery of the project and the reporting on the outcomes and budget usage. Each proposal must have a minimum of two applicants.
  • The lead applicant must be affiliated to a DSF University Network member.

3. Assessment criteria and application form

Each of the sections in the application must be completed according to the application form guidance below. Applicants are encouraged to consider the points below when completing the application. 
Fundable applications will be reviewed by technical and expert reviewers; therefore, it is important that the application is written in a way which is suitable for reviewers of differing expertise.

4. Finance and budget

Total grant amount and research activity period

A total of up to USD 2,000,000 (USD Two Million equivalent) is available for this round of Innovation Grants funding. Funding will be awarded to projects that run for a period of up to 12 months (starting from the award of the grant).

Amount and call application window 

Applicants are permitted to apply for up to USD 300,000 (USD Three Hundred Thousand equivalent) over a  6-month period from the date of this Call. The amount of funding allocated to each applicant will be determined by the scale, nature and quality of the activities to be conducted through the proposed project.

The number of applicants to be awarded has not been pre-determined. The number of awards will reflect the quality of the applications, and the need to provide appropriate funding to deliver the supported programs of work. Applicants will be funded on a rolling basis until the budget is exhausted.

Eligible costs

The grant scheme covers Directly Incurred costs (direct costs are those eligible project costs that will be incurred by the awardee in carrying out the project work (eg. project-specific innovation staff, consultancy costs, software licensing costs, technical staff, travel, consumables or equipment costing less than USD 15,000 (USD Fifteen Thousand equivalent) and the salary costs associated with the PIs and collaborators estimated time on the project. Startups awards costs are also eligible. These costs will be charged as the amount that will be spent and could be supported by an audit record. Any funding requested shall only be awarded to named individuals or companies who are in the submitted budget. 

Ineligible costs

The funding is not intended to meet indirect, estates and generic administrative costs including overheads, rent, utilities etc. associated with the proposed project award.

5. Duration

The grant call will remain until 31 August 2023 (or until all the funding is exhausted).
The innovation project should last for a maximum of 12 months from the awarding date.

6. Application process

  • Applications are open for submission on a rolling basis.
  • The call will close on 31 August 2023. However, the call may close earlier if a high number of applications are received or once all available funding has been allocated. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  
  • Applicants are invited to submit an  application that will undergo a review process carried out by a pool of reviewers. The reviewers are composed of DSF Scientists and the Grant Giving committee.
  • Grants will be reviewed against a set of assessment criteria that match the application form.
  • Applications are treated as confidential, and all steps are taken to ensure confidentiality is maintained. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for further details.
  • Applicants will be notified of the funding decisions around 2 to 4 weeks from the Grant Giving committee decision meeting.
Typical date/Time frame   List of Activities
Submission date (A)   Application submitted
(B) 
A + 2 days 
Acknowledgement of submitted applications
(C)
B + 5 days 
Initial eligibility criteria check and documental verification of submitted applications
(D)
C+ 2-4 weeks 
Peer-review of submitted applications
(E)
D + 2-4 week 
Grant giving committee review and decision meeting
PIs are notified via email by DSF
(F)
E + 1 week 
Successful applicants must notify acceptance of the general award conditions by sending an email to grants@dltscience.org
 (G)
F + 1-2 weeks
The grant award process will start with KYC checklist, due diligence and issuance of the Grant Agreement

7. Grant Agreement

Applicants should refer to the Terms and Conditions of the Call for grant application. If awarded, awardees will enter a Grant Agreement with DSF. The terms in the Grant Agreement are standard and non-negotiable. Upon acceptance of a grant award, applicants agree to be bound by these terms.

8. Post award monitoring

Typical funding and reporting guidelines post-award are shown below.
Typical funding and reporting requirements based on the funding amount and the project length. Payments will be tranched and follow on payments will only occur on successful progression of the project
Funding amount and payment terms
Less than
USD 250,000 (equivalent)
More than
USD 250,000 (equivalent)
Length of project

Less than six months
More than six months


75% upfront payment 
25% paid on receipt of a satisfactory final report
50% upfront payment 
30% paid on receipt of a satisfactory midterm  report 
20% on receipt of a satisfactory final report
50% upfront payment
30% paid on receipt of a satisfactory mid term report and 
20% paid on receipt of a satisfactory final report
50% upfront payment 
20% paid on receipt of satisfactory Q1 report
10% paid on receipt of satisfactory Q2 report
10% paid on receipt of satisfactory Q3 report
10% paid on receipt of satisfactory final report
The format of the reports is free but they must include the details of the results obtained up to that point, activities carried on and both the expenses already incurred and the indication of the costs, as much as possible documented, which are expected to incur until the end of the project.

9. Payment terms

Payments are made in tranches according to the table above. The unit of account is in USD (equivalent). Applicants understand and agree that projects must start and follow their timelines submitted and should not be contingent on payments to begin or continue.

10. Contact details

For further information please contact us at grants@dltscience.org.

Grant process diagram

Making a successful grant application

To make a successful grant application, the first thing is to
make sure that you satisfy the eligibility criteria;
we also look for impact in your grant application according to use of funds and public benefit.
showcasing this in the best light will help to maximise the chances that your grant application will be successful.
Read this blog post on making great grant applications for some tips on how to present your application.

$5M Launch Call for Proposals

$4.7M

Available Funding

1

Projects Funded

$300K

Funded Amount

Grant Terms & Conditions

Funding programs are open to University Network members only.
Please apply to join our network before applying for funding.

FAQ

Is my application confidential?

We will make every effort to ensure your application's confidentiality and that they are not shared with the public. However, any information you provide may be shared with advisors in the review process. If there is something you would like to be kept confidential, please let us know in your application (although this may affect our ability to process your application).

What currency are grants paid in?

We are aiming to provide payment in a number of different currencies, but our preference is to pay in USD equivalent stablecoin. This can be discussed at the grant contracting stage.

Are for-profit companies eligible for taking part in grants?

Our grants embrace both entrepreneurship and collaboration. We believe that academic research, education and innovation can and should be linked to industry as well as having public benefit. Only the lead applicant of the grant needs to be from a University Network Member.

Will anybody actually read my application?

Yes! Your application will be acknowledged within five working days to assess whether or not it is complete. Thereafter, our team of DSF Scientists will initially review the grant to ensure it meets the grant scope. This process is likely to take around two weeks. Only then is it passed on to the Grant-giving Committee for a decision. Ultimately the final decision on your grant depends on the grant budget and when you submit your application. Rolling grant calls will be evaluated continuously until their budgets are exhausted. Competitive calls will be distributed after they close. We love learning about the amazing work people are doing and if your grant isn’t successful, we’ll suggest how to improve it and whether we’ll keep it on file for another funding opportunity.

Will you give me a million dollars?

Grant sizes are typically capped at several hundred thousand dollars (equivalent) and vary widely depending on the scope and expected length of the project - but we expect that grant funds are used efficiently and for maximal impact.

What happens if I'm not awarded a grant?

Don't be discouraged! We have a finite scope and sometimes it's just not a fit, or not the right time - that doesn't mean the work you're doing isn't important. We’ll aim to give you feedback where possible if your application isn’t successful and if its a case of just not being the right time, we’ll keep your application on file and get in touch with you when something more appropriate is open.

You can also reapply in the future if you feel that something has changed. Feel free to get in touch with our grants office if you’d like to know more.

How should I fill my grant application out?

The questions in the grant application form can be found in a blog post available here. Once you prepare your application offline, please aim to fill out the grant application in one go. If you don't manage to, your information will be saved in your browser's local storage for 15 days (but only if you are on the same device and not in Incognito or private browsing mode).

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