AcademiPRISM: Credential Verification with SSI on Cardano

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Yosr Benmahmoud

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

yosr.benmahmoud@etudiant-fst.utm.tn

Additional applicants

I am the only applicant.

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

10

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

No

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.” .

No dependencies

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] If NO, please describe which outputs are not going to be open source. If YES, please write “Project will be fully open source.”

Our choice to retain proprietary aspects of our project is driven by the desire to create a commercially viable product. This strategy serves a dual purpose. Primarily, it provides us a revenue stream to fund the project's continuous development and maintenance. Concurrently, it underscores the Cardano ecosystem's potential to support not only open-source, community-led initiatives, but also profitable solutions.

Our aim is to foster real value within the Cardano ecosystem that transcends typical open-source endeavors. By developing a commercially successful application on Cardano, we aim to spotlight Cardano's capacity to propel capital market growth and stimulate substantial enterprise adoption. This won't only allow us to profit from our project, but also enhance the overall worth of the Cardano ecosystem.

We are of the view that illustrating successful project commercialization within the Cardano ecosystem can encourage other entrepreneurs and enterprises to harness this technology, thereby spurring the ecosystem's growth and extending its impact. While open-source projects are key to the ecosystem's cooperative evolution, commercially viable projects validate the practical use and economic feasibility of the technology to a wider audience. We believe it's this equilibrium between collaboration and commercialization that will ultimately fuel the enduring success of the Cardano ecosystem.

[METADATA] Category of proposal

Other

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Our proposed solution is to develop a Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) module using Atala PRISM within the Cardano ecosystem. This module will simulate the process of verifying and sharing academic credentials obtained from online courses, as a proof-of-concept.

The problem we've identified pertains to the lack of practical, scalable SSI applications within the Cardano ecosystem, especially in the context of online education. The traditional method of verifying academic credentials is often slow and centralized, which doesn't bode well with the modern, fast-paced, and decentralized nature of online learning. 

Our unique approach to this problem involves the integration of SSI with online learning. By simulating this process, we aim to demonstrate the potential of SSI in fostering a more secure, efficient, and user-controlled way of verifying and sharing academic credentials. This could open up possibilities for more extensive real-world applications of SSI in various sectors, thereby advancing the utility of Cardano's blockchain technology.

In terms of engagement, our project will interact primarily with the Cardano ecosystem. We will present our proof-of-concept module to the community, engage in discussions, gather feedback, and fine-tune our solution accordingly. We believe that by stimulating interest and conversations around the topic of SSI and its potential applications, we can help spur innovation within the Cardano community.

The impact of our project will be demonstrated through the successful development and presentation of the SSI module. We will assess the community's feedback, their perception of the module's practicality, and their ideas for improvement as measures of our impact.

This project should be significant to Cardano as it highlights an innovative use of its Atala PRISM technology. By demonstrating the potential of SSI applications within Cardano, we aim to enhance the platform's overall value and potential for real-world integration.

[IMPACT] How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?

Our proposed solution directly addresses the challenge by developing a Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) module, utilizing Atala PRISM technology within the Cardano ecosystem. This aligns with the challenge's primary goal of solving the business coordination and stakeholder challenge in parallel with the technology implementation effort. 

By creating this SSI module, we aim to demonstrate a practical application of SSI technology in a relatable context - that of verifying academic credentials in online learning. This would give the Cardano community a tangible concept to explore, discuss, and improve upon. 

The benefits to the Cardano ecosystem are manifold:

Technological Innovation: The project showcases an innovative use of Atala PRISM, promoting the exploration of new use-cases for the technology.

Community Engagement: The project would stimulate interest and conversations within the community, fostering a collaborative environment for problem-solving and idea generation.

Ecosystem Growth: The project could potentially attract developers and enthusiasts interested in SSI and its applications, thereby expanding the Cardano community.

Proof-of-Concept: The project serves as a tangible demonstration of Cardano's capabilities in addressing real-world problems, further establishing its position as a robust and versatile blockchain platform.

Knowledge Sharing: As the project progresses, we will share our learnings and insights with the community, which could benefit other Cardano initiatives.

The impact of our project will be primarily qualitative during its initial stages, given its nature as a proof-of-concept. We aim to ignite discussions within the community, gauge their receptiveness towards SSI applications, and gather feedback for improvements. Over time, these contributions will strengthen the Cardano ecosystem, empowering it with new ideas and possibilities.

[IMPACT] How do you intend to measure the success of your project?

Measuring the success of a proof-of-concept project like ours involves both qualitative and quantitative metrics, as the impact may not be immediately visible in numerical terms. Here's how we intend to gauge the success of our project:

Community Engagement: This will be one of the primary measures of our succes.  It involves gauging the level of interest, feedback, and discussions our project sparks within the Cardano community. 

Feedback Quality: We will seek feedback from the community on our SSI module. Positive feedback and constructive suggestions for improvement will be indicators of our project's relevance and potential for further development.

Potential Future Applications: If our project stimulates discussions about potential real-world applications of our SSI module, that would be another measure of succes.

Knowledge Sharing: The generation of new ideas and insights from our project, and their potential usefulness to other initiatives within the Cardano ecosystem, will also be a measure of our succes.

Increased Awareness: A rise in the understanding and interest in Atala PRISM and SSI within the Cardano community as a result of our project would also be an indicator of succes.

In terms of Cardano's productivity and growth, our project, in the short term, can stimulate innovative discussions and contribute to a better understanding of SSI applications within the ecosystem. In the long term, these discussions and insights could pave the way for developing real-world SSI applications within the Cardano ecosystem, strengthening its practical relevance and usability.

[IMPACT] Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

We plan to share the outputs and results of our project through a multi-faceted approach to ensure that we reach a wide audience and engage effectively with the Cardano community.

Community Updates: We'll keep the Cardano community informed about our progress, key milestones, and findings through regular updates on platforms.

Demonstrations and Webinars: We aim to host online demonstrations and webinars, where we will showcase our SSI module, explain its workings, and discuss its potential implications and applications.

Feedback Sessions: To gather valuable community feedback, we will hold sessions where we present our findings and invite the community to provide their insights, suggestions, and constructive criticism.

Collaboration with Other Projects: We will seek opportunities to collaborate with other initiatives within the Cardano ecosystem that could benefit from our project's findings.

As for the future, we see the results of this project as a stepping stone for further research and development activities. The findings, insights, and community feedback from this project will guide the development of more sophisticated SSI applications within the Cardano ecosystem. We anticipate that our project could inspire and support other initiatives aiming to leverage Atala PRISM and SSI for real-world applications.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

Our capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability stems from a combination of previous successes, technical expertise, and sound project management practices. 

Past Successes: As a second-year computer science student who has successfully secured funding for three proposals in previous project catalyst funds, I, Yosr, bring a proven track record of managing Cardano projects to the table. These projects aimed to expand the Cardano community in Tunisia, Africa, and the MENA region and have been executed successfully.

Technical Expertise: Both my brother Oussama and I are Atala PRISM pioneers.  Oussama is also a blockchain specialist and the founder of PeakSoft, a software development and test automation consulting services company based in Germany. His expertise and mentorship greatly enhance our ability to deliver the project successfully.

Project Management: We have a robust project management strategy in place. We believe in regular communication with all stakeholders, including the Cardano community, to maintain transparency and build trust. This includes updates on project progress, financial management, and how the funds are being utilized.

Financial Accountability: We plan to implement rigorous financial controls and regularly share financial updates with the community to demonstrate proper management of funds. The allocated budget will be strictly used for the proposed project activities.

Our commitment to transparency, regular communication, robust project and financial management practices, and the experience and expertise we bring, together offer a high level of assurance in our ability to execute this project with utmost trust and accountability.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

The main goals for our project are as follows:

Develop a Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) module: Using Atala PRISM within the Cardano ecosystem, we aim to create an SSI module that simulates the process of verifying and sharing academic credentials obtained from online courses. 

Engage with the Cardano community: We aim to present our proof-of-concept module to the community, engage in constructive discussions, and gather valuable feedback.

Foster Innovation within the Cardano Ecosystem: By showcasing a practical application of SSI technology, we hope to stimulate discussions and inspire innovative ideas for the use of Atala PRISM and SSI within the Cardano ecosystem.

Validation of our approach will primarily be qualitative given the nature of our project. We'll consider our approach feasible if:

1. We are able to successfully develop the SSI module as planned, and it functions as intended in our simulated environment.
2. Our project generates interest within the Cardano community, leading to active discussions and constructive feedback
3. We observe an increased understanding and interest in SSI and its potential applications within the Cardano community as a result of our project.

On the technical side, our approach involves using Atala PRISM to create the SSI module. Our team possesses strong technical skills in computer science and blockchain technology, and we will lean on these skills to navigate any challenges that may arise during the development process. We'll start with designing and implementing basic functionalities of the SSI module and gradually build upon them, ensuring that at each step, the module functions as intended in our simulated environment.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.

Milestone 1: Project Planning and Design (8 weeks)

• Tasks: Assemble the project team, define project scope and deliverables, develop project plan, design the SSI module's architecture.
• Success Criteria: A well-defined project plan, team roles, and module design approved by the team.

Milestone 2: Development of Basic SSI Module (8 weeks)

• Tasks: Develop the basic functionalities of the SSI module, perform initial tests, identify areas of improvement.
• Success Criteria: The basic SSI module is developed and functions as expected in initial testing.

Milestone 3: Refinement and Enhancement of SSI Module (8 weeks)

• Tasks: Refine and enhance the SSI module, develop additional features, conduct comprehensive testing.
• Success Criteria: The enhanced SSI module is complete, passes comprehensive testing, and meets defined performance standards.

Milestone 4: Community Engagement and Feedback (4 weeks)

• Tasks: Present the module to the Cardano community, gather feedback, stimulate discussions around the project.
• Success Criteria: Positive engagement from the community, constructive feedback received, active discussions initiated.

Milestone 5: Module Refinement and Finalization (8 weeks)

• Tasks: Refine the SSI module based on community feedback, conduct final testing.
• Success Criteria: The final SSI module incorporates all necessary improvements and passes the final testing.

Milestone 6: Project Closure and Documentation (4 weeks)

• Tasks: Document the project's processes and findings, conduct project review, plan for post-project activities.
• Success Criteria: Comprehensive project documentation completed and the project successfully closed.

Please note, while these timelines, costs, and success criteria are estimates, they may vary depending on the project's progression. Any changes will be communicated transparently to the Cardano community.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Milestone 1: Project Planning and Design (8 weeks)

• Deliverables: Detailed project plan, module design documentation.
• Intended Outcomes: A well-structured plan and design for the project that guides the development and implementation process.
• Measurement: We will measure the quality and thoroughness of the project plan and module design against our predefined requirements.

Milestone 2: Development of Basic SSI Module (8 weeks)

• Deliverables: A basic version of the SSI module, initial testing reports.
• Intended Outcomes: A functioning basic SSI module that can issue, verify, and revoke credentials in a simulated environment.
• Measurement: We will use the initial tests to measure the module's functionality and performance.

Milestone 3: Refinement and Enhancement of SSI Module (8 weeks)

• Deliverables: An enhanced version of the SSI module, comprehensive testing reports.
• Intended Outcomes: A refined SSI module with improved features and performance that meets defined standards.
• Measurement: The module's functionality and performance will be evaluated through comprehensive testing against our defined performance standards.

Milestone 4: Community Engagement and Feedback (4 weeks)

• Deliverables: Reports on community engagement activities, collated feedback from the community.
• Intended Outcomes: Constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement, heightened interest and discussions within the community about the project.
• Measurement: We will measure the level of community engagement and the quality of feedback received.

Milestone 5: Module Refinement and Finalization (8 weeks)

• Deliverables: Final version of the SSI module, final testing reports.
• Intended Outcomes: A finalized SSI module that incorporates all necessary improvements and passes the final testing.
• Measurement: The final version of the module will be measured against the final testing results and the defined success criteria.

Milestone 6: Project Closure and Documentation (4 weeks)

• Deliverables: Comprehensive project documentation, project review report.
• Intended Outcomes: Detailed documentation that serves as a resource for the Cardano community and potential future projects, successful closure of the project.
• Measurement: We will measure the comprehensiveness of the project documentation and the success of project closure against our predefined standards.

We'll conduct regular project status meetings to track these measures and ensure the project stays on schedule and within scope. These checkpoints will also allow us to identify and mitigate any risks or challenges promptly.

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Project Planning and Design (40,000 ADA)

• Team hours devoted to defining project scope, designing the SSI module, and developing the comprehensive project plan.
• Resources for project management software and other tools required for efficient collaboration and planning.

Development of Basic SSI Module (70,000 ADA)

• Team hours for developing the basic functionalities of the SSI module.
• Resources for testing tools and simulated environment setup.

Refinement and Enhancement of SSI Module (70,000 ADA)

• Team hours for refining and enhancing the SSI module based on initial testing feedback.
• Resources for comprehensive testing and performance measurement tools.

Community Engagement and Feedback (35,000 ADA)

• Team hours for organizing and hosting community engagement activities, including demonstrations, webinars, and feedback sessions.
• Resources for online hosting platforms and other tools required for effective community engagement.

Module Refinement and Finalization (50,000 ADA)

• Team hours for refining the SSI module based on community feedback and conducting final testing.
• Resources for final testing and performance measurement tools.

Project Closure and Documentation (15,000 ADA)

• Team hours for documenting the project's processes, findings, and lessons learned, and for conducting a project review.
• Resources for documentation tools and other resources required for effective project closure.

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

We believe that our project offers substantial value for money to the Cardano ecosystem, given its potential to unlock innovative use-cases and foster further exploration within the community. The budget of 280,000 ADA represents an investment into a pioneering application of Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) technology within the Cardano ecosystem.

Our costs have been meticulously calculated based on the following considerations:

Industry Standards: Our budgetary allocations adhere to industry standards for software development projects, taking into account the cost of labor, testing, community engagement, and documentation.

Expertise Required: The project involves complex development work requiring highly skilled professionals with proficiency in blockchain technology and Atala PRISM. The costs are reflective of the high level of expertise needed to successfully execute the project.

Value Creation: The project is expected to stimulate discussion and exploration within the Cardano community, fostering innovation and further development within the ecosystem.  This long-term value creation significantly enhances the project's return on investment.

Comparative Costs: The budget is competitive when compared to similar initiatives in the blockchain space, ensuring it represents good value for money. 

The project team consists of Atala PRISM pioneers, who have a strong understanding of the ecosystem and extensive experience in blockchain development. This expertise and dedication, combined with our transparent approach to budgeting, ensure the project will be implemented effectively and deliver maximum value to the Cardano ecosystem.

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agreed to Fund10 rules and also that data in the Submission Form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.

I Accept