Last updated a year ago
Forming consensus in large communities is essential for building trust and allowing collaboration, but it is hard to measure and to be standardized.
We will establish the "Cardano PhD Lab", a dedicated research platform empowering PhD students to drive innovation within the Cardano blockchain ecosystem.
This is the total amount allocated to Cardano PhD Lab: Pioneering Blockchain Research for the Future.
Houssem BENMAHMOUD
No dependencies.
Project will be fully open source.
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
By focusing on quality education, fostering innovation and infrastructure, and promoting partnerships, the Cardano PhD Lab contributes to the broader sustainable development agenda outlined by the United Nations. Through its research and educational initiatives, the lab aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of doctoral students, drive blockchain innovation, and foster collaborations between academia and industry. This aligns with the SDGs' vision of inclusive and sustainable development, knowledge sharing, and technological advancement for a better future.
Our proposed solution is the establishment of the "Cardano PhD Lab", a cutting-edge research platform where PhD scholars can explore, innovate, and contribute to the Cardano blockchain ecosystem.
The problem we aim to solve arises from the absence of a dedicated, in-depth research environment for doctoral students within the Cardano ecosystem. This gap limits the potential for advanced exploration and development in blockchain-based solutions, slowing innovation and wider adoption.
Our approach to this issue is underpinned by a belief in the transformative potential of combining advanced academic research with real-world blockchain applications. By providing a platform for rigorous, focused exploration, we aim to encourage innovative research that can push the boundaries of what's achievable within the Cardano ecosystem.
The beneficiaries of our project will be multi-fold. Primarily, PhD scholars will gain access to resources and an intellectual community tailored to their unique needs. Simultaneously, the wider Cardano community will benefit from the contributions these scholars make, whether in the form of new technologies, enhanced understanding of existing ones, or novel applications of blockchain solutions.
The impact of our project will be demonstrated through the concrete outputs of the PhD Lab. This includes research papers, blockchain prototypes, innovative business models, and data collection methodologies, all of which contribute to a better understanding of the Cardano ecosystem and its potential applications.
Our solution is unique in its focus on doctoral-level research and its potential to transform the Cardano ecosystem. We emphasize the principles of sustainability and servitization in our approach, ensuring that our contributions have long-lasting impacts and serve the broader needs of the Cardano community. This aligns with Cardano's overarching goals of driving technological innovation, fostering community growth, and promoting sustainable and beneficial blockchain solutions.
Our proposed solution directly addresses the challenge presented in various ways:
The benefits to the Cardano ecosystem are extensive. Beyond the direct contributions of the scholars involved, the Lab will produce scalable benefits in the form of enhanced understanding of the Cardano blockchain and its potential applications. This will, in turn, lead to the development of more sophisticated business models and data collection methods, strengthening the ecosystem's commercial viability and expanding its potential for transformative change.
Quantifying the impact, we aim to support at least 10 PhD projects in the first year, with each project contributing novel research and potential applications to the Cardano ecosystem. The impact of these projects, coupled with the enhanced visibility and credibility that a dedicated research lab will bring, should draw more users and developers to Cardano, and foster a more vibrant, robust, and sustainable community.
We will use a combination of qualitative and quantitative measures to assess the success of our project.
Quantitative metrics:
Qualitative measures:
In the short term, the success of our project will manifest in the form of high-quality research outputs that directly contribute to the Cardano ecosystem, stimulating growth and innovation. In the longer term, the "Cardano PhD Lab" will provide a steady stream of educated blockchain experts and an enriched knowledge base that will foster the ecosystem's sustainability. This will enhance Cardano’s growth by fostering a stronger community, driving adoption, and ensuring continuous innovation within the ecosystem.
These measures are realistic because they directly align with the primary functions of the Lab and the inherent nature of academic research. They also reflect the direct and indirect impacts that such a project can have on an open-source ecosystem like Cardano's.
The outputs of the "Cardano PhD Lab" will be shared broadly to ensure maximum visibility and benefit to the Cardano community.
The results generated from the project will be integral to our future R&D activities. We envision the "Cardano PhD Lab" as an ongoing project, with each research cycle building on the previous one. The findings from the research projects will guide the direction of future research, helping us to continuously refine our focus and adapt to the evolving needs of the Cardano ecosystem.
Furthermore, the insights gained from this project will inform the development of new research questions and hypotheses, ensuring the sustainability and continuous evolution of the Lab. By creating an environment that encourages ongoing research, we will ensure that the Lab continues to contribute to the Cardano ecosystem long after the initial project has concluded.
The two main proposers for this project bring a wealth of relevant experience and knowledge to the table.
The main proposer, Dr. Tinhinane TAZAIRT, is a Ph.D. holder in Digital-Servitization and an Engineer diploma holder in Statistics and Applied Economics.
She was a Ph.D. student at University Lumière Lyon 2, a first-hand experience that provides her with a deep understanding of the challenges and problems that doctoral students face.
Tinhinane, having navigated the academic world during her own Ph.D. journey, is well-versed in the hurdles that Ph.D. students must overcome. These include but are not limited to securing funding, navigating research complexities, the need for robust mentorship, and the pressure to contribute uniquely to their field of study. This personal experience equips her with the empathy and knowledge to design a program that effectively supports doctoral students in their journey.
Further, her Ph.D. in Digital-Servitization and her Engineer diploma in Statistics and Applied Economics has equipped her with comprehensive expertise in areas critical to this project. Her skills in marketing, strategy, and B2B consulting, honed through her academic and professional journey, position her as an effective leader for this initiative.
The co-proposer, Houssem BENMAHMOUD, brings a distinct set of skills to this project. As a certified Salesforce Consultant and with a robust background in sales and mechanical engineering, he has honed his ability to optimize Sales processes. His role in the "Cardano PhD Lab" will be ensuring that the infrastructure and tools used by the doctoral students are optimized to facilitate their research. His understanding of system design and process optimization will be critical in setting up an effective research environment that allows the doctoral students to focus on their innovative work in the Cardano blockchain ecosystem.
Together, their combined expertise and unique experiences, especially the main proposer's first-hand experience as a doctoral student, ensure a high level of understanding and capability to address the unique challenges of this project.
To ensure proper fund management and transparency:
This blend of personal experience, professional competencies, and commitment to transparency and accountability make our team well-equipped to deliver this project effectively.
The primary goals for the "Cardano PhD Lab" project can be defined as follows:
To ensure that our approach is feasible, we will take the following steps:
Milestone 1: Project Setup and Team Formation (Month 1-2)
Tasks:
Success Criteria: Completed project plan, assembled team, established communication channels and project management tools
Milestone 2: Infrastructure Development and Partnerships (Month 2-4)
Tasks:
Success Criteria: Established research infrastructure, implemented data security measures, initiated partnerships with at least 3 universities or companies
Milestone 3: Recruitment of Doctoral Students (Month 5-7)
Tasks:
Success Criteria: Recruited a minimum of 5 doctoral students, established partnerships with their home universities
Milestone 4: Training and Orientation (Month 8_9)
Tasks:
Success Criteria: Completed training and orientation sessions, feedback from students indicating a strong understanding of the Cardano ecosystem
Milestone 5: Lab Establishment and Research Commencement (Month 10-12)
Tasks:
Success Criteria: Operational lab (physical and digital), commenced research projects, positive feedback from students and community regarding engagement activities
Milestone 1: Project Setup and Team Formation
Deliverables: Project plan, Team roster, Established communication channels, and Project management tools
Outcomes: A well-organized project team and established workflow to ensure project success
Measurement: Completion of the project plan, successful team assembly, operational communication channels and project management tools
Milestone 2: Infrastructure Development and Partnerships
Deliverables: Technological requirements document, Research infrastructure (hardware, software, and platforms), Data security and privacy protocols, Partnership agreements
Outcomes: A robust research environment capable of supporting innovative blockchain research, partnerships that will enrich the research and provide real-world insights
Measurement: Successful setup of research infrastructure, established security measures, partnerships established with universities and companies
Milestone 3: Recruitment of Doctoral Students
Deliverables: Recruitment criteria and processes, List of recruited doctoral students, Agreements with participating universities
Outcomes: A diverse and talented pool of doctoral students who will bring fresh perspectives to the Cardano ecosystem, collaborations with universities
Measurement: Successful recruitment of doctoral students, partnerships with their home universities
Milestone 4: Training and Orientation
Deliverables: Training programs, Orientation sessions, Collaborative sessions with partner companies and universities
Outcomes: A well-informed cohort of doctoral students ready to explore the Cardano ecosystem and contribute valuable research
Measurement: Successful completion of training and orientation sessions, positive feedback from students
Milestone 5: Lab Establishment and Research Commencement
Deliverables: Established lab (physical and digital), Research projects, Community engagement activities
Outcomes: A dedicated environment for Cardano research, ongoing projects that push the boundaries of the Cardano ecosystem, increased community involvement and awareness
Measurement: Successful establishment of the lab, commenced research projects, community engagement metrics (e.g., event attendance, feedback)
Project Team Remuneration: 70,000 ADA
Software & Hardware: 40,000 ADA
Legal & Administrative Costs: 20,000 ADA
Partnerships & Collaborations: 30,000 ADA
Student Recruitment & Support: 20,000 ADA
Infrastructure & Lab Establishment: 40,000 ADA
Community Engagement & Marketing: 20,000 ADA
Project Documentation & Reporting: 10,000 ADA
Our proposed project, the "Cardano PhD Lab," represents excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem due to its potential for catalyzing innovative research, fostering global partnerships, and promoting widespread blockchain adoption. Let's explain this in more detail:
Overall, while the initial cost of setting up the "Cardano PhD Lab" might seem substantial, it represents a strategic investment in the Cardano ecosystem's future. By nurturing academic research, fostering partnerships, and driving innovation, this project aims to provide long-term, sustainable value that far outweighs its initial setup cost.
Our project team consists of experienced professionals who bring a diverse range of skills and expertise to the Cardano PhD Lab. Here are the key members of our team and their respective roles:
Dr. Tihnhinane TAZAIRT: Ph.D. in Digital-Servitization, Statistics and Applied Economics Engineer: As the Project Manager and lead academic research consultant for the Cardano PhD Lab, Tinhinane will define project goals and timelines, guide the research direction, and interact with the Cardano community and other stakeholders. Her extensive knowledge in marketing, strategy, and B2B consulting will prove invaluable in promoting the project and fostering crucial relationships.
LinkedIn Profile: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinhinane-tazairt
Houssem BENMAHMOUD: CRM Consultant / Sales Engineer: Houssem will take dual roles as the Technical Operations Manager and Partnerships Manager. They will ensure seamless integration of the Cardano ecosystem within the research lab and manage all technical aspects of the project. As the Partnerships Manager, they will utilize their extensive network and experience to forge valuable alliances with universities, research institutions, and industry organizations.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houssem-benmahmoud
We plan to recruit additional team members with the following expertise:
To ensure the success of our project, we have already started reaching out to potential team members, as well as academic and industry organizations for partnerships. We have confirmed their willingness and capacity to support the Cardano PhD Lab project.