Last updated a month ago
Scientific publishing is slow, opaque, and costly, controlled by gatekeepers. Researchers lack transparent, open-access platforms to share and verify work globally.
Veriscience is a blockchain platform for open, transparent scientific publishing, using on-chain records, decentralized storage, and video verification to ensure trust and access for all.
Please provide your proposal title
VeriScience: Decentralized Publishing & Peer review on ADA
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
100000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
12
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Scientific publishing is slow, opaque, and costly, controlled by gatekeepers. Researchers lack transparent, open-access platforms to share and verify work globally.
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
Veriscience depends on Cardano blockchain infrastructure for smart contracts and transaction recording, decentralized storage networks like IPFS or Arweave for papers, datasets, and verification videos, and existing Cardano developer tools to speed integration. It also relies on collaboration with developers, blockchain engineers, and academics from the Cardano community and universities for technical work, usability testing, and validation. These dependencies to reduce risk, and all core code will be open source to ensure continuity and adaptability.
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
All core code, smart contracts, and documentation will be released under an MIT license, allowing free use, modification, and distribution. This ensures transparency, community contributions, and long-term accessibility.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal.
Education
Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).
Verisciences unique in combining blockchain-based publication with decentralized storage and video verification of rsearch methods and reults. This ensures transparency, reproducibility, and trust beyond what typical open-access or blockchain science projects have offered. Unlike prior efforts, it invites anyone and not just experts to publish and review, removing gatekeeper control while providing immutable, verifiable records on Cardano.
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
The MVP will run on Cardano testnet, enabling research submission, open peer review, and publication of papers, datasets, and video verifications to decentralized storage. It will demonstrate smart contract workflows, wallet-based identity, and immutable, accessible records. The platform will be open source, with all the code and documentation on GitHub, and a public web interface for community testing, feedback, and demonstration of blockchain's role in transparent scientific publishing.
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
Success will be measured by number of research submissions, completed peer reviews, and publications stored on decentralized storage with corresponding Cardano transaction IDs. Additional metrics include unique wallet addresses interacting with the patform, percentage of reviews with video verification, and number of community contributors to the open-source codebase. Milestone completion, user feedback, and testnet performance will validate technical feasibility and readiness for mainnet deployment.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
VeriScience is a decentralized, transparent, and accessible scientific publishing platform built on the Cardano blockchain. It addresses the inefficiencies, high costs, and gatekeeping in traditional publishing by enabling anyone to submit, review, and publish research openly.
The platform will use Cardano smart contracts to manage submission, review, and publication workflows. Researchers will upload papers, datasets, and video verifications of their methods and results to decentralized storage networks such as IPFS or Arweave, ensuring long-term availability and immutability. Wallet integration will provide secure identity and enable reviewer incentives through token rewards.
By recording key events on-chain, VeriScience creates an immutable record of research history. Video verification adds a unique layer of transparency, making methods more reproducible and findings more trustworthy. Unlike closed publishing systems, all core code will be open source under the MIT License, enabling public auditing, adaptation, and community contributions.
Recruitment will target blockchain developers, academics, and open science advocates from the Cardano ecosystem and universities worldwide. The MVP, launched on Cardano testnet, will validate technical feasibility, usability, and incentive models. Through this, VeriScience aims to set a new global standard for open, verifiable, and community-driven science publishing.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
VeriScience will position Cardano as a leader in real-world, socially impactful blockchain applications. By demonstrating how Cardano’s smart contracts, identity systems, and decentralized storage can transform scientific publishing, the project will showcase the network’s versatility beyond finance.
The platform will attract academics, researchers, and open science advocates who may be new to blockchain, introducing them to Cardano’s capabilities and encouraging their long-term participation in the ecosystem. By being fully open source, VeriScience will provide reusable smart contract code, integration methods, and design patterns that other Cardano projects can adopt.
Video verification of methods and results will set a new standard for transparency and reproducibility, inspiring similar innovations in other fields such as journalism, education, and governance. The project’s community-driven review and publication process will foster collaboration across disciplines and geographies, strengthening Cardano’s global network of contributors.
In addition, the public, immutable research records created through this project will serve as a showcase for Cardano’s ability to store and preserve critical information for the benefit of society. By engaging both technical and non-technical participants, VeriScience will expand Cardano’s reach, enhance its reputation, and drive adoption of its technology in new domains.
What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?
While I have not yet formed a full development team, I will lead the project as founder and coordinator, drawing on my background in research, project planning, and community engagement. Recruitment will focus on experienced Cardano developers, smart contract engineers, and academic collaborators, ensuring the necessary technical and domain expertise.
All work will be open source under an MIT License, with code hosted on a public GitHub repository. This ensures that progress is visible, contributions are verifiable, and the community can audit the work at any time. Regular updates will be shared through Project Catalyst Town Halls, Cardano community channels, and academic outreach.
Feasibility will be validated through a functioning MVP deployed on Cardano testnet. The MVP will undergo usability testing with both academic and Cardano community participants, measuring successful research submissions, peer reviews, and video verifications stored via decentralized storage. Feedback from these tests will be used to refine the platform before mainnet deployment.
By combining transparent development practices, open collaboration, and measurable technical milestones, this project will maintain high trust while proving that decentralized, verifiable scientific publishing on Cardano is both achievable and impactful.
Milestone Title
Project setup and recruitment
Milestone Outputs
Establish project infrastructure, including GitHub repository, documentation framework, and communication channels. Begin active recruitment of Cardano developers, smart contract engineers, and academic collaborators through Catalyst community events, online forums, and targeted outreach. Secure at least initial commitments from key contributors to cover blockchain development, frontend, and scientific review expertise.
Acceptance Criteria
A public GitHub repository is created with initial documentation outlining project scope, goals, and architecture. At least three qualified contributors—covering smart contract development, frontend engineering, and academic/scientific review—have confirmed participation. Project communication channels (e.g., Discord, mailing list) are active, and an introductory update has been posted to the Catalyst community, confirming recruitment progress and next steps.
Evidence of Completion
Screenshots and public links to the GitHub repository showing initial documentation and project structure. Copies or records of contributor confirmations (emails, signed agreements, or public announcements). Screenshots or links to active communication channels. Link to the initial Catalyst community update post outlining recruited team members and their roles.
Delivery Month
1
Cost
10000
Progress
10 %
Milestone Title
Platform Architecture and Design
Milestone Outputs
Complete a detailed technical architecture plan for the VeriScience platform, including system components, data flows, smart contract structure, and integration points with Cardano and decentralized storage (IPFS/Arweave). Develop wireframes and UI/UX mockups to guide frontend development. Ensure the design accommodates video verification functionality, secure wallet-based identity, and open peer review workflows.
Acceptance Criteria
A documented architecture diagram and technical specification are published in the public GitHub repository. Wireframes and mockups are completed, shared with the team, and approved by at least two recruited contributors with relevant expertise. The design clearly supports all core platform features, including video verification, decentralized storage, and peer review.
Evidence of Completion
Links to GitHub-hosted architecture documents, diagrams, and UI/UX mockups. Screenshots of approval comments from team members in the repository or communication channels. Public Catalyst update summarizing design completion and readiness for development.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
15000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Smart Contract and Backend Development
Milestone Outputs
Develop and deploy core smart contracts on Cardano testnet to handle research submission, peer review workflow, reviewer incentives, and publication recording. Build backend services to integrate contracts with decentralized storage (IPFS/Arweave) for papers, datasets, and video verification files. Implement secure wallet-based identity and basic API endpoints for frontend integration.
Acceptance Criteria
Smart contracts are live on Cardano testnet, passing all unit and integration tests. Backend services can successfully process submissions, trigger review workflows, store materials in decentralized storage, and record corresponding transaction IDs on-chain. API endpoints are functional and documented in the GitHub repository.
Evidence of Completion
Links to GitHub repository with smart contract code, backend source, and API documentation. Testnet transaction hashes proving contract execution. Public Catalyst update demonstrating a working backend-to-blockchain submission flow.
Delivery Month
5
Cost
25000
Progress
40 %
Milestone Title
Frontend and wallet Integration
Milestone Outputs
Develop a responsive, user-friendly frontend that allows users to submit research, upload datasets and verification videos, participate in peer reviews, and view published works. Integrate with Cardano-compatible wallets (e.g., Lace, Eternl) for identity and transaction signing. Connect frontend to backend APIs for seamless interaction with smart contracts and decentralized storage.
Acceptance Criteria
Frontend enables all core functions—submission, review, publication viewing—with smooth wallet login and transaction signing. Integration with backend is stable, and user actions result in correct blockchain and storage updates. UI/UX matches approved wireframes, ensuring accessibility and ease of use.
Evidence of Completion
GitHub repository with frontend code, documentation, and deployment instructions. Public testnet deployment link allowing the Catalyst community to interact with the platform. Video walkthrough demonstrating wallet integration and submission-to-publication flow.
Delivery Month
8
Cost
20000
Progress
60 %
Milestone Title
MVP Deployment on Cardano Testnet
Milestone Outputs
Deploy the fully integrated MVP on Cardano testnet, enabling real-world user testing of research submission, peer review, publication with decentralized storage, and video verification. Implement reviewer incentives via smart contracts and ensure all features function in a live test environment.
Acceptance Criteria
The platform is live on testnet with all major features operational: submissions, reviews, publications, wallet login, transaction signing, and storage integration. At least 10 successful submissions and reviews are completed during testing, with corresponding transaction IDs and decentralized storage links.
Evidence of Completion
Public testnet URL with open access for community testing. GitHub repository updated with final MVP code. Screenshots or links to on-chain transaction IDs and decentralized storage hashes. Catalyst community update showcasing MVP functionality and test results.
Delivery Month
10
Cost
20000
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Testing, Feedback, Final Report and Close out
Milestone Outputs
Conduct comprehensive user testing with both academic and Cardano community participants. Collect structured feedback on usability, performance, and feature completeness. Fix critical issues identified during testing. Prepare and submit the final Catalyst close-out report and summary video, documenting achievements, lessons learned, and readiness for mainnet deployment.
Acceptance Criteria
At least 20 users participate in structured testing sessions, covering all core platform features. Feedback is documented and prioritized, with critical fixes implemented. Final report and video are submitted to Catalyst within the project timeline, including evidence of completed milestones and budget usage.
Evidence of Completion
Testing logs, feedback forms, and GitHub issue/commit history showing fixes. Public link to the final Catalyst report and close-out video. Archived MVP code and documentation in the public GitHub repository.
Delivery Month
12
Cost
10000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Milestone 1 – Project Setup & Recruitment: ₳10,000 (10%) – GitHub setup, documentation, community channels, and initial recruitment outreach.
Milestone 2 – Platform Architecture & Design: ₳15,000 (15%) – Technical architecture, data flows, UI/UX wireframes, and feature planning.
Milestone 3 – Smart Contract & Backend Development: ₳25,000 (25%) – Core contract coding, backend services, decentralized storage integration, and API development.
Milestone 4 – Frontend & Wallet Integration: ₳20,000 (20%) – Responsive UI, wallet login, transaction signing, and frontend-backend linking.
Milestone 5 – MVP Deployment on Testnet: ₳20,000 (20%) – Full feature integration, public testnet release, and functional testing.
Milestone 6 – Testing, Feedback, Final Report & Close-out: ₳10,000 (10%) – User testing, bug fixes, final report, and close-out video.
All work will be performed openly under an MIT License for community benefit.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
The ₳100,000 budget delivers a fully functioning, open-source scientific publishing platform on Cardano, showcasing blockchain’s power beyond finance. All core code, smart contracts, and integrations will be reusable by other projects, multiplying the return on investment. Funds are allocated directly to development, integration, and testing, with no waste on non-essential overhead. By attracting academics, researchers, and new developers into the ecosystem, the project expands Cardano’s reach, creates lasting infrastructure, and sets a standard for transparent, verifiable applications.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
At present, the project does not have a fixed team. I will lead as founder and coordinator, responsible for overall vision, project management, community engagement, and quality control. The plan is to recruit skilled Cardano developers, smart contract engineers, frontend/UI specialists, and academic collaborators from both the Cardano ecosystem and universities. Roles will include blockchain development, backend integration, UI/UX design, scientific review, and testing. I welcome interest from the Catalyst and wider Cardano community to join and contribute to this project.