Please describe your proposed solution.

Our proposed solution is to create a platform on the Cardano blockchain integrated with NMKR Studio API called Tokenized Research. This innovative approach aims to solve two pressing issues: maintaining data integrity in scientific research and expanding accessibility in the Cardano NFT ecosystem.

Poor data integrity in research is a growing concern - instances of data manipulation and falsification have been reported in various studies, undermining trust in scientific findings and potentially leading to false conclusions. Tokenized Research tackles this issue by using blockchain technology, offering a tamper-proof, decentralized method of data storage. Researchers can tokenize their data, creating an immutable and publicly verifiable record on the blockchain,thus enhancing data transparency and reliability while contributing to the overall credibility of scientific research.

In addition, our platform will leverage the NMKR Studio API, a prominent NFT API on Cardano. We aim to simplify the process of NFT creation and exchange on our platform, thereby fostering accessibility for developers and researchers alike. This integration will stimulate the growth of the NFT ecosystem on Cardano, encouraging more diverse and creative uses of NFTs.

This project will primarily engage researchers, developers, and participants in the Cardano NFT ecosystem. However, the benefits extend to the broader scientific community and the general public, as they rely on research data for knowledge and decision-making.

Our solution's uniqueness lies in its use of Cardano's advanced blockchain capabilities (native tokens, smart contracts etc.) to foster research integrity and promote NFT accessibility. It represents a practical and novel use of blockchain technology that directly aligns with Cardano's mission of promoting decentralization and transparency.

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

Our solution brings multiple benefits to the Cardano ecosystem:

• Enhanced Transparency and Credibility: By providing a platform for tokenizing research data, we reinforce the core principles of blockchain technology - transparency, immutability, and verifiability. Tokenized Research ensures the integrity of data, thereby enhancing the credibility of research conducted.

• Education and Advocacy: The platform will serve as a practical demonstration of the innovative uses of blockchain technology, potentially encouraging its adoption in other research fields and industries.

• Growth of the Cardano Ecosystem: The integration of the NMKR Dev API will streamline the creation and exchange of NFTs, promoting their use beyond art and collectibles and ultimately leading to the expansion and diversification of the Cardano ecosystem.

• Community Engagement and Growth: By providing a platform for researchers and developers to tokenize and verify their data, we will attract a wide range of users, including academics, scientists, hobbyists, and developers, contributing to the growth of the Cardano community. We anticipate a steady growth in user base and transactions on our platform. Within a year of project completion, we aim to have at least 500 active users and over 2000 research data tokens created. We believe these are realistic targets, considering the increasing interest in blockchain technology for research and NFTs.

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

The success of our project will be gauged through a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics.

Quantitative Metrics:

• Number of Active Users: This is a clear indication of the platform's adoption and the overall interest in Tokenized Research within the Cardano community.
• Number of Research Data Tokens Created: This metric provides a measure of the volume of research data being tokenized on the platform, which directly reflects the utilization of our solution.
• Number of NFT Tools Implementing the NMKR Dev API: This will be a clear measure of how effectively we have integrated the NMKR Studio API, and how it is being utilized to enhance the NFT ecosystem on Cardano.

Qualitative Metrics:

• User Satisfaction and Feedback: We will conduct regular surveys and solicit user feedback to gauge the usability of the platform, the effectiveness of the NMKR Studio API integration, and areas where we could improve.
• Academic and Industry Recognition: Positive recognition from academic and industry experts will signal the project's success in addressing data integrity issues and advancing the Cardano NFT ecosystem.

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

Our plan is to share the outputs and results of our project with the broader Cardano community, the scientific community, and the public at large. Here are the specific steps we plan to take:

• Project Updates and Reports: We will regularly post updates and progress reports on our website and social media platforms. These updates will be detailed and transparent, keeping the community informed about the project's progress, challenges, and milestones.

• Webinars and Workshops: To engage with the community and share our findings, we plan to host webinars and workshops. These events will provide insights into our work, demonstrate the functionalities of our platform, and educate attendees about the potential of tokenized research and NFTs.

• Partnerships with Academic Institutions: By collaborating with universities and research institutions, we can share our findings and applications in a more formal and academic setting. These partnerships will also open doors for potential future research and development activities.

• Publication of White Papers and Research Articles: We will publish white papers detailing our platform's design, functionalities, and potential applications. Additionally, we will submit research articles to academic journals and tech publications to reach a wider audience.

• Open Source Code: To promote transparency and allow other developers to learn from our work, we plan to make our code open source.

What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

Our team is led by professionals who possess a unique combination of skills and expertise in engineering, research, and blockchain development.

Trevor Wilson is our Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientist. He is a PhD candidate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and a published researcher on topics such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS), atmospheric science, geophysics, remote sensing, and seismoacoustics. Beyond his academic prowess, Trevor has developed open-source code for NMKR and has assisted over 20 projects in generating and selling their NFTs. His experience in the Cardano blockchain extends to the development of an animal shelter-focused charity. His diverse expertise in both the scientific and blockchain fields makes him uniquely suited to lead this project.

Doug Fox, our Head of Engineering, brings more than five years of experience in end-to-end development of consumer-grade products. He has a background in mechanical and additive manufacturing engineering, with a focus on 3D printing technologies. His experience in the automotive and motorcycle electronics industries adds a unique perspective to our team.

We are confident in our team's ability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability. We have a track record of successful projects, a deep understanding of the challenges we aim to address, and the technical skills to implement our proposed solutions.

Regarding financial management, we have a robust process in place to ensure proper use of funds. All expenditures are approved by the project manager and audited regularly. We maintain transparent records of all financial transactions and are committed to providing regular financial updates to the community. We understand the importance of financial accountability, especially in a community-driven project, and are prepared to uphold the highest standards.

What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

Our project has several main goals:

1. Develop the Tokenized Research platform on the Cardano blockchain
2. Integrate the NMKR Studio API
3. Promote data integrity in scientific research
4. Expand the NFT ecosystem on Cardano

To validate if our approach is feasible, we will conduct a series of tests and evaluations. We will develop a proof-of-concept prototype of our platform and test it with a select group of users, including researchers and developers. Their feedback will help us identify potential issues and areas for improvement. Additionally, we will use the aforementioned quantitative metrics to guide the development process and continuously determine feasibility moving forward.

Lastly, we will conduct regular project reviews to assess our progress against our goals and make necessary adjustments. These reviews will involve all project stakeholders and will be guided by our project plan and schedule.

In terms of implementation, our team of experienced blockchain developers and researchers will be responsible for the technical aspects of the project. They will leverage their expertise in the Cardano blockchain, smart contracts, and API integration to develop the platform and ensure its functionality aligns with our project goals. We will follow best practices for software development, including regular code reviews, thorough testing, and continuous integration.

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 Setup and Planning (1 month)

• Tasks: Define project scope, assemble team, set up project management tools, develop project plan
• Success Criteria: Detailed project plan, assembled team, established communication channels
• Projected Cost: 10% of total budget

Milestone 2: Development of Tokenized Research Platform (2 months)

• Tasks: Design platform architecture, develop smart contracts for token creation, implement tokenization functionality, conduct initial testing
• Success Criteria: Working prototype of tokenization functionality, successfully conducted tests
• Projected Cost: 30% of total budget

Milestone 3: Integration of NMKR Studio API (1 month)

• Tasks: Understand NMKR Studio API, develop integration plan, implement API integration, conduct testing
• Success Criteria: Successful integration of NMKR Studio API, demonstrated functionality through tests
• Projected Cost: 20% of total budget

Milestone 4: User Interface Development and Testing (1 month)

• Tasks: Design user interface, develop front-end components, integrate with backend, conduct user testing
• Success Criteria: Functional user interface, positive feedback from user testing
• Projected Cost: 20% of total budget

Milestone 5: Launch and Promotion (1 month)

• Tasks: Finalize platform for launch, develop marketing and promotion plan, launch platform, conduct promotional activities
• Success Criteria: Successful launch of platform, initial user engagement, positive response from promotional activities
• Projected Cost: 20% of total budget

Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Milestone 1: Project Setup and Planning

• Deliverables: Detailed project plan, team roles and responsibilities, project management tools setup
• Intended Outcomes: A clear direction for the project, established team roles and communication channels, and a system for tracking progress and issues.
• Progress Measurement: Completion of the project plan, successful setup of project management tools, and team readiness.

Milestone 2: Development of Tokenized Research Platform

• Deliverables: Platform architecture design, smart contract code for token creation, prototype of tokenization functionality, test results
• Intended Outcomes: A functional prototype that can tokenize research data and store it on the Cardano blockchain, demonstration of the prototype's effectiveness through initial testing.
• Progress Measurement: Completion of the platform's architecture design, successful development and testing of the tokenization functionality.

Milestone 3: Integration of NMKR Studio API

• Deliverables: NMKR Studio API integration plan, integrated API in the platform, test results
• Intended Outcomes: Successful integration of the NMKR Studio API into the platform, enabling simplified creation and exchange of NFTs, positive test results indicating successful integration.
• Progress Measurement: Successful integration of the NMKR Studio API, positive results from testing the integrated API.

Milestone 4: User Interface Development and Testing

• Deliverables: User interface design, front-end components, integrated user interface, user testing results
• Intended Outcomes: A user-friendly interface that allows easy interaction with the platform, positive user feedback indicating an intuitive and responsive interface.
• Progress Measurement: Completion of the user interface design and development, positive
• feedback from user testing.

Milestone 5: Launch and Promotion

• Deliverables: Final platform ready for launch, marketing and promotion plan, launch event, promotional materials
• Intended Outcomes: Successful launch of the platform, initial user engagement, increased awareness about the platform through promotional activities.
• Progress Measurement: Successful launch of the platform, initial user engagement numbers, feedback from promotional activities.

Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

1.Project Setup and Planning (10% of total budget - 7,500 ADA)

• Project management tools and resources
• Initial team meetings and workshops

2. Development of Tokenized Research Platform (30% of total budget - 22,500 ADA)

• Development tools and resources
• Smart contract development
• Backend development
• Initial testing and debugging

3. Integration of NMKR Studio API (20% of total budget - 15,000 ADA)

• API integration development
• Testing and debugging

4. User Interface Development and Testing (20% of total budget - 15,000 ADA)

• UI/UX design tools and resources
• Front-end development
• User testing and feedback collection

5. Launch and Promotion (20% of total budget - 15,000 ADA)

• Marketing and promotional activities
• Community engagement events
• Launch event organization

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Our project team consists of the following members:

Trevor Wilson - Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientist

• Role: Project leadership, scientific guidance, and blockchain development
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-wilson-615277226/
• Previous Work: Developed open-source code for NMKR, assisted over 20 projects in generating and selling their NFTs, developed a charity on the Cardano blockchain focused on supporting animal shelters

Doug Fox - Head of Engineering

• Role: Overseeing all engineering aspects of the project, including platform development and API integration
• Previous Work: Has over 5 years of hands-on experience with end-to-end development of consumer-grade products and a background in mechanical/additive engineering in the automotive and motorcycle electronics industries

In addition to Trevor and Doug, we will recruit additional team members as needed, specifically developers with experience in Cardano blockchain, smart contracts, and API integration.

Both Trevor and Doug have been engaged in the Cardano community and have direct lines of communication with the necessary resources required for this project. They have been active on technical group channels such as Discord and have developed strong relationships within the community.

We understand that Catalyst funding is not anonymous, and we are prepared for 'proof of life' verifications. All team members have consented to their information being included in this proposal.

How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The requested budget of 75,000 ADA (equivalent to approximately $22,500 at current rates) represents significant value for money considering the scope and potential impact of the project.

The budget has been carefully calculated based on the average salaries for the roles involved in the project, the complexity of the tasks, and the expected duration of the project. Our team members have significant experience in their respective fields, and the proposed budget is reflective of the high level of skill and expertise they bring to the project.

Furthermore, our project is designed to address a key challenge in the scientific research community and has the potential to revolutionize how research data is stored and verified. By leveraging the Cardano blockchain, we aim to enhance data integrity and transparency in research, which could have far-reaching implications for scientific discovery and innovation.

Additionally, by integrating the NMKR Studio API into our platform, we are not only simplifying the process of NFT creation and exchange but also contributing to the expansion of the NFT ecosystem on Cardano. This will stimulate further development and innovation within the community, attracting more users and developers to the Cardano ecosystem.

Considering these factors, we believe the proposed budget is proportionate to the expected outcomes and potential impact of the project. The investment in our project represents an investment in the future of scientific research and the growth of the Cardano ecosystem.