[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

The Challenge :

This proposal will deliver a comprehensive report about the ambitious European Union's Digital Agenda 2030 and NGI (Next Generation Internet) Program. This is an important input for the Cardano Community, as major strategic milestones, calls for collaboration and funding opportunities can be easily missed. The EU Digital Agenda 2030 stands for an emerging framework for the next phase of Digital Transformation, where the EU is undertaking strong efforts to change the game. What started out with fragmented regulations e.g Cybersecurity NIS2, GDPR, eIDAS, EUID, DMA, DSA, MiCA and AI-Regulation Drafts will be brought into one coherent approach. Under the vision to 're-imagine and re-engineer the internet', the European Commission aims for an Internet of Trust based on 'Digital Commons', which is no longer controlled by an oligopoly of a hand full of technology corporations. Even though there are dangers and traps along this journey driven by public-sector organizations, the positive aspects and opportunities outweigh the threats. There are three main opportunities for the Cardano Community in the context of the EU’s Digital Agenda that we want to highlight and drive with this project:

• Understand and benefitting from the EU's Strategic Pillars: Just like GDPR, the EU's Next Generation Internet approaches will be of global importance, as it strongly aims for an 'Internet of Humans' based on Open Source and Digital Commons - drafting a third way as democratic alternative to the currently emerging 'Big State' or 'Big Tech' dominated models.

• Participation in collaborative public/private sector projects: The European Union opens up for a multitude of interesting blockchain-relevant activities with the aim of co-shaping standards and regulation, co-developing, testing and promoting solutions that comply with 'European Declaration of Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade'. Open Source Governance is high up in this agenda.

• Utilizing Funding Opportunities: In the context of its Digital Agenda, the European Union invests substantial amounts of money into innovation projects of all sizes and forms, including in the blockchain space. Be it the Horizon Europe program or other opportunities: Such funding sources can also be a major accelerator for projects within the Cardano community.

The white frame in the graphic below shows, how this project fits into our overall DLT360 approach:

Our Approach and Deliverables

With this project, we provide a solid overview on EU strategies, programs as well as business and funding opportunities. We do this by establishing the following openSource outputs:

• Comprehensive and actionable REPORT that lays out the various EU programs and the therein embedded opportunities, including proposed ways how to access such opportunities (approx. 10,000 Words).

• A promotional overview video and PRIMER usable in our public comunication

• Educational Material, Webinar & Training Program for the Cardano Community, focused on providing a better understanding of and access to these programs and opportunities (Approx. 30 slides, 3 seminars included)

• Monitoring and alerting of EU funding opportunities during 2024

<u>This proposal is independent but supports our overall DLT360 approach</u>, which focuses on creating an effective and efficient 'Launch Platform' for a multitude of scalable applications for business and industry. While substantial pre-work in the Knowledge-Management and ThinkTank Layer has already been completed thanks to funding by Fund 6, 7 and 8, our new Fund 11 proposals aim for completing our approach, allowing us to start the piloting-process with real-world pilot clients (see our 'Business Development Sandbox' proposal submitted under 'Use Cases: Solution').

In Fund 11 we have also submitted the conception of three important scalable applications: auditSHARE, cardaBAN and twinSHARE (all three submitted under 'Use Cases: Concept'). Our goal for these three proposals is to establish a solid basis for subsequent application development and monetization, hopefully already subject to submission to Fund 12.

All our Fund 11 proposals can be easily found by any typing DLT360: into the IdeasScale search field.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community.

Value to the Cardano Community:

There are three main impact areas as already described under the previous section:

• Understand and benefitting from the EU's Strategic Pillars
• Participation in collaborative public/private sector projects
• Utilizing Funding Opportunities

How to measure the impact ?

We will measure the impact of this project by conducting NPS surveys after the sharing activities with the Cardano Community and we will track the number of people and projects who directly or indirectly benefitted from our report, presentations, videos and activities.

We will additionally monitor:

• Number of downloads of the Report
• Number of seminars and seminar participants

How we will share the outputs and opportunities that result from this project?

The results of this project will be openly available as described in the 'Open Source Section' earlier in this proposal. Our outputs will be shared as following:

• Over the DLT360 Website

• Ober LinkedIn and YouTube (the promotional elements)

• By delivering to the Cardano Catalyst Community based on the valid reporting standards

  [CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] 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?

DLT360 was founded by an ambitious core-team coming from many years of leadership experience in business and industry, combined with the fresh perspective of young talents in various disciplines (see team description later in this proposal). DLT360's core-team and extended domain expert team in the knowledge areas of Economy,Technology, Regulation, Politics and ESG.

The senior founders have also been active members of and contributors to the Catalyst community since early-on. DLT360 has successfully completed 20 projects in Fund 6, 7 and 8. This project is now a major element of orchestrating many of the previous projects and to make us ready for piloting and scaling up the work with Commercial Clients from business and industry.

Our team (including the closely linked free-lancers) has many years of experience in:

• Innovation Management

• Specific deep knowledge about industrial process and supply-chain transformation

• Specific knowledge of activities and regulations of the European Union

• Strong network to key-players within academia and within the various EU-initiatives

• Quality Management according to ISO9001

• Cybersecurity according to ISO27001

• Specific knowledge in Business Model & Value Proposition Development

• Specific knowledge in UX, design and branding

• Program Management

• Project Management

• Full-stack development resources

• Knowhow in business administration, controlling and reporting

• We use best-practice infrastructure and tools like e.g. GitHub and MIRO for supporting our collaborative processes and document management.

  [Project Milestones] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone Title:

Project setup, project infrastructure, planning and team in place.

Setting up a dedicated web-landing area for this project.

Completion:

End of Month 1 of 6

Outputs:

1. Project infrastructure and detailed planning of the project
2. Team in place, kickoff event and training
3. Definition of the required project deliverables
4. Web-landing area as part of the DLT360 website in place

Acceptance Criteria (for Outputs):

1. Project setup including project plan in GitHub, project boards prepared in MIRO
2. Roles defined and allocated to resources, team in place, kickoff-meeting with all required communication and training done
3. Detailed definition of deliverables drafted and available for the project team
4. Web-landing area can be accessed and provides initial information about the projects scope, outcome and roadmap

Evidence (for Acceptance Criteria fulfilled):

We will deliver a brief video in which we will go through the individual outputs, the acceptance criteria and the evidence. As evidence we will provide:

1. Going through the basic Github setup and the detailed project planning & controlling, Demonstrating the project setup in MIRO
2. Showing the project organization chart, report of the kickoff meeting, training activities and introducing the key-people
3. Demonstrating and explaining the MIRO Board with the detailed definition of the deliverables of this project
4. Demonstrating the Web-landing area with its basic initial content

>Milestone Title:

Research based on extensive Literature Review, Expert Meetings, Workshops and other complementary activities completed

Completion:

End of Month 2 of 6

Outputs:

1. Summary of expert interviews and meetings
2. Summary of Literature Review
3. Summary of Workshops
4. Summary of other research activities

Acceptance Criteria (for Outputs):

1. At least 5 expert interviews respectively meetings completed and documented
2. At least 20 relevant literature review sources reviewed, documented in bibliography
3. At least 1 expert workshop
4. Other research activities completed and documented

Evidence (for Acceptance Criteria fulfilled):

We will deliver a brief video in which we will go through the individual outputs, the acceptance criteria and the evidence. As evidence we will provide:

1. Brief info about each of the interviews and meetings, including recordings & transcripts
2. Showing the draft of the Literature Review chapter of the Report, showing the bibliography appendix with all reviewed sources listed
3. Showing the results of the expert workshop(s)
4. Showing the results of other research activities

>Milestone Title:

First complete draft of Project Report in place (note: further improvements will be made along the execution of the project based on our learning during the journey). Overview of interaction roadmap and funding opportunities available

Completion:

End of Month 3 of 6

Outputs:

1. Completely written draft of the Project Report
2. Up-to-date overview of interaction roadmap and funding opportunities

Acceptance Criteria (for Outputs):

1. Report with approx. 10,000 words and graphics available
2. Up-to-dater overview of interaction roadmap and funding opportunities available

Evidence (for Acceptance Criteria fulfilled):

We will deliver a brief video in which we will go through the individual outputs, the acceptance criteria and the evidence. As evidence we will provide:

1. Showing the content of the report and providing the links for inspection
2. Showing the overview chart(s) in MIRO

>Milestone Title:

Educational material and promotional material available.

Monitoring and news-sharing method established.

Completion:

End of Month 4 of 6

Outputs:

1. Webinar / Training presentation
2. Promotional Primer
3. Promotional Video
4. Monitoring and news-sharing method

Acceptance Criteria (for Outputs):

1. Webinar / Training presentation (approx. 30 slides) available
2. Promotional Primer (about 500 words) available
3. Promotional Videos (60 second and 3 minutes version) available
4. Monitoring and news-sharing method developed

Evidence (for Acceptance Criteria fulfilled):

We will deliver a brief video in which we will go through the individual outputs, the acceptance criteria and the evidence. As evidence we will provide:

1. Providing a glance of the presentation, providing the link for deeper inspection
2. Showing and explaining the Primer, providing the link for inspection
3. Showing the promotional videos, providing the link for inspection
4. Introducing the monitoring and news-sharing method (showing MIRO boards)

>Not applicable

>Milestone Title:

Deliverables completed and 3 Info-sharing / training webinars held.

Project successfully completed.

Completion:

End of Month 6 of 6

Outputs:

1. Corrected and released Project Report
2. Corrected and released Primer
3. Corrected and released Promotional Videos
4. Corrected and released Webinar/Training Presentation
5. Monitoring and News-Sharing Method
6. Webinar/Training Sessions
7. Project Closeout Report
8. Project Closeout Video

Acceptance Criteria (for Outputs):

1. Corrected and released Project Report available (approx. 10,000 words and graphics)
2. Corrected and released Primer available (about 500 words)
3. Corrected and released Promotional Videos available (60 second and 3 minutes version)
4. Corrected and released Webinar/Training Presentation available (approx. 30 slides)
5. Monitoring and News-Sharing Method (first News sharing session held)
6. Webinar/Training Sessions (3 webinars held)
7. Project Closeout Report
8. Project Closeout Video

Evidence (for Acceptance Criteria fulfilled):

We will deliver a brief video in which we will go through the individual outputs, the acceptance criteria and the evidence. As evidence we will provide:

1. Showing Project Report and providing links
2. Showing Primer and providing links
3. Showing Promotional Videos and providing links
4. Showing Webinar/Training Presentation and providing links
5. Showing summary of first News-Sharing session
6. Showing summary of 3 Webinar/Training Sessions
7. Delivering Project Closeout Report according to Catalyst Guidelines
8. Delivering Project Closeout Video according to Catalyst Guidelines

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

Project Lead

• Heinz Gassner, founder of DLT360 comes from 30+ years of experience in technology marketing, strategic business model development and innovation leadership positions in renowned manufacturing companies. In addition to this this, Heinz has education and experience in general business administration and regulatory matters and is just completing his latest M.Sc. in DLT/Blockchain at University of Malta. Due to his long industry-career, Heinz also has a strong personal network within the business and industry leadership community. Heinz has been engaged with CARDANO since 2017 and is an active player within the Catalyst community since the very first town-hall. See LinkedIn

Regulatory Matters, Research Assistant & UX Design

• Jonas Weinberger, co-founder of DLT360. Jonas has recently graduated from the Brussels School of Governance. Jonas is a regular contributor to DLT360’s legal workstream and is an active part of the DLT360 research team. Jonas is also our internal mastermind in design, presentation as well as video production. Currently, Jonas is Master Student in Branding, Design and UX at University of Barcelona, Spain. See LinkedIn

Project Management / Quality control & Development Coordinator

• Guilherme Pereira, co-founder of DLT360, just completing his M.Sc. in Mechatronics in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Guilherme is active in our research team and is our program- and project management lead. Guilherme also coordinates our Brazilian free-lancers for back-office and software (PoC) coding. See LinkedIn

Domain Experts from Academia, Industry and European Union

• During this project, we will consult with our various domain experts from academia and industry for securing the required academic and practical anchoring.

Freelance Assistance

Besides our core-team, this project will be supported by the freelance and partner resources:

• Back-office team (Brazil)

• Domain Experts from industry and academia for assisting us on demand

• External partnerships

  [BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Please see next chapter (value for money) in this proposal for our comments on how we calculated the average hourly rates applied herein.

Milestone 1: Project setup, project infrastructure, planning and team in place. Setting up a dedicated web-landing area for this project.

Completion: End of Month 1 of 6

Budget Positions:

• Project infrastructure, planning of the project (5 hours x 250 ADA/h = 1,250 ADA)
• Team in place, kickoff event and training (5 hours x 250 ADA/h = 1,250 ADA)
• Definition of the required project deliverables (5 hours x 250 ADA/h = 1,250 ADA)
• Web-landing area (5 hours x 250 ADA/h = 1,250 ADA)
• Total: 5,000 ADA

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Milestone 2: Research based on extensive Literature Review, Expert Meetings, Workshops and other complementary activities completed

Completion: End of Month 2 of 6

Budget Positions:

• Expert interviews and meetings (20 hours x 250 ADA = 5,000 ADA)
• Literature Review (62,5 hours x 200 ADA = 12,500 ADA)
• Workshops (20 hours x 250 ADA = 5,000 ADA)
• Other research activities (10 hours x 250 ADA = 2,500 ADA)
• Total: 25,000 ADA

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Milestone 3: First complete draft of Project Report in place. Overview of interaction roadmap and funding opportunities available

Completion: End of Month 3 of 6

Budget Positions:

• Completely written draft of the Project Report (80 hours x 250 ADA = 20,000 ADA)
• Interaction roadmap & funding opportunities (20 hours x 250 ADA = 5,000 ADA)
• Total: 25,000 ADA

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Milestone 4: Educational material and promotional material available. Monitoring and news-sharing method established.

Completion: End of Month 4 of 6

Budget Positions:

• Webinar / Training presentation (50 hours x 200 ADA = 10,000 ADA)
• Promotional Primer (20 hours x 250 ADA = 5,000 ADA)
• Promotional Video (20 hours x 250 ADA = 5,000 ADA)
• Monitoring and news-sharing method (20 hours x 250 ADA = 5,000 ADA)
• Total: 25,000 ADA

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Final Milestone: Deliverables completed and 3 Info-sharing / training webinars held.

Project successfully completed.

Completion: End of Month 6 of 6

Budget Positions:

• Corrected and released Deliverables (12,5 hours x 200 ADA/h = 2,500 ADA)

• 1 x Monitoring and News-Sharing Method (10 hours x 250 ADA/h = 2,500 ADA)

• 3x Webinar/Training Sessions (40 hours x 250 ADA = 10,000 ADA)

• Project Closeout Report (10 hours x 250 ADA/h = 2,500 ADA)

• Project Closeout Video (10 hours x 250 ADA/h = 2,500 ADA)

• Total: 20,000 ADA

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

The following background is important for understanding the calculation of our average global hourly rates (we applied 250 ADA for senior expert level and 200 ADA for operational level)

• For the applied average hourly rates, please note that the DLT 360 Team is located in Europe, UK and Brazil
• Our applied hourly rate covers
• average costs for travel & accommodation
• general administration, operations and marketing overhead
• tax and social security expenses
• special crypto-related legal and tax consulting expenses
• EXCHANGE RATE RISK MANAGEMENT
• For this project, we need to engage high-level external experts on-demand, coming from various disciplines in academia and industry. This requires rather high hourly rates.
• We compensate this by allocating tasks to our team in Brazil wherever possible (eg. back-office work, project management work, research and development assistance)