ACE Programme FAQ

About

What do the ACEs do?

The Algorand Centres of Excellence (ACEs) are multidisciplinary centres which advance research and support applied education in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. They do so by performing multi-disciplinary research, designing educational programmes, working on real-world use cases & social impact projects and by fostering an inclusive and diverse community of blockchain enthusiasts centred around student and campus initiatives. The ACEs run for three to five years.

How were the ACEs selected?

Algorand Foundation received 77 proposals with 550 participants from 46 countries. A designated review committee, consisting of international experts from a variety of backgrounds and internal Algorand Foundation representatives, evaluated the proposals based on the review principles and criteria as listed in the Request for Proposals. Reviewers were selected based on their expertise in the field, along with their educational activities. A total of 184 completed reviews were evaluated to select the ACE grant recipients. The original Call for Proposals can be found here.

Will there be another Request for Proposals for the ACE program soon?

Review

What is an ACE milestone report and when do the ACEs need to submit it?

Once per funding year, 30 days prior to the six-months mark, ACEs will be required to submit a brief milestone summary of their recent activities which includes a short video recording (five to seven minutes). The written report should not exceed two pages.

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Please use the template provided. The milestone summaries (video and report) will be collated by the ACE Programme Manager and will be shared with the public at the discretion of Algorand Foundation. The report must be submitted via the designated platform Submittable 30 days prior to the project period (see “Payment Schedule” in the Request for Proposals).

Is there a template for the ACE milestone report?

Please use the milestone report template provided. Please also provide a short video recording where the PI or another ACE core team member provides a short overview of the recent activities (5-7 minutes are sufficient) and 2-5 slides summarizing the progress.

What is an ACE annual report and when do ACEs need to submit it?

Every 12 months, ACEs will be required to submit an annual report via the designated platform Submittable. Reports will have segments to be shared with other ACE PIs as well as segments that will be shared with the Algorand Foundation only. The latter will include budget reporting. Annual reports should cover updates on progress towards the set milestones, including information on the different types of activities the ACE engaged in (e.g. event/workshop/course attendance numbers, publications, speaking engagements, news coverage, etc.), updates on ACE personnel and plans for the upcoming year. The annual report should be 6-10 pages long and be accompanied with a slide deck summarizing the report (4-6 slides).

Is there a template for the annual report?

A template for the annual report will be provided in due course.

Why does Algorand Foundation require both milestone updates and annual reports?

Algorand Foundation requires participating Algorand Centres of Excellence (ACEs) to submit a short milestone summary once per year to update the Foundation on activities and progress at the ACE in an informal way. The annual report is a formal summary of the ACE’s activities throughout the funding year, including a financial report. The Foundation will use this information to assess the progress the ACE is making and for communications purposes, if applicable. The reports are also the basis for continued payments throughout the agreed grant period. Please see the Terms and Conditions for details.

If my organisation is part of a multi-institution ACE, which institution needs to provide the milestone update and the annual report?

The lead organisation will need to submit all reports (milestone updates and annual reports). Please see above for a definition of “lead organisation”. The report should identify the participants, activities and results that are specific to the collaborative component that the PI directs with.

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