Please describe your proposed solution.

As Cardano use cases proliferate, there is an increased need to formalize requirements for the development of Decentralized Identifiers (DID’s) and to understand the broader needs of projects and entities seeking to leverage these technologies. Only after the Cardano ecosystem accepts a formalized list of system requirements that meet the needs of stakeholders and users will DID solutions achieve their full potential across the network. As it stands now, projects rushing to provide DID solutions have adopted ad hoc research and development strategies which may have affected their solutions adoption, interoperability and thereby its efficacy.

In response to this ecosystem need, Landano will undertake focused research into existing

standards, best practices, and stakeholder needs with the aim of better understanding what effective DID solutions must provide in terms of functionality and interoperability. The outputs from this research will allow the Landano team to develop an evaluation framework which will be used to assess current Cardano-based DID solutions to see how their development has responded to these requirements.

The results of this research and subsequent case study will contribute to a formal list of system requirements for DID developers and a tool by which users can understand how current solutions compare. All of these outputs will be made publicly available and an awareness building campaign will be executed to increase visibility within the community. By doing this, Landano will aid in fostering more robust tooling of DID solutions that have been developed to explicitly meet stakeholder and user needs while adhering to current standards and best practices.

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

This DID research, documentation, and developer recommendations by the Landano team will significantly boost DID development and efficacy. By empowering Cardano’s developer base with critical tools to better inform their development of DID solutions, Landano will reduce the overhead associated with familiarizing Cardano developers with the standards and best practices being observed globally by other DID developers. Because of the broader impact that this project has on the Cardano ecosystem, it aligns with Cardano's strategic goal of broadening its reach and usability in real-world applications.

Measurable Impact:

1. User Engagement: Success will be gauged through interactions with Cardano users and identified stakeholders
2. Community Involvement: Interaction metrics on social media channels such as X, Medium, and GitHub will serve as another success indicator, showcasing community involvement, feedback, and contribution.
3. Enterprise Adoption: Long-term, we aim to track the number of applications developed by leveraging our formal list of system recommendations, highlighting the real-world impact and integration of Cardano in DID solutions.

Broader Implications:

Where previous attempts to provide DID solutions within Cardano have failed to provide seamless adoption and interoperability owing to an ad hoc approach to development, Landano’s research and community driven assessment of current solutions and future requirements will aid in ushering in a new chapter for DID in Cardano-based solutions.

Dissemination of resources

Things created in a vacuum are useless and Landano believes firmly in increasing access and equity through open source publication. Because of this, all findings and outputs from this project will be made publicly available so that the Cardano ecosystem benefits from the work. In order to increase visibility, we will leverage social media channels such as X, Medium, and interview opportunities to inform community members of the resources available to them.

Dissemination of resources:

Things created in a vacuum are useless and Landano believes firmly in increasing access and equity through open source publication. Because of this, all findings and outputs from this project will be made publicly available so that the Cardano ecosystem benefits from the work. In order to increase visibility, we will leverage social media channels such as X, Medium, and interview opportunities to inform community members of the resources available to them.

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?

Capability & Feasibility:

Our team at Landano International Ltd. is uniquely qualified to undertake this research and development, as each team member brings specific expertise crucial for the success of this initiative.

Dorus van der Kroft, CTO of Landano and Lead Developer of the Project: Dorus is the driving technical force behind the project. With extensive experience in blockchain technology and software development, he ensures the technical excellence and innovation of our solution.

Peter van Garderen, CEO of Landano and Systems Analyst for the Project: Peter brings a strategic vision for integrating blockchain solutions with enterprise systems, overseeing the analytical aspects of the project. His insights are vital in aligning the project with enterprise needs.

Aaron Meguin, COO of Landano and Project Manager: Aaron is responsible for the project's overall management, ensuring that all components progress cohesively and efficiently. His expertise in operations management is key to maintaining project timelines and quality.

Dan Amankona, CMO of Landano and Community Liaison: Dan plays a pivotal role in engaging with the developer and broader Cardano community, gathering feedback, and fostering collaborations that enhance the project's relevance and adoption.

Christian Koch, systems analyst and researcher for Landano: Christian has been conducting research into DID solutions in human rights contexts with a focus on evaluating current standards for creating tools which are interoperable and legally effective.

Technical Feasibility & Project Management:

Our approach combines agile methodologies with continuous integration and deployment, ensuring that the project adapts to changing requirements and incorporates feedback efficiently. We leverage state-of-the-art tools for project tracking and version control, guaranteeing transparency and consistency.

Risk Mitigation:

Our team's combination of technical acumen, strategic insight, operational excellence, and community engagement positions us to successfully deliver a product that meets the needs of the Cardano ecosystem and its stakeholders.

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

Project Initiation and Identification of Standards

Objective: Kick off the project and complete discovery phase by conducting a review of relevant resources.

Activities: Initial team meetings, stakeholder consultations, identification of key resources, and initiate requirement documentation.

Deliverable: The Landano team will make available a summary of identified resources and key takeaways/lessons learned during the initial review process; this summary may also include any additional strategies or components for Milestone 2.

Acceptance Criterion: Above summary of resources, lessons and strategies made available to the Cardano/Catalyst community.

Expected Completion: Week 3

>Requirements Finalization

Objective: finalize a detailed list of system requirements and core features of a cardano-based DID solution.

Activities: Develop a framework of standards and system requirements for use in evaluation and identify current cardano-based projects leveraging DID solutions.

Deliverables:

• A list of system requirements derived from the research executed in Milestone 1
• A critical framework to be used in Milestone 3.

Acceptance Criterion: Both of these artifacts made available to the Catalyst/Cardano community

Expected Completion: Week 6

>Case Study

Objective: Complete DID solution case study.

Activities: Conduct a systematic evaluation of current Cardano-based DID solutions by leveraging the framework designed in milestone 2.

Deliverable: A report summarizing the results of this evaluation.

Acceptance Criterion: This report made available to the Catalyst/Cardano Community.

Expected Completion: Week 10

>Finalize Evaluation Results and DID Recommendations

Objective: Wrap up research and evaluation by coalescing findings into a single, or series of, written reports and developer recommendations.

Activities: Formalize research findings, draft recommendations for developers working on Cardano-based DID solutions.

Deliverable: A document (or series depending on length) wherein the following will be available: the results of DID use case analysis and any recommendations that Landano has for future DID development.

Acceptance Criterion: These results and recommendations made available to the Cardano/Catalyst Community.

Expected Completion: Week 14

>Build Public Awareness and Release of Documentation

Objective: Launch a public awareness campaign by releasing project documentation and other outputs.

Activities: Release documentation, leverage social media and other channels for bringing awareness to study, connect with initially consulted stakeholders for project review.

Deliverable: Landano will systematically release project outputs through its multiple social channels in order to drive project awareness and community access. Methods for executing this phase will be flexible as the team will take advantage of organic opportunities to share project outputs (e.g. interviews, masterclasses, etc).

Acceptance Criteria: A summary series of links to social media posts, podcast episodes, interviews, videos, etc. made available to the Catalyst/Cardano Community.

Expected Completion: Week 16

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

Dorus Van Der Kroft

Landano: CTO

Mendix Plugin Project: Lead Developer

<https://www.landano.io/team/dorus-van-der-kroft/>

Peter Van Garderen

Landano: CEO

Mendix Plugin Project: Systems Analyst

<https://www.landano.io/team/peter-van-garderen/>

Aaron Moguin

Landano: COO

Mendix Plugin Project: Project Manager

<https://www.landano.io/team/aaron-moguin/>

Dan Amankona

Landano: CMO

Mendix Plugin Project: Community Liaison

<https://www.landano.io/team/dan-amankona/>

Christian Koch

Landano: Systems Analyst and Researcher

<https://www.landano.io/team/christian-koch/>

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Research Costs (60% of total budget)

• Includes salaries for researchers, costs for any required software or relevant resources.
• Total Allocation: 56,940 ADA (~$22,000 USD)

Documentation (30% of total budget)

• Includes the creation of comprehensive user and developer guides, tutorials, and online help resources.
• Total Allocation: 28,470 ADA (~$11,000 USD)

Overhead Costs (10% of total budget)

• General administrative costs, legal fees, marketing, and other miscellaneous expenses.
• Total Allocation: 9,490 ADA (~$3,700 USD)

Detailed Breakdown:

• Researcher Compensation: The largest portion of the budget, ensuring adequate compensation for the skilled researchers required for this complex project.
• Documentation: Essential for public dissemination and increased awareness within the Cardano ecosystem. This output may include, but is not limited to, a research review, an evaluation of current solutions, a list of identified system requirements, and recommendations for DID solutions developers.
• Administrative and Miscellaneous Expenses: Includes costs such as project management tools, communication expenses, marketing campaigns, and any unforeseen costs that may arise.

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

Our project, "Mapping RealFi DID Requirements to Cardano-based Solutions," offers substantial value for the investment of 94,900 ADA.

• High Value Developer Resources: By focusing on the development of critically needed resources for DID development, Landano will enable Cardano developers to easily understand what stakeholders and standards require from DID solutions.
• High Value and Reusability: Landano will create tools that can be reused across numerous projects. This reusable aspect means that the investment extends beyond a single application, providing ongoing value as more developers adopt these tools.
• Potential for Widespread Adoption: With an increasing need for DID solutions within the Cardano ecosystem, and a base of developers seeking to better understand solution requirements,, even a small percentage in terms of adoption represents significant coalessence and growth within Cardano’s use cases of DID solutions. This has the potential of translating into increased interoperability and efficacy across Cardano Dapps thereby enhancing the blockchain's utility and visibility in various sectors.
• Strategic Alignment with Cardano's Goals: Our project directly supports Cardano's strategic objective of expanding its ecosystem and fostering blockchain adoption. This alignment ensures that the investment is not just in a standalone project but in the broader goal of ecosystem growth.
• Cost-Effective Approach: Our budget is strategically allocated to ensure maximum impact per ADA spent. The emphasis on essential features within a four-month timeline ensures that the project delivers value quickly without unnecessary expenditures.
• Community and Future Development: By making our tools open-source, we are investing in the Cardano community. This not only fosters collaboration and innovation but also ensures the sustainability and continuous improvement of the tools we develop.

In conclusion, the investment in our project yields not only immediate tangible outputs in the form of critically needed resources for DID developers, but also long-term benefits for the Cardano ecosystem through increased adoption, community engagement, and alignment with strategic objectives.