Ship or Die 2025: University Research Driving Innovation

Decentralized science (DeSci) is set to revolutionize how university research is funded and commercialized, with Solana playing a pivotal role in this transformation. Leading experts reveal how blockchain technology is accelerating scientific innovation and bridging funding gaps in academia.

Summary

The panel discussion at the Ship or Die 2025 event brought together experts in university research commercialization and decentralized science to explore the future of scientific funding and innovation. Paul Kohlhaas, CEO of VitaDAO, a decentralized scientific community on Solana, moderated the discussion with Mark Sedam from New York University and Matt Abbott from Newcastle University.

The conversation highlighted the potential of decentralized science to address funding shortfalls in traditional research models, particularly in light of recent budget cuts to institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The panelists discussed how blockchain technology could streamline the funding process, reduce bureaucracy, and open up new avenues for community engagement in scientific research.

A key focus was on the successful implementation of DeSci funding at Newcastle University, where a research project on autophagy activators for longevity was funded and tokenized in record time. This case study demonstrated the efficiency and potential of blockchain-based funding models in accelerating scientific progress.

The discussion also touched on the challenges of integrating decentralized funding models with traditional university structures, particularly concerning intellectual property rights and commercialization. The experts emphasized the need for clear legal and tokenomic models to facilitate the adoption of DeSci in academia.

Key Points:

The Impact of Budget Cuts on Scientific Research

Mark Sedam explained that recent budget cuts, such as the $2.2 billion reduction in NIH funding, are likely to have significant effects on the scientific research ecosystem in the United States. These cuts may lead to certain areas of science losing funding, particularly those with lighter commercialization potential or where the end products need to be cheap and widely available, such as vaccines or treatments for antimicrobial resistance.

Sedam suggested that decentralized funding models could play a crucial role in filling these gaps, ensuring that important areas of research don't disappear due to lack of traditional funding. He emphasized that once funding stops for a particular field, it can quickly vanish and take a long time to rebuild, making alternative funding sources increasingly important.

Pioneering Decentralized Science Funding at Newcastle University

Matt Abbott shared Newcastle University's groundbreaking experience with decentralized science funding. In 2021, the university became one of the first to receive funding through a DeSci model for a research project focused on autophagy activators in the field of longevity.

Abbott highlighted the efficiency of the process, noting that while traditional research grants can take 6-12 months to secure, the DeSci funding was completed in just four weeks. This included not only the funding allocation but also due diligence processes covering areas such as intellectual property, commercial potential, and scientific background. The speed and thoroughness of this process impressed the university and demonstrated the potential of DeSci to streamline research funding.

Tokenization of Research Projects

Paul Kohlhaas elaborated on how the funded research project at Newcastle University was tokenized, creating a liquid token on the blockchain that represents ownership in the research. This tokenization allowed for community ownership of the project, with a global community of token holders participating in the research's governance and potential future benefits.

The tokenization model opens up new possibilities for funding and community engagement in scientific research. Kohlhaas revealed that discussions are underway with a major government to pioneer a first clinical trial in longevity using this decentralized model, potentially revolutionizing how clinical trials are funded and conducted.

Challenges and Opportunities for Universities

Mark Sedam discussed the challenges universities face in adapting to decentralized funding models. He pointed out that universities are conditioned to operate under certain federal laws regarding ownership and transfer of intellectual property. For DeSci to be fully embraced, there may need to be more flexibility from government regulations.

Sedam emphasized that universities primarily view commercialization as a means to change society rather than simply generate revenue. He suggested that any model that accelerates the advancement of science and its real-world impact would be welcome, but it needs to be balanced with the complexities of ownership and control in the commercialization process.

Building Communities Around Research

Matt Abbott highlighted one of the key benefits of DeSci: building communities around researchers and their work. This community aspect helps researchers transition from the lab to the real world by connecting them with experts in various fields. Abbott also noted the importance of opening up science to the public, particularly in the UK where impact and social engagement are significant factors in research evaluation.

The Future of Research Funding and Commercialization

The panelists agreed that while DeSci offers exciting possibilities for funding and accelerating research, there are still challenges to overcome. These include educating university stakeholders about blockchain technology, developing clear legal and tokenomic models, and finding ways to balance community ownership with the need for clear control in commercialization processes.

The discussion concluded with a look at emerging research areas, particularly in AI and machine learning at NYU, and how DeSci could potentially support these cutting-edge fields. The panelists expressed optimism about the potential for blockchain technology to not only fund research but also to increase public engagement and potentially reduce costs in the pharmaceutical industry.

Facts + Figures

• $2.2 billion was cut from NIH funding, affecting thousands of scientists
• 20 of the last 30 blockbuster drugs originated in academia
• Newcastle University completed a DeSci funding process in 4 weeks, compared to the usual 6-12 months for traditional grants
• The tokenized research project at Newcastle raised about 300,000 in total funding
• NYU has a research base of about $1.5 billion per year
• NYU's commercialization office invests $6-7 million annually in translational research funding
• Traditional license agreements for university research typically take 3-6 months to complete
• Researchers can spend up to 80% of their time applying for funding rather than conducting science
• The tokenized research project (V2FAST) is being migrated to the Solana blockchain
• Clinical trials for new compounds can cost upwards of $50-80 million to get approval

Top quotes

1. "In the spirit of the Solana vibe, I'm going to start with the meme, like, yeah, go science. Because science, I think, is like, in many ways, the backbone of society." - Paul Kohlhaas

2. "It took four weeks from the start of that project, getting our desk, to getting a contract and the money in the bank, which was really quite impressive." - Matt Abbott

3. "Universities generally don't look at commercialization as money-making enterprises. We really think about how we change society." - Mark Sedam

4. "Finding a way to make sure that people get a return for the investment that they make, but they don't necessarily have control over how that asset kind of goes forward in the future is gonna be the balance." - Mark Sedam

5. "De-size really about moving science on chains so that it can massively accelerate." - Paul Kohlhaas

Questions Answered

What is decentralized science (DeSci) and how is it changing university research funding?

Decentralized science is a new model of funding and conducting scientific research using blockchain technology. It allows for faster funding processes, community involvement, and tokenization of research projects. DeSci is changing university research funding by providing an alternative to traditional grant processes, which can be slow and bureaucratic. For example, Newcastle University funded a research project through DeSci in just four weeks, compared to the usual 6-12 months for traditional grants.

How might recent budget cuts to institutions like the NIH impact scientific research?

Recent budget cuts, such as the $2.2 billion reduction in NIH funding, could significantly impact scientific research in the United States. These cuts may lead to certain areas of science losing funding, particularly those with lighter commercialization potential or where end products need to be cheap and widely available. This could slow down the pace of research for years to come and potentially cause some important research areas to disappear entirely. DeSci funding models could help fill these gaps and ensure that critical research continues despite traditional funding shortfalls.

What are the benefits of tokenizing research projects?

Tokenizing research projects offers several benefits. It allows for community ownership and engagement, with token holders participating in the governance and potential future benefits of the research. This can lead to increased public interest and involvement in scientific endeavors. Tokenization also enables more flexible funding models and potentially faster commercialization of research outcomes. In the case of the Newcastle University project, tokenization has led to discussions about pioneering a clinical trial in longevity research, which could revolutionize how such trials are funded and conducted.

What challenges do universities face in adopting decentralized science funding models?

Universities face several challenges in adopting DeSci funding models. These include navigating existing regulations and laws regarding intellectual property ownership and transfer, which may not be fully compatible with decentralized models. There's also the need to educate stakeholders within universities about blockchain technology and its potential applications in research funding. Additionally, universities must find ways to balance community ownership through tokenization with the need for clear control in commercialization processes, especially when dealing with large pharmaceutical companies or other industry partners.

How could decentralized science funding impact the commercialization of university research?

Decentralized science funding could significantly impact the commercialization of university research by accelerating the funding process and potentially reducing the time it takes to bring innovations to market. It could also provide new avenues for community engagement and expert input throughout the research process. However, there are challenges to overcome, such as ensuring clear ownership and control of intellectual property rights, which are crucial for successful commercialization. The tokenization of research projects could also create new models for revenue sharing and stakeholder involvement in the commercialization process.