January 19th, 2022 - The Algorand Centres of Excellence (ACE) programme received 77 proposals with over 550 participants from a total of 46 countries. The ACE programme is a groundbreaking initiative that strives to make a long-lasting, positive impact in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. 

The geographic distribution of participants across all applications received is detailed below.

• Africa: 27
• East Asia: 10
• Europe: 187
• South Asia: 17
• LATAM: 39
• Middle East: 21
• North America: 181
• Oceania: 59
• Southeast Asia: 16

“The quality of the proposals we received for the ACE programme is exceptional,” emphasizes Hugo Krawczyk, Algorand Foundations’ principal researcher and head of the ACE programme. “We are incredibly thankful for all the hard work the applicants put in to produce these amazing submissions. Their ideas will advance the blockchain space to unforeseen levels, not just in terms of cutting edge research, but also in innovative education in the blockchain and cryptocurrencies space. The ACE programme will help raise and nurture diverse, courageous generations of blockchain natives who can create, build, manage and innovate across all geographies.”

The programme has the following key objectives:

• Advance and disseminate multi-disciplinary research in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space
• Design educational programmes for a new generation of blockchain natives, including blockchain courses and student projects, hackathons and accelerators, and grassroot student involvement via student-led activities (e.g., blockchain clubs, etc.) 
• Support applied research and education leading to the development of innovative real-world mechanisms, applications and use cases
• Foster an inclusive and diverse community of blockchain enthusiasts centred around student and campus initiatives 
• Promote social impact and sustainability projects based on blockchain with measurable metrics 
• Enhance the capabilities of the Algorand platform, grow its community and ecosystem, and bring us closer to fulfilling the vision of an equitable, inclusive, borderless economy

Please see the ACE programme description for more information. 

Questions? Email the ACE team at [email protected].