EUR 5 Million Blockchain Contest Updated Rules & Eligibility

The Blockchain for Social Good contest, announced in December 2017 by the European Commission (EC) and offering a EUR 5 million top prize to be equally divided among five winners, is open as of May 16th and has officially updated their rules and eligibility criteria, a spokesperson told Cryptonews.com.

The contest is open for everyone, regardless of location, but there may be special rules for certain countries. Participants that have already received an EU or Euratom prize cannot receive a second prize for the same activities. The ethical restrictions are the usual ones: attempts at cloning humans is strictly forbidden, as is modifying the genetic heritage of humans unless it is to cure cancer.

The closing date for submissions is September 3rd, 2019, and participants are invited to declare their intention to participate by registering their interest through e-mail by this deadline, indicating the title of their application and a short abstract (max. 200 words). “Failing to declare this intention is, however, not a condition for exclusion,” the rulebook states.

As previously reported, the competition seeks entries from those who can propose solutions for public issues, leveraging the technology to provide a mix of greater transparency and decentralization. It is not a contest for just anyone, as the Commission clarifies: “This challenge is targeted at a wide range of actors: individuals, social entrepreneurs, civil society organisations, research centres from technological and social disciplines, creative industries, students, hackers, start-ups and SMEs. Tackling this challenge requires multidisciplinary expertise.”

A template for application can be found on their website.