BGA x AuraSci x Hetu Protocol Launch $100K Joint Fund for DeSci Innovation

BGA PROGRESS PULSE

In a significant development for the decentralized science (DeSci) ecosystem, the Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), AuraSci, and Hetu Protocol have announced a strategic partnership through the establishment of a $100,000 Joint Fund. The initiative was formally unveiled at the Harvard Blockchain Conference 2025 (HBC25), with a signing ceremony held at the prestigious Northwest Labs.

"This partnership represents a pivotal moment for decentralized science," said Freya Chen, Managing Partner of the BGA. "By combining our resources and expertise, we're creating meaningful pathways for researchers to leverage blockchain technology in advancing scientific discovery and collaboration."

A Partnership with Purpose

The newly established Joint Fund represents a collaborative commitment to accelerate innovation in decentralized science through targeted support for researchers and developers. With a total pool of USD 100,000 - contributed by BGA, AuraSci and Hetu, the fund will be deployed across two key hackathon phases, known as SCIENCETHON 1 and 2.

During the signing ceremony, representatives from BGA, AuraSci, and Hetu Protocol outlined their shared vision for transforming scientific research through blockchain technology. The event began with a keynote presentation that introduced the partnering organizations and highlighted their mission to support decentralized science initiatives.

Strategic Focus Areas

The BGA × AuraSci × Hetu Joint Fund aims to empower the DeSci ecosystem through several key objectives:

Empowering Decentralized Science Projects: Identifying and incubating blockchain-based scientific solutions with real-world applications.
Strengthening the DeSci Ecosystem: Fostering partnerships between researchers, scientists, developers, and public/private sector protocols.
Supporting Public Good through Technology: Directing resources toward innovation in climate, biomedical research, education, open data, and more.
Driving Equitable Growth: Lowering entry barriers and ensuring scientists from underrepresented communities can access tools, funding, and mentorship.

"Decentralized science is about more than just technology — it's about reimagining the way people connect with each other and with scientific discovery," said Eva You, co-founder of AuraSci. "Our joint fund aims to break down the traditional barriers that have long restricted global collaboration, empowering communities to drive scientific progress on their own terms and building a future where innovation transcends boundaries."

At Hetu, we see this partnership as a catalyst for reimagining scientific collaboration in the AI era," said Jialin Li, co-founder of Hetu. "By embedding decentralized consensus and transparent attribution into DeSci workflows, we're not just supporting projects—we're laying the groundwork for a more open, equitable, and verifiable future of scientific innovation.

Comprehensive Support Structure

What makes this Joint Fund particularly noteworthy is its comprehensive approach to supporting innovation. The initiative will fund:

DeSci Hackathons: Two phases of SCIENCETHON will bring together scientific communities, decentralized researchers, and DeSci-aligned protocols.
Researcher Workshops: Providing specialized training and collaborative opportunities.
Campus Tours: Engaging with academic institutions to foster blockchain adoption in research.
Course Development: Creating educational resources for researchers entering the Web3 space.

Grants and Benefits

The Joint Fund will award non-dilutive, equity-free grants based on milestone achievement and judging:

Each phase of SCIENCETHON will offer a total bounty of $2,000, awarded to the top 3 teams. Extra $1000 bounty per phase from Avinasi Labs for the Interdisciplinary Longevity Track.
Eligible projects can receive milestone-based funding up to $30,000 USD.
Successful projects will gain access to long-term DeSci support, incubation, and potential investment.

Additional benefits include featuring on BGA Pulse, Web3 Oscar nomination, speaking opportunities, and protocol integration opportunities for select DeSci infrastructure.

SCIENCETHON I: Designed for innovative DeSci projects already building within the decentralized science ecosystem. This phase focuses on supporting projects with mentorship, technical guidance, and strategic resources, culminating in a final Demo Day to showcase their breakthroughs and impact.

SCIENCETHON II: Geared toward early-stage projects, researchers, and scientists entering the DeSci space. This phase provides comprehensive educational support, mentorship, and structured guidance, including foundational courses and practical workshops to accelerate their growth. The phase will also conclude with a Demo Day to highlight their achievements.

Open to Diverse Innovators

The initiative welcomes applications from researchers and scientists building DeSci tools or DAOs, academics and research institutions exploring Web3 solutions, startups and developers working on open science infrastructure, and existing DeSci projects looking to scale or integrate with new protocols.

While experience in Web3 is beneficial, it is not mandatory—teams will be supported through learning resources and mentorship.

Looking Forward

The signing ceremony concluded with a networking session where attendees had the opportunity to speak directly with BGA and AuraSci representatives to explore collaboration opportunities and learn more about the fund and future events.

This landmark partnership represents just the beginning of a long-term commitment to supporting the next generation of scientific pioneers through tangible opportunities and substantial funding. The Joint Fund stands as a testament to the growing recognition of blockchain's potential to transform scientific research and collaboration.
For more information about the BGA × AuraSci × Hetu Joint Fund and to apply for upcoming opportunities, interested parties can visit https://chainforgood.org/joint-fund/aurasci-hetu.

About the Organizations

About Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA)
The Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) is a long term collaborative non-profit initiative with key partners with the main aim to contribute to societal good by using blockchain technology to solve real-world problems.
The BGA supports startups through its comprehensive incubation programs and sponsors global hackathons, uniting top innovators to develop solutions for real-world issues. BGA’s work is rooted in fostering partnerships with industry leaders, governments, and educational institutions to ensure that the growth of blockchain technology is aligned with the broader well-being of society.

About AuraSci
AuraSci is on a mission to harness the transformative power of decentralized science, driving social innovation by merging the humanistic spirit with scientific innovation. We advocate for the decentralized science movement, empowering global communities, accelerating scientific discovery, and revolutionizing the future of science.

About Hetu Protocol
Hetu Protocol, built by Advaita Labs, decentralizes AI for science through intersubjective consensus and proof of causality work. It enables fair, transparent attribution and incentives for contributors using decentralized model graphs and causal tracking. Hetu acts as a social contract machine, supporting open collaboration and impartial value distribution in scientific AI, backed by strong research in distributed systems and causality

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