Letter of Intent for Research Projects

Letter of Intent Process (Downloadable PDF)

The FinTech Center is offering competitive grants to encourage research and academic writing in the field of Blockchain and related topics.

The Center funds research in a wide variety of disciplines including, but not limited to, law, policy, sociology, arts and humanities, accounting, computing, economics, environment, science, engineering, health, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and supply chain. 

The FinTech Center has identified the following research areas for 2024. We have compiled a few preliminary resources for you to explore in determining your specific topic.

1) Scalability and Privacy in Blockchain Networks

2) Value and Monetization in Blockchain Networks

3) Cryptocurrencies and Sustainability

4) Policy, Regulations and Contracts

Submission Process

Applicants must first submit a letter of intent (LOI) or abstract for review to The National FinTech Center.  The FinTech Center will select  LOIs and abstracts based on the suitability of the topic and the scope and methodology of the writing. The submission process is on an ongoing basis.  Awardees are expected to present their research findings at the HBCU Blockchain and FinTech Conference. 

Periodically, The Center announces call for participation in specific research projects.

Letter of Intent Submission

Letter of Intent (LOI)

The letter of intent and abstract should be a narrative of no more than one page (600 words) and should include:

  • Author(s) name(s)
  • Affiliations
  • Research question and the primary area it addresses
  • Why the research question is important
  • The existing research gap and how you will address it 
  • Methodology to be followed

A letter of intent will be accepted on an ongoing basis.  No more than one LOI or abstract will be accepted per author.  The FinTech Center will select  LOIs and abstracts based on the suitability of the topic and the scope and methodology of the writing.  

Completed Research Paper

Selected researchers must submit a complete paper to The National FinTech Center.

The paper should be about twenty (20) pages, excluding the Bibliography, using 1½ spaces and 12 point Times Roman font, 

The paper must include:

  • Author(s) name (s), consistent with the LOI 
  • Affiliation, consistent with the LOI 
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Literature Review
  • Methodology
  • Preliminary Results
  • Bibliography

The paper must be high-quality enough to be accepted by a leading conference in the discipline. In addition to the paper, the CVs of  all of the authors need to be submitted. Decisions on the selected papers will be made on an ongoing basis.

Awardees are expected to present their research findings at the HBCU Blockchain and FinTech Conference.