Nesta (“Nesta”) is launching our Decentralized Future Prize (the “Prize”). Please read these terms and conditions, our Privacy Policy and all information on the Prize carefully before submitting an application to the Prize. This Decentralised Future Prize is being run by Nesta’s Startups and New Technology Team. Through this Open Call, it seeks essays exploring how, over the next decade, blockchain-enabled decentralisation could change how we work together towards shared goals and structure our organisations, and the societal impacts of these changes.

By submitting an application, you accept these terms and conditions and agree to comply with them. If you are submitting an entry on behalf of one or more organisations or a team, you undertake to Nesta that you have the authority to bind each of them and that you will be responsible for ensuring that they comply.

1. Who can submit?

Anyone who falls within the conditions of eligibility set out in the Open Call blog, found here (the “Call”), can submit an application.

2. What happens after you apply?

2.1 We will assess any applications received by the deadline set out in the Call and which satisfy the eligibility criteria against the selection criteria set out in the Call. As outlined in the Call, shortlisted applicants will be invited to present to a selection panel. We currently intend to inform the first tranche of shortlisted applicants of our decision by 14 February 2020.

2.2 Our decision about eligibility, about selection of applicants for the Prize, and about the amount and type of support to be provided (if any), shall be final. We may publish general feedback on applications to the Prize, but will not provide detailed individual feedback or enter into correspondence with individual applicants.

2.3 Any financial or other support awarded by Nesta will be subject to satisfaction of all relevant legal and regulatory requirements, signature of appropriate legal documentation and completion of appropriate milestones. Any funds received must be through a legally incorporated organisation registered in the UK. We may only fund applications which meet our charitable objects and provide public benefit. We may impose conditions and restrictions on any private benefit or profit that may be derived from our grant. Financial support provided by Nesta may not cover all the costs of your project and VAT is not payable on grants.

2.4 You and your partners must bear any costs relating to the submission of your application and participation in the Prize. You must take independent legal advice if you are concerned about these terms and conditions or your participation in the Prize. Unless otherwise stated, each applicant may make only one application to the Prize.

2.5 We reserve the right to refuse to accept any applications; to suspend or withdraw the Prize at any time; to vary the form and substance of the Prize or extend the deadlines; to reduce or increase the number of applicants selected for each phase of selection or the amount of support available under the Prize; and/or to reject any proposal or withdraw a place on the Prize if you are in breach of these terms and conditions, fail to participate fully in the Prize or in the event of an actual or potential conflict of interest. If any selected applicant subsequently withdraws or is withdrawn from the Prize, we may select a replacement applicant, but will not be obliged to do so.

2.6 We reserve the right to vary the Prize or these terms and conditions at any time and at our sole discretion. Variations will take effect from the date they are posted on our website so you must check this page regularly to see the current version. If you provide us with a contact email address, we will aim to notify you of any changes.

2.7 If you are unable to complete the expression of interest and/or application process due to a disability, please let us know so that we can consider whether reasonable adjustments can be made.

3. Your promises to us

By submitting an application for the Prize, you confirm on behalf of yourself and your partners that:

• all information and materials provided to Nesta by you or your partners are true, accurate and complete and you will notify us immediately of any changes to information or materials provided;
• you have provided us with all information which might reasonably be thought to be relevant or necessary for us to consider your application;
• you and your partners have, or will obtain as required, all authorisations, registrations, licences, consents and permissions necessary to submit your application, carry out your proposal and comply with these terms and conditions;
• in participating in the Prize, you and your partners will act lawfully, ethically and in good faith and will comply fully with equality and anti-bribery legislation and with any other applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and codes of practice, and will comply with our reasonable requirements, including in relation to health and safety and security, while attending interviews and workshops as part of the Prize; and
• neither you nor any of your partners has any actual or potential conflict of interest with Nesta (including with our trustees, officers or employees) in making your application or complying with these terms and conditions and you will immediately inform us if you become aware of any such conflict of interest.

4. Use of Information

4.1 We will use any personal information provided by you or your partners, including contact details for your staff and your partners’ staff for the purpose:

- of assessing and evaluating your application;

- to process your application for Prize;

- to administer the Prize.

4.2 We may share this information with our assessors and any third parties helping us to run or evaluate the Prize, subject to appropriate obligations of confidentiality and data protection. Some of these organisations may process your information in countries outside of the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) where data protection laws are not the same as in the UK and/or the EEA. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about how personal information may be used.

4.3 We may carry out publicity and promotion for the Prize and publish our research and evaluation in relation to the Prize. You agree that you and your partners will participate in publicity for the Prize and consent on behalf of you and your partners to the use of the names of your organisations, a summary of your proposal, and photographs/recordings of your participation in the Prize, in promotion and publications relating to the Prize in any media and online.

4.4 Any publicity which you or your partners wish to carry out in relation to the Prize must acknowledge Nesta and be approved by us in advance.

4.5 All Finalists of the Prize shall grant Nesta a non-exclusive royalty free licence to use their applications and Final Submissions, and any extract therefrom, for its own charitable, marketing and publicity purposes; including publishing the same in any Nesta publications, online and in any media promotion as part of a Nesta collection.

4.6 Nesta shall acknowledge you as the author in any publication or report which includes, a reproduction of your Final Submission in full. In all other circumstances Nesta will acknowledge you as the author whenever it is reasonably possible.

4.7 Nesta reserves the right not to publish any of the Final Submissions of the Winner or Finalists, and makes no guarantee that work or extracts therefrom will be published.

4.8 You agree that your Final Submission will be published under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike licence (CC-BY-NC-SA), full details here.

5. Limitation of Liability

5.1 To the extent permitted by applicable law, we will not be liable to you, your partners or anyone else in respect of any direct or indirect loss, or liability, costs claims taxes, charges or expenses, economic loss or loss of opportunity arising in connection with your expression of interest or application to, and your participation in, the Prize, and/or any reliance by you on any statement made or advice given by us, our partners or contractors. If you submit any materials or items as part of your expression of interest or application, you are doing so at your own risk. We give no undertakings to keep safely, maintain or return any materials or items. We do not make any warranty about the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by Nesta in connection with the Prize. Any dispute between you and/or your partners and/or any other applicant must be resolved between you and independently of Nesta.

5.2 Without prejudice to Clause 5.1, our maximum liability to you or anyone else under these terms and conditions and the Prize (including the Prize application process) (if any) will be limited to £500. Nothing in these terms and conditions shall exclude or limit our liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or fraudulent misrepresentation made by us.

6. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These terms and conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and both parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.