Digital Public Infrastructure for Decentralized Science

Abstract

The DeSci Ecosystem facilitates the curation and sensemaking of ever growing streams of scientific knowledge artifacts. The system is built on a flexible peer-to-peer protocol layer which supports the DeSci Platform (among other applications in the future). On the DeSci Platform, Autonomous Research Communities (ARCs) are incentivized to curate knowledge artifacts published by Participants to create a viable alternative to traditional academic journals. This report guides readers through the systems engineering process, in order to provide design recommendations for a microeconomic model, a macroeconomic model, and subsidy programs for the DeSci Ecosystem. It begins by describing the DeSci Ecosystem's Animating Purpose and Stakeholders, then analyzes its Environment. It then offers a high-level overview of the project throughout all five stages of the engineering life-cycle, before focusing and the Requirements and Design of the new economic system.