Research

Berkeley CDA Call for Proposals: Round 1 - 2026

Deadline: November 1, 2025 | Closed Grant Application

Image credit:
Keegan Houser

The Opportunity for Transformation

The Berkeley Center for Digital Assets is dedicated to advancing how the physical and digital worlds connect. Our mission is to develop secure, logical, and scalable methods for creating digital twins - high-fidelity digital replicas of physical assets.  

From semiconductors and real estate to vehicles, factories, farms, and forests, these digital twins allow assets to be analyzed, tested, valued, and exchanged in trusted digital marketplaces. This work bridges engineering innovation, computational modeling, and digital infrastructure to redefine how value is created and shared in a connected world.

The convergence of advanced scanning, modeling, AI, and blockchain now makes it possible to digitize physical assets at scale - unlocking faster, fairer, and more transparent global commerce while delivering broad societal benefits.

Converging Technologies

Scanning, modeling, AI, and blockchain have reached a level of maturity that makes large-scale asset digitization achievable.

Economic Opportunity

Digital assets unlock faster, fairer, and more transparent global commerce.

Societal Impact

From fairer credit access to waste reduction, digitization supports more equitable and efficient resource management.

What We Fund

We’re seeking proposals that advance research, technology, and infrastructure in the digital asset space.  Research thrusts include: 

Technology to Digitize Physical Assets

Develop methods to describe, value, and securely represent physical assets in the digital world.

Safe & Secure Digital Currencies

Innovate next-generation electronic currencies for reliable transactions and commerce.

Digital Marketplace Infrastructure

Build robust, transparent systems for asset transactions, including blockchain and digital wallet innovations.

Proposal Considerations

Your proposal should address questions like:

Your proposal should address questions like:

  • Is the asset worth digitizing?
  • What are the costs and energy implications?
  • Is the technology mature or in need of development?
  • What does a secure marketplace require? Is a “digital wallet” enough, or do we need a “digital backpack”?

We welcome work across three time horizons:

  • Short-term (0.5 - 1 year): Immediate implementation potential
  • Medium-term (1 - 3 years): Builds sustainable tools and platforms
  • Long-term (3 - 5 years): Shapes the future of the digital asset economy

Funding & Timeline

  • Due Date: November 1, 2025
  • Stay tuned - more information coming soon.