Terms of Service

For the purposes of these Terms of Service, the following definitions apply:

• "Foundation": Aion Synapse Foundation, a foundation established in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), United Arab Emirates, registered under number 13790 with operating licence OL13790.
• "Programme": SYNAPSE Ideathon 1.0, an international micro-grants programme for applied research.
• "Website": the Programme's official website (aionsynapse.org/ideathon or equivalent).
• "Applicant": any person submitting an application to participate in the Programme.
• "Beneficiary": an Applicant selected to receive a micro-grant.

SYNAPSE Ideathon 1.0 is a programme organised by Aion Synapse Foundation that awards international micro-grants for applied research projects with the potential to generate knowledge, innovation, and social impact, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key features of the Programme:

• Eligible region: Latin America, Central America, Mexico, and the United States (participants from Latin America and the Caribbean).
• Benefit: up to USD 1,000 per project.
• Estimated number of selected projects: up to 5.
• Execution duration: up to 4 weeks.
• Deadline for technical and financial reports: 15 days after project completion.

To participate in the Programme, the Applicant must concurrently meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Reside in an eligible-region country during the call period.
• Be affiliated with a recognised university or research centre.
• Have the institutional endorsement of the university or research centre to which they are affiliated (via a signed letter).
• Submit an original, previously unpublished, and not previously funded project.
• Not be a for-profit commercial company or a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as the principal applicant.
• Expressly accept these Terms of Service and the portal's Privacy Policy.

The Programme accepts projects related to the following areas of knowledge and social impact:

• Health and well-being.
• Education.
• Science, technology, and innovation (AI, data, biotechnology, etc.).
• Environment and sustainability (environmental SDGs).
• Social development and inclusion.
• Human rights, governance, and peacebuilding.
• Economic development and productive innovation.

The Programme's official dates are as follows, set on the basis of official Dubai time (GST — Gulf Standard Time, UTC+4):

• Call opening: 20 July 2026, 8:00 a.m.
• Application deadline: 20 August 2026, 11:59 p.m.
• Technical evaluation: 21 August to 4 September 2026.
• Results announcement: 5 September 2026.
• The Foundation reserves the right to reasonably modify the published dates, with timely notice on the Website.

To formalise the application, the Applicant must:

• Send all required documentation in a single email to the official address: grants​[at]​aionsynapse.org.
• Include in the submission: signed technical terms, the reviewed applicant guide, completed application form, official budget in Excel format, and requested annexes (endorsement letter, CV).
• Use Spanish, English, or Portuguese as the official language of application.
• Partial submissions, applications outside the deadline established by the timeline, or modifications after formal submission will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Administratively admissible applications will be evaluated anonymously and technically by an expert technical committee appointed by the Foundation.

The core evaluation criteria include: alignment with the SDGs, innovative character, technical feasibility, expected social impact in the region, team capabilities, and project sustainability.

Results will be published on the date indicated in the timeline. The evaluation committee's decision is final and not subject to appeal. No complaints or requests for review will be accepted, except for demonstrable technical errors or file omissions in the physical submission process.

The selected Beneficiary is obligated to:

• Execute the project strictly in accordance with the approved technical proposal.
• Use the awarded funds exclusively for the purposes authorised in the detailed budget.
• Submit technical and financial reports, together with supporting documentation, within 15 days of closure.
• Actively participate in follow-up activities, technical mentorship, and impact reporting organised by the Foundation.
• Publicly acknowledge the financial and mentorship support of Aion Synapse Foundation in any scientific or press dissemination material.
• Rigorously comply with the laws and regulations applicable in their country of residence.

The Applicant and, where applicable, the Beneficiary, retain exclusive ownership of the intellectual property rights over the original project and the scientific proposal submitted.

By participating, the Applicant grants the Foundation a free, non-exclusive, worldwide licence to use, for non-commercial and public dissemination purposes, the project name, executive summary, social impact data, images, and scientific results, always with due credit to the original author.

Where the project generates knowledge suitable for publication, its public dissemination under Open Science principles will be actively encouraged, unless otherwise agreed under a confidentiality agreement.

The amount of the awarded micro-grant will be up to USD 1,000 per selected project, in accordance with the approved budget.

Disbursement to the Beneficiary will be made by international bank transfer or another secure means expressly agreed between the parties, subject to signature of the Grant Agreement.

The Foundation will never request card information, passwords, upfront fee payments, or sensitive data through unofficial emails or insecure channels. The Beneficiary is solely responsible for declaring and complying with tax obligations arising from receipt of the grant in their country of residence.

The Foundation will immediately and automatically disqualify any Applicant who engages in:

• False, inaccurate, falsified, or fraudulent information.
• Academic plagiarism or use of third-party intellectual property content without due authorisation.
• Serious non-compliance with eligibility requirements.
• Appearance of the applicant or their institution on official international sanctions lists (OFAC, UN, etc.).
• Use or diversion of grant funds for unlawful purposes or purposes other than those authorised in the project.

The Foundation does not guarantee the award of funding merely by virtue of submitting an application. Additionally, the Foundation will not be liable for web server technical failures, email transmission errors, file loss, network delays, or any technical inconvenience or force majeure event beyond its direct and reasonable control.

In no case will the Foundation's total accumulated liability to the Applicant or Beneficiary, for any cause or claim, exceed the total amount of the micro-grant awarded to the project (USD 1,000).

The Foundation reserves the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. Changes will take effect immediately upon publication on the Website. Continued interaction with the portal or participation in the Programme constitutes tacit acceptance of the modified terms.

These Terms of Service are governed and interpreted entirely under the laws of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Any controversy, dispute, or claim arising from or related to these terms, the application, or the award of grants, will be submitted exclusively to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of the DIFC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

For any inquiry, clarification, or claim related to these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

Aion Synapse Foundation — Email: grants​[at]​aionsynapse.org — Address: Premises/Floor No IH-00-01-02-OF-01, Level 2, Innovation One Building, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.