MIT-MBZUAI

Laboratory for Incentivization,

Coordination and Cooperation

(LICC)

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Comprehensive Founding Blueprint

Dual-Sponsorship Model, Strategic Framework,

Tactical Execution Guide, and Fundraising Strategy

Prepared for: Momentum Partners

December 2025

Version 1.0 | CONFIDENTIAL

Executive Summary

This document presents a comprehensive blueprint for establishing the Laboratory for Incentivization, Coordination and Cooperation (LICC) as a jointly-sponsored research institution between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). LICC will pioneer the emerging field of coordination science—the mathematical and computational study of how economic agents, institutions, and jurisdictions can be designed to achieve optimal collective outcomes through programmable incentive mechanisms.

The Opportunity

The convergence of cryptographic primitives, programmable compliance infrastructure, and the emergence of Special Economic Zones as innovation laboratories has created an unprecedented opportunity to establish a new academic discipline. Current institutional arrangements—from international trade to jurisdictional governance—operate on frameworks designed for a pre-digital era. LICC will develop the theoretical foundations and practical tools to design "programmable institutions" that can operate at software speed while maintaining the legitimacy and stability of traditional governance structures.

Why MIT-MBZUAI?

This dual-sponsorship model uniquely combines MIT's world-class theoretical expertise in mechanism design, institutional economics, and network science with MBZUAI's applied AI infrastructure and direct pathways to government implementation through UAE's 27 free zones. The recently announced MIT-MBZUAI Collaborative Research Program (October 2025) provides an existing institutional framework that can be expanded to accommodate LICC's coordination science mandate.

Key Figures

Metric	Target
Total 5-Year Budget	$47.5 Million
Year 1 Launch Capital	$5.5 Million
Faculty Positions (Year 5)	12 Full-Time Equivalent
PhD Students (Year 5)	25 Students
Timeline to Launch	18-24 Months
Primary Implementation Site	UAE Free Zone Federation

Part I: Institutional Context and Strategic Rationale

1.1 What is LICC?

The Laboratory for Incentivization, Coordination and Cooperation (LICC) is a proposed interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to the mathematical, computational, and empirical study of coordination mechanisms across scales—from individual economic transactions to international institutional design. LICC's research agenda spans:

Cryptoeconomic Mechanism Design: Formal methods for designing incentive-compatible protocols that align individual rationality with collective welfare in decentralized systems
Spectral Coordination Theory: Mathematical frameworks using spectral graph theory and category theory to analyze multi-agent coordination dynamics
Jurisdictional Competition and Decentralization: Empirical and theoretical analysis of how regulatory competition shapes institutional evolution
Programmable Compliance Infrastructure: Technical architectures for "Smart Assets" that carry compliance, identity, and operational intelligence across jurisdictions
Multi-Scale Coordination Dynamics: Understanding how coordination mechanisms interact across individual, organizational, and societal scales

1.2 MIT: Institutional Profile and Strategic Assets

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology represents the world's premier institution for the theoretical foundations LICC requires. MIT's research enterprise spans $2.1 billion annually, with industry-sponsored research totaling $175 million from over 300 companies in fiscal year 2024—approximately 20% of total MIT research expenditures. According to the National Science Foundation, MIT consistently ranks first or second in industry-funded research and development expenditures among universities without a medical school.

Critical Faculty Assets for LICC

Faculty	Position	LICC Relevance
Constantinos Daskalakis	Avanessians Professor, EECS/CSAIL	World's leading computational mechanism design researcher. Nevanlinna Prize (2018), Simons Investigator. Work on Nash equilibrium complexity and multi-item auction design directly applicable to LICC's cryptoeconomic theme.
Daron Acemoglu	Institute Professor, Economics	2024 Nobel Prize in Economics for "how institutions are formed and affect prosperity." Author of Why Nations Fail. Direct empirical foundation for LICC's jurisdictional competition research.
Alex "Sandy" Pentland	Toshiba Professor, Media Lab; Director, Connection Science	Co-architect of EU GDPR, UN SDG data framework. ADIA Lab advisory board member. Network science and computational social science perfectly aligned with LICC's coordination dynamics research.
Silvio Micali	Ford Professor, CSAIL	Turing Award laureate. Inventor of verifiable random functions, zero-knowledge proofs. Founder of Algorand. Cryptographic foundations for programmable compliance.
Asuman Ozdaglar	Professor, EECS/LIDS	Network economics, game theory, distributed optimization. Multi-agent dynamics research essential for understanding coordination at scale.

1.3 MBZUAI: Institutional Profile and Strategic Assets

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, established in October 2019, represents the world's first graduate-level research university dedicated entirely to artificial intelligence. Located in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, MBZUAI operates as part of the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031—a national initiative positioning the UAE as a global AI hub. The university is fully state-funded with sovereign wealth backing through Mubadala Investment Company.

MBZUAI Key Metrics (2025)

Metric	Value
Faculty	84+ full-time faculty members
Researchers	200+ research staff
Students	700+ from 49 countries
Publications (H1 2024)	300+ in top-tier venues
Global Rankings	Top 20 in AI, CV, ML, NLP, Robotics (CSRankings)
UAE AI Investment (since 2024)	$147+ billion

MBZUAI Leadership

Role	Name	Background
President	Professor Eric Xing	Former CMU ML Department Head. PhD UC Berkeley. Founder/CEO Petuum Inc. (2018 WEF Technology Pioneer)
Provost	Professor Timothy Baldwin	Appointed April 2024. Former University of Melbourne.
VP Research	Professor Sami Haddadin	Robotics and human-robot interaction. MIT-MBZUAI program signatory.
Board Chair	Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak	CEO, Mubadala Investment Company. Direct sovereign wealth connection.

1.4 The MIT-MBZUAI Collaborative Research Program

In October 2025, MIT's Schwarzman College of Computing and MBZUAI announced the MIT-MBZUAI Collaborative Research Program—a five-year agreement uniting faculty, students, and research staff from both institutions. This existing framework provides the institutional foundation upon which LICC can be built.

Current Program Structure

Element	Detail
Duration	5 years (2025-2030)
Funding	MBZUAI-sponsored research projects
Focus Areas	Scientific discovery, human thriving, planetary health
Current Priorities	Digital health, intelligent robotics, efficient computing architectures
MIT Director	Philip Isola (EECS, computer vision/generative models)
MBZUAI Director	Le Song (Professor of Machine Learning)
Governance	Steering committee with representatives from both institutions; dual-PI requirement for all projects
Publication	Openly publishable findings

Strategic Opening for LICC

The MIT-MBZUAI collaboration explicitly addresses "social and ethical responsibilities of computing in shaping global impact"—language that creates direct alignment with LICC's coordination science mandate. However, the current program emphasizes foundation models, robotics, and healthcare AI. LICC's positioning requires demonstrating how coordination science represents a natural fourth pillar that complements rather than competes with existing priorities.

Part II: Dual-Sponsorship Model Analysis

2.1 Structural Options

Three primary structural configurations exist for establishing LICC within the MIT-MBZUAI framework. Each offers distinct advantages and constraints that must be evaluated against LICC's long-term research independence requirements.

Option A: Expansion of Existing MIT-MBZUAI Collaboration

Mechanism: Propose LICC as an additional research theme within the existing MIT-MBZUAI Collaborative Research Program, positioning "Coordination Science" as a fourth pillar alongside scientific discovery, human thriving, and planetary health.

Advantages	Constraints
Uses existing infrastructure and governance mechanisms	Must convince current directors (Isola, Song) to expand scope beyond AI/ML focus
MBZUAI funding already committed under 5-year agreement	May be constrained by existing program priorities and steering committee composition
Steering committee pathway provides clear decision process	Limited independence for LICC-specific research agenda
Fastest path to initial research funding	Risk of being absorbed into broader AI research portfolio

Assessment: High resource access, low autonomy. Appropriate for bootstrap phase (Months 1-12) but insufficient for LICC's long-term independence requirements.

Option B: Affiliated Independent Institute (RECOMMENDED)

Mechanism: Establish LICC as a legally distinct research institute with formal affiliation agreements with both MIT and MBZUAI. LICC maintains independent governance while leveraging institutional resources through partnership agreements.

Advantages	Constraints
Full research agenda autonomy protected by affiliation agreement	Must secure separate funding streams beyond MIT-MBZUAI program
Broader hiring flexibility across disciplines (economics, mathematics, law)	Less direct access to MBZUAI computing infrastructure
Multi-institutional partnerships enabled (Santa Fe Institute, ETH Zürich, etc.)	Requires independent governance structure and administration
Geopolitical insulation through neutral governance	Longer timeline to full operations (18-24 months)
Preserves LICC brand independently of either institution	More complex negotiation with both universities

Assessment: Optimal for LICC's interdisciplinary mandate and long-term independence. Recommended structure for mature LICC operations.

Option C: Joint Venture with UAE Government

Mechanism: Establish LICC as a trilateral joint venture between MIT, MBZUAI, and UAE government entities (ADGM, Dubai Free Zone Council, or similar). LICC operates as a quasi-governmental research institution with direct regulatory pathway.

Advantages	Constraints
Direct regulatory pathway for implementation research	Complex governance structure with multiple stakeholders
Government funding mandate ensures long-term sustainability	Potential for political interference in research agenda
Living laboratory access through 27 UAE free zones	Slower decision-making due to government processes
Maximum legitimacy for policy-relevant research	UAE-specific focus may limit global research applicability

Assessment: Maximum implementation leverage, maximum complexity. Appropriate for Phase 2 after proof-of-concept through Options A or B.

2.2 Recommended Hybrid Strategy

The optimal path combines elements of all three options through a phased approach that prioritizes speed-to-launch while preserving long-term independence:

Phase 1 (Months 1-12): Bootstrap through Option A. Launch initial research projects within MIT-MBZUAI program framework. Build faculty relationships and demonstrate research value.

Phase 2 (Months 12-24): Transition to Option B. Establish LICC as affiliated independent institute while maintaining MIT-MBZUAI partnership. Secure independent funding and governance.

Phase 3 (Months 24-48): Selective Option C elements. Formalize government partnerships for implementation research. Expand to multi-jurisdictional scope beyond UAE.

2.3 Critical Gap Analysis

Understanding the complementary strengths and weaknesses of each institution is essential for designing an effective dual-sponsorship structure.

What MIT Provides That MBZUAI Lacks

Domain Expertise in Mechanism Design: MBZUAI has virtually no faculty in game theory, mathematical economics, or auction theory. MIT's Daskalakis, Acemoglu, and affiliated researchers represent the global frontier.
Network Science and Social Physics: Pentland's Connection Science initiative has no MBZUAI equivalent. This is essential for understanding coordination dynamics at scale.
Institutional Economics: Acemoglu's Nobel-winning research on how institutions shape prosperity provides the empirical foundation LICC requires.
Cryptographic Foundations: Micali's Turing Award work on zero-knowledge proofs and verifiable computation underlies programmable compliance infrastructure.
Publication Prestige: MIT publications carry greater weight in economics journals (Econometrica, AER, QJE) than MBZUAI's ML-focused venues (NeurIPS, ICLR, CVPR).

What MBZUAI Provides That MIT Lacks

Direct Government Channel: MBZUAI's board includes Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber (UAE Minister of Industry) and Khaldoon Al Mubarak (Mubadala CEO). MIT has no equivalent government access.
Implementation Laboratory: UAE's 27 free zones provide a living laboratory for testing coordination mechanisms. MIT research remains theoretical without such testing grounds.
Sovereign Wealth Funding: MBZUAI's state funding model provides long-term stability that MIT's grant-dependent research cannot match.
Applied AI Infrastructure: MBZUAI's Foundation Models Hub and computing infrastructure exceed what MIT can provide for applied coordination research.
Speed of Decision-Making: MBZUAI's young institution can move faster than MIT's established bureaucracy for new initiative approval.

2.4 Risk Framework

Risk Category	Description	Mitigation Strategy
Domain Expertise Risk	MBZUAI faculty unable to contribute to mechanism design research	Pursue parallel relationships with Santa Fe Institute (complex systems), Oxford Mathematical Institute (category theory), Simons Institute Berkeley (mechanism design), ETH Zürich (distributed systems). LICC should be multi-homed.
Mission Drift Risk	LICC's mathematical physics orientation misunderstood as "applied ML for economics"	Independent research agenda committee with veto rights. Publication targets in economics/governance venues. External advisory board with non-UAE majority.
Geopolitical Risk	US-China-UAE technology transfer concerns; export control compliance	Parallel LICC presence in neutral jurisdiction (Switzerland, Singapore). US-incorporated legal entity for Western partnerships. Clear publication review protocols.
Dependency Risk	Over-reliance on single funding source or institutional sponsor	Diversify funding across government, private, and foundation sources. Maintain alternative academic sponsor relationships. Establish non-UAE research activities from Year 1.
Faculty Interest Risk	Key MIT faculty decline to participate	Start with Pentland (known UAE interest through ADIA Lab). Build momentum before approaching others. Offer compelling research opportunities unavailable elsewhere.

Part III: Tactical Execution Guide

3.1 Key Contact Directory

MIT Institutional Contacts

Office/Person	Role	Contact	Purpose
MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP)	Industry-MIT portal	ask-ilp@mit.eduPhone: 617-253-2691ilp.mit.edu	Membership inquiry; faculty access
OSATT (Office of Strategic Alliances)	Research partnerships	One Main, E90-12th FloorCambridge, MA 02142osatt.mit.edu	Formal partnership negotiation
Office of Resource Development	Philanthropic partnerships	development.mit.edu	Gift/endowment structuring
MIT Alumni Association	Alumni network	alum.mit.edu600 Memorial DriveCambridge, MA 02139617-253-8200	Alumni directory; introductions
MIT Connection Science	Network science research	connection.mit.edu	Pentland engagement pathway

MIT Faculty Contacts (Priority Order)

Faculty	Department	Email/Web	Approach Strategy
Alex "Sandy" Pentland	Media Lab / Connection Science	sandy@media.mit.edumedia.mit.edu/people/sandy	HIGHEST PRIORITY. Already on ADIA Lab advisory board. Approach via UAE connection.
Constantinos Daskalakis	EECS / CSAIL	costis@csail.mit.edupeople.csail.mit.edu/costis	Mechanism design expertise. Approach via ILP or economics seminar invitation.
Daron Acemoglu	Economics	daron@mit.edueconomics.mit.edu/people/faculty/daron-acemoglu	2024 Nobel laureate. Approach with institutional economics research proposal.
Dan Huttenlocher	Dean, Schwarzman College	computing.mit.edu	Gatekeeper for MIT-MBZUAI expansion. Approach via MBZUAI channel.
Philip Isola	EECS (MIT-MBZUAI Director)	phillipi@mit.edu	Current program director. Engage to propose LICC as expansion.

MBZUAI Institutional Contacts

Person/Office	Role	Contact	Purpose
Professor Eric Xing	President	eric.xing@mbzuai.ac.aexing.mbzuai.ac.ae	Ultimate decision-maker. Propose MIT relationship expansion.
Professor Timothy Baldwin	Provost	mbzuai.ac.ae	Academic program approval
Professor Sami Haddadin	VP Research	mbzuai.ac.ae	Research partnership signatory (signed MIT agreement)
Professor Le Song	MBZUAI MIT-MBZUAI Director	le.song@mbzuai.ac.ae	Propose LICC as program expansion
MBZUAI General	University website	mbzuai.ac.aeMasdar City, Abu Dhabi, UAE	General inquiries

3.2 Phased Execution Roadmap

Phase 1: Foundation Building (Months 1-6)

Objective: Establish formal relationships with both institutions and identify faculty champions.

Month	Action	Success Metric
1	Submit MIT ILP membership inquiry (ask-ilp@mit.edu). Request OSATT consultation on partnership structures.	ILP response received; OSATT meeting scheduled
1-2	Search MIT alumni directory for MBZUAI, ADIA, G42, UAE government connections. Activate alumni network.	5+ relevant alumni identified
2	Draft LICC concept note (5 pages) positioning coordination science as natural MIT-MBZUAI expansion.	Concept note completed and reviewed
2-3	Request Sandy Pentland meeting via ADIA Lab connection or Connection Science webinar attendance.	Pentland meeting scheduled
3-4	Present LICC concept to Eric Xing via existing UAE/ADGM relationships. Position as MIT relationship enhancement.	Xing meeting completed; interest confirmed
4-5	Identify 2-3 MBZUAI faculty with adjacent research interests (HCI, distributed systems, optimization).	Faculty champions identified
5-6	Draft MOU for exploratory research collaboration between Momentum and both institutions.	MOU signed with at least one institution

Phase 2: Pilot Partnership (Months 6-18)

Objective: Launch initial research projects and demonstrate LICC value proposition.

Month	Action	Success Metric
6-8	Launch pilot research project: "Coordination Mechanisms for UAE Free Zone Federation." Fund via Momentum sponsorship ($250-500K).	Project launched with MIT and MBZUAI PIs
8-10	Embed 1-2 LICC researchers at MBZUAI as visiting scholars. Establish physical presence in Abu Dhabi.	Researchers placed; workspace secured
10-12	Co-author 2-3 working papers with MIT and MBZUAI faculty. Target submission to economics/governance venues.	Papers drafted and submitted
12-14	Present at MIT Connection Science seminar and MBZUAI workshop series. Build institutional visibility.	Presentations completed; positive reception
14-16	Engage UAE government stakeholders (ADGM, Dubai Free Zone Council) on pilot findings.	Government interest documented
16-18	Conduct internal review of pilot phase. Document lessons learned and refine LICC model.	Review completed; Phase 3 plan approved

Phase 3: Institutional Formation (Months 18-36)

Objective: Establish LICC as formal affiliated institute with independent governance and sustainable funding.

Month	Action	Success Metric
18-20	Propose LICC as affiliated institute to MIT (OSATT) and MBZUAI (Board of Trustees) leadership.	Formal proposals submitted to both institutions
20-24	Negotiate research funding from UAE government entities (G42, MGX, ADIA) and MIT philanthropic channels. Target $5-10M minimum.	Term sheets signed for $5M+ funding
24-28	Establish LICC advisory board with representatives from MIT, MBZUAI, Momentum, and independent academics.	Advisory board constituted and meeting
28-32	Complete legal entity formation (US and UAE structures). Finalize affiliation agreements with both universities.	Legal entities registered; agreements signed
32-36	Launch inaugural LICC research programs. Recruit founding director and initial faculty cohort.	Director hired; 3+ faculty committed

Part IV: Comprehensive Budget Framework

4.1 Five-Year Operating Budget

Category	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
PERSONNEL
Founding Director	$400K	$420K	$440K	$460K	$480K
Senior Faculty (FTE)	1 @ $350K	2 @ $360K	3 @ $375K	4 @ $390K	5 @ $400K
Research Staff (FTE)	3 @ $120K	5 @ $125K	7 @ $130K	9 @ $135K	10 @ $140K
PhD Students (stipend + tuition)	5 @ $60K	10 @ $62K	15 @ $64K	20 @ $66K	25 @ $68K
Operations & Admin	2 @ $100K	3 @ $105K	4 @ $110K	5 @ $115K	6 @ $120K
Personnel Subtotal	$1.71M	$2.88M	$4.20M	$5.62M	$6.90M
INFRASTRUCTURE
Computing (cloud/HPC)	$300K	$400K	$500K	$600K	$700K
Office/Lab Space	$200K	$250K	$300K	$350K	$400K
Software/Licenses	$50K	$75K	$100K	$125K	$150K
Infrastructure Subtotal	$550K	$725K	$900K	$1.08M	$1.25M
PROGRAMS
Research Projects	$500K	$750K	$1.0M	$1.25M	$1.5M
Conferences/Workshops	$150K	$200K	$300K	$400K	$500K
Travel & Collaboration	$200K	$250K	$300K	$350K	$400K
Publications/Dissemination	$100K	$125K	$150K	$175K	$200K
Programs Subtotal	$950K	$1.33M	$1.75M	$2.18M	$2.60M
INSTITUTIONAL
MIT Overhead (58%)	$400K	$500K	$600K	$700K	$800K
MBZUAI Partnership Fee	$200K	$250K	$300K	$350K	$400K
Legal/Compliance	$150K	$100K	$100K	$100K	$100K
Contingency (10%)	$390K	$578K	$795K	$1.00M	$1.21M
Institutional Subtotal	$1.14M	$1.43M	$1.80M	$2.15M	$2.51M
ANNUAL TOTAL	$4.35M	$6.36M	$8.65M	$11.0M	$13.3M
CUMULATIVE TOTAL	$4.35M	$10.7M	$19.4M	$30.4M	$43.7M

4.2 Launch Capital Requirements

Initial capitalization required before operational funding begins:

Item	Amount	Timing
Legal entity formation (US + UAE)	$150,000	Month -6 to 0
Initial MIT/MBZUAI partnership deposits	$500,000	Month 0
Founding Director recruitment (search + sign-on)	$300,000	Month -3 to 3
Initial faculty/researcher recruitment	$400,000	Month 0-6
Computing infrastructure setup	$250,000	Month 0-3
Office establishment (MIT + Abu Dhabi)	$200,000	Month 0-6
Launch events and communications	$100,000	Month 3-6
Working capital reserve (6 months operations)	$2,000,000	Month 0
Contingency (15%)	$585,000	Reserved
TOTAL LAUNCH CAPITAL	$4,485,000

Part V: Fundraising Strategy

5.1 Funding Source Matrix

Source	Target Amount	Timeline	Key Contact	Approach
Momentum (Founding Sponsor)	$5M (5-year)	Year 1	Internal	Lead gift establishes credibility; naming rights
MBZUAI Institutional	$5-7M	Years 1-5	Eric Xing	Position as MIT relationship enhancement
UAE Government (G42/MGX/ADIA)	$10-15M	Years 2-5	Via MBZUAI Board	SEZ implementation research mandate
MIT Philanthropic	$3-5M	Years 2-5	Resource Development	Endowed fellowship; research fund naming
Foundation Grants	$5-8M	Years 2-5	Various	Governance/democracy research alignment
Industry Consortium	$5-10M	Years 3-5	Via MIT ILP	Programmable compliance research

5.2 Foundation Targets

Foundation	Focus Area	LICC Alignment	Grant Range
Open Philanthropy	AI governance, global development	Coordination mechanisms for AI safety	$1-5M
Hewlett Foundation	Democratic institutions	Jurisdictional competition research	$500K-2M
MacArthur Foundation	Technology and democracy	Programmable governance primitives	$1-3M
Simons Foundation	Mathematics, theoretical CS	Spectral coordination theory	$500K-2M
Berggruen Institute	Governance innovation	Network state coordination	$500K-1M
Ethereum Foundation	Decentralized systems	Cryptoeconomic mechanism design	$1-3M

5.3 Naming and Recognition Opportunities

Opportunity	Gift Level	Duration
Founding Sponsor: "The [Name] MIT-MBZUAI LICC"	$10M+	Perpetual
Named Research Chair in Coordination Science	$3M endowment	Perpetual
Named Research Program (e.g., "[Name] Mechanism Design Initiative")	$2M (5-year)	Term
Endowed PhD Fellowship	$1M endowment	Perpetual
Annual Research Fund (with naming)	$500K/year	Annual
Conference/Workshop Series Sponsor	$250K/year	Annual

Part VI: Strategic Partners and Co-Founders

6.1 Academic Partners

Institution	Relevance	Partnership Model
Santa Fe Institute	Complex adaptive systems, network science	Research affiliate program; joint workshops; faculty exchange
ETH Zürich	Distributed systems, cryptography	Joint PhD program; European implementation research
Oxford Mathematical Institute	Category theory, algebraic methods	Visiting researcher positions; theoretical foundations
Simons Institute (Berkeley)	Mechanism design, algorithmic game theory	Semester-long research programs; workshop co-hosting
London School of Economics	Institutional economics, political economy	Joint research projects; policy analysis

6.2 Government and Regulatory Partners

Entity	Role	LICC Value
ADGM (Abu Dhabi)	Financial free zone regulator	Living laboratory for programmable compliance; regulatory sandbox access
Dubai Free Zone Council	27 free zone coordination	Multi-zone coordination research; implementation pathway
AIFC (Kazakhstan)	Central Asian financial hub	Second implementation jurisdiction; comparative research
Singapore EDB	Economic development	Southeast Asian research presence; neutral jurisdiction

6.3 Industry and Technology Partners

Company	Relevance	Partnership Value
Chainlink Labs	Oracle infrastructure	Data feeds for programmable compliance; research sponsorship
Polygon Labs	L2 infrastructure	Implementation platform for Smart Assets; technical collaboration
Circle	Stablecoin infrastructure	Payment primitive research; compliance mechanisms
G42 (UAE)	UAE AI infrastructure	Computing resources; government channel; implementation partner

Appendices

Appendix A: MIT Research Agreement Framework

MIT offers standard templates for research partnerships through OSATT:

Master Research Agreement (MRA): Umbrella agreement covering multiple projects over multi-year period. Recommended for LICC's ongoing relationship.
Individual Research Agreement (IRA): Single project agreements for specific research initiatives.
Consortium Agreement: Multi-sponsor arrangements allowing industry partners to join LICC research programs.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): Required for initial discussions involving proprietary research.
Data Use Agreement (DUA): Governs data sharing between institutions and implementation partners.

Standard MIT overhead rate: 58% on-campus, 26% off-campus. LICC research conducted primarily at MBZUAI may qualify for reduced rates.

Appendix B: LICC Research Agenda Summary

Initial research programs for Years 1-3:

Program 1: UAE Free Zone Federation Coordination

Develop mathematical framework for optimal coordination among UAE's 27 free zones. Design incentive mechanisms that align individual zone policies with federation-wide objectives. Model inter-zone capital flows and regulatory arbitrage dynamics.

Program 2: Smart Asset Compliance Architecture

Formal specification of programmable compliance primitives for cross-jurisdictional assets. Cryptographic mechanisms for privacy-preserving regulatory reporting. Implementation framework for Mass Protocol integration.

Program 3: Jurisdictional Competition Dynamics

Empirical analysis of regulatory competition effects on institutional quality. Game-theoretic models of jurisdiction selection by mobile capital and talent. Policy implications for optimal regulatory design.

Appendix C: Governance Structure Template

Proposed LICC governance for affiliated independent institute model:

Board of Directors (7 members):

2 seats: MIT-appointed (faculty representatives)
2 seats: MBZUAI-appointed (including 1 UAE government representative)
1 seat: Momentum-appointed (Founding Sponsor)
2 seats: Independent academics (non-affiliated)

Research Advisory Committee (9 members):

External academics with relevant expertise
Rotating 3-year terms
Veto authority over research agenda changes

Executive Leadership:

Founding Director: Appointed by Board, 5-year renewable term
Deputy Director (MIT): Based in Cambridge
Deputy Director (MBZUAI): Based in Abu Dhabi
Chief Operating Officer: Administrative leadership

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Document prepared December 2025

For questions regarding this blueprint, contact Momentum Partners