## 3 System Design Overview
### Functional Components
#### 3.2.3 Proposal Submission and Collaboration Workflow  
SPARK-IT introduces a novel functionality that enables innovators to leverage expert guidance and obtain mentor feedback for submitted proposals, representing a key innovation in proposal evaluation systems. The overview of the basic innovator-expert flow is shown in Figure 2.  
The SPARK-IT system features an AI-powered recommendation mechanism that identifies and suggests the best expert matches based on the innovator's specific proposal requirements. Once the chosen experts agree to collaborate, they must sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), which is stored on IPFS. By using blockchain to store proof of signing, SPARK-IT ensures that the NDA records are secure, immutable, and verifiable, providing both traceability of the signing process and non-repudiation, meaning the participants cannot deny their actions after the fact. The detailed steps are as follows:  
1. Proposal Submission by an Innovator 1. The _innovator_ submits a short-version proposal in a preferred format, e.g., a plain document or business model canvas in which are underlined the aspects in which he/she needs guidance. 2. The proposal is encrypted and stored in the decentralized storage system (DSS, i.e., IPFS module in Figure 1) and a proof of submission is recorded on the blockchain for traceability. 2. AI-Powered Matching 1. The AI algorithm analyzes the proposal based on keywords, business needs, and innovator's requirements. 2. The system matches the proposal with suitable experts based on their areas of expertise, reputation, and profile data. 3. The _innovator_ reviews matched experts and selects preferred mentors. Figure 2: SPARK-IT collaboration workflow. Each arrow originates from the entity initiating the interaction—be it an innovator, expert, or the SPARK-IT platform—and points toward the intended recipient. 3 Expert Notification 1. _Experts_ are notified through the platform if the innovator selected them regarding his/her proposal. 2. If they agree, they become _mentors_ for that proposal. 4. Expert Agreement and NDA Signing 1. Both parties sign an NDA through the platform. 2. The NDA is encrypted and stored in the DSS, with proof on the blockchain network. 5. Collaboration and Communication 1. Secure communication channels are established using RESTful APIs through the SPARK-IT platform. 2. The _innovator_ shares detailed proposal information with the mentor. 3. The collaboration is tracked, and feedback is provided through the platform. 6. Reputation and Reward Tokens 1. _Mentors_ earn reputation tokens based on the quality of feedback and contributions. 2. _Innovators_ use reward tokens to compensate _mentors_ for their services. 3. All transactions and token exchanges are recorded on the blockchain for transparency. 7. Project Development and Feedback 1. _Innovators_ and mentors work together to refine the project. 2. _Mentor_ provides continuous feedback, which is stored securely. 3. Reputation tokens are awarded by both _innovators_ and _mentors_ based on the effectiveness of the collaboration. 8. Completion and Public Disclosure 1. Upon project completion, select details of the collaboration may be made public with consent. 2. Additional reputation tokens can be awarded based on public feedback and project success. The objective is to establish a structured and legally robust framework for collaborations, ensuring the protection of intellectual property (IP). Innovators often hesitate to share their ideas and business plans with potential mentors due to concerns about the unauthorized use or theft of their IP. In the absence of proper legal agreements, enforcing IP rights and safeguarding sensitive information becomes difficult. The mentor choosing protocol requires the signing of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before any detailed project information is shared. Unstructured collaborations may lead to misunderstandings, misaligned expectations, and ineffective mentoring relationships.