NGI Mobifree open call (2025-06M)

The NGI Mobifree open call is a funding opportunity aimed at enhancing free and open source mobile technologies within the European landscape. It is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically addressing the topic of human-centered digital solutions under the code HORIZON-CL4-2023-HUMAN-01-12. Eligible applicants include individuals, startups, SMEs, universities, research institutes, and nonprofits. The project proposals should focus on innovative solutions that enhance user choice, security, privacy, and control in the mobile software ecosystem.

Funding of between 5,000 and 50,000 euros is available, totaling 430,000 euros for this call. Proposals can cover various project stages, including development, validation, and demonstration of mobile technologies. The application process is a single-stage open call, with submissions accepted from April 1, 2025, to June 1, 2025, at 12:00 Brussels time.

Projects should aim to strengthen the mobile software landscape by removing gatekeepers and enhancing existing applications. Activities eligible for funding include scientific research, open source software and hardware design, usability improvements, and standardization efforts. Successful applications will be evaluated against technical merit, strategic relevance, and value for money, requiring a total weighted score above 5.0 out of 7 to be selected.

All research and development outcomes must be published as open access, and any software or hardware produced must be released under a recognized free and open source license. The initiative encourages contributions that support ethical and human-centered digital ownership, emphasizing the importance of a trustworthy and reliable internet for European citizens.

Overall, the NGI Mobifree open call presents an opportunity to foster technological innovation in the mobile sector, aligning with the goals of advancing a more democratic and user-controlled digital society. Detailed guidelines and submission instructions can be found on the official call page linked to the program.

The NGI Mobifree open call (2025-06M) is a funding opportunity focused on advancing free and open source technologies within the mobile ecosystem. The call aims to support projects that contribute to a more human-centered, ethical, and open mobile software landscape, giving European citizens and organizations more choice and control over their mobile technologies.

The opening date for submissions is April 1, 2025, and the deadline for submission is June 1, 2025, at 12:00 Brussels time. The call employs a single-stage submission model. The expected duration of participation for projects is flexible, ranging from 1 to 12 months. The total funding available for this call is 430,000 EUR. The project acronym is MOBIFREE, and the full name of the EU-funded project is Mobile Freedom (MOBIFREE). The grant agreement number is 101135795. The relevant topic is HORIZON-CL4-2023-HUMAN-01-12 Pilots for the Next Generation Internet (IA).

Projects can be submitted through the provided link: https://NLnet.nl/propose. Applicants are strongly advised to review the guide for applicants and frequently asked questions before preparing their proposals. The call is open to anyone, including private individuals and organizations of any type. Project proposals should align with the NGI vision and have research and development as their primary objective. Proposals should be complete, concise, and no longer than the equivalent of two pages for the main application, as specified in the submission form. A clear European dimension is also required.

Project proposals will be evaluated based on a 7-point scale across three criteria: technical merit (30% weight), strategic relevance to the Next Generation Internet and expected contribution to the goals of NGI Mobifree (40% weight), and overall value for money (30% weight). To be selected, projects must achieve a total weighted score above 5.0 out of 7. The primary objective is to foster breakthrough contributions to NGI Mobifree's goals, empowering European citizens and organizations with more choice and access to human-centered and ethical mobile software.

The following types of activities are eligible for financial support, provided they are cost-effective and directly linked to the topics and objectives of NGI Mobifree: scientific research, design and development of open source software and open hardware, validation or constructive inquiry into existing or novel technical solutions, software engineering aimed at adapting to new usage areas or improving software quality, formal security proofs, security audits, setup and design of software testing and continuous integration, documentation for researchers, developers, and end-users, including educational materials, standardization activities, including membership fees of standards bodies, understanding user requirements and improving usability/inclusive design, necessary measures in support of broader deployability, such as packaging, participation in technical, developer, and community events like hackathons, IETF, W3C, RIPE meetings, FOSDEM, etc. (including admission fees, travel, and subsistence costs), other activities relevant to adhering to robust software development and deployment practices, project management, and out-of-pocket costs for infrastructure essential to achieving the above.

All scientific outcomes must be published as open access, and any novel software and hardware created must be released under a recognized free and open source license in its entirety.

Additional information, including the complete call text, proposal guidelines, and frequently asked questions, can be found on the main call page: https://NLnet.nl/mobifree. The official project website is also available at https://mobifree.org.

The call seeks contributions that open up the mobile ecosystem, such as open hardware, software, firmware, or protocols. Ideas for removing gatekeepers, choke points, or surveillance capabilities are encouraged. Proposals can also focus on improving existing applications (e.g., F-Droid, Conversations, or Micro-G) or enhancing solutions in terms of usability, security, privacy, interoperability, high availability, and scalability.

Project proposals should request funding between 5,000 and 50,000 EUR. Successful projects may have the opportunity to scale up through other NLnet-funded programs like NGI0 Core or NGI0 Commons Fund. The call emphasizes the importance of privacy-friendly, human-centered, and ethical mobile software becoming the norm, empowering users and ensuring they are in control of their technology.

The NGI Mobifree open call aims to assist independent researchers and developers in creating powerful new technologies that can serve as building blocks for a fair and democratic society. It encourages innovative and out-of-the-box ideas that contribute to the topic, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

In summary, the NGI Mobifree open call is a funding initiative designed to foster innovation in the realm of free and open source mobile technologies. It invites researchers, developers, and organizations to submit proposals for projects that enhance user choice, security, privacy, and control within the mobile ecosystem. The call supports a wide range of activities, from scientific research to software development and standardization, with a focus on creating a more open, trustworthy, and reliable internet for all. Successful projects will receive funding between 5,000 and 50,000 EUR and will be expected to release their results under open source licenses. The call is an opportunity to contribute to the Next Generation Internet and shape the future of mobile technology in a way that benefits European citizens and promotes digital sovereignty.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to anyone, including private individuals and organizations of any type.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, with cascade funding provided through open calls.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be open to both single applicants and potentially consortia, as the eligibility is broad and doesn't explicitly exclude collaborative projects.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The proposal should have a clear European dimension, suggesting eligibility is primarily focused on entities within Europe.

Target Sector: The program targets the mobile software sector, with a focus on free and open-source software, libre hardware, open standards, security, privacy, interoperability, usability, high availability, and scalability. It also touches upon areas like ethical mobile software, human-centered design, and democratic ownership of digital society.

Mentioned Countries: While no specific countries are mentioned, the focus on a "European dimension" suggests a regional focus on Europe. The program is funded by the EU, so EU member states are implicitly included.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of projects can range from research and development to improving existing applications. The call supports activities like scientific research, design and development, validation, software engineering, security audits, documentation, standardization, and measures supporting deployability.

Funding Amount: The funding range for project proposals is between 5,000 and 50,000 euros. The total funding available for the open call is 430,000 euros.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.

Application Stages: The deadline model is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rate is not explicitly mentioned, but the fact that 15% of the NGI Mobifree budget is reserved for open calls suggests a competitive selection process. The projects will need a total weighted score above 5.0 (out of 7) in order to be selected.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The NGI Mobifree open call is a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, specifically HORIZON-CL4-2023-HUMAN-01-12 - Pilots for the Next Generation Internet (IA). It aims to foster the development of free and open-source mobile software and hardware that empowers European citizens and organizations with more choice, security, and control over their mobile technologies. The call is open to anyone, including individuals and organizations, with project proposals aligned with the NGI vision and focused on research and development.

The call seeks contributions that can reshape the mobile software landscape, remove gatekeepers, enhance existing applications (like F-Droid, Conversations, or Micro-G), and improve usability, security, privacy, interoperability, high availability, and scalability. Projects should contribute to a more healthy mobile technology ecosystem, providing concrete new tools and reliable infrastructure.

Funded activities can include scientific research, open-source software and hardware design, validation of technical solutions, software engineering, security audits, documentation, standardization, usability improvements, and activities supporting deployability. All project results must be made available under a free and open-source license.

The funding ranges from 5,000 to 50,000 euros per project, with a total of 430,000 euros available. The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of June 1, 2025. Proposals are evaluated based on technical merit, strategic relevance to NGI and NGI Mobifree goals, and value for money. The expected duration of participation is 1-12 months (flexible).