NGI TALER open call (2025-12T)

The NGI TALER open call (2025-12T) is part of the Next Generation Internet initiative aimed at developing privacy-preserving digital payment systems. Funded by the European Commission and the Swiss State, the call invites proposals for research and development projects aligned with the goals of the GNU Taler system. The call opens on October 1, 2025, and submissions are accepted until December 1, 2025, at 12:00 Brussels time. There's a total funding pool of €396,000, with individual projects eligible for between €5,000 and €50,000.

Eligible applicants include individuals, startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutions, and non-profit organizations, allowing for a broad spectrum of participation. Proposals must have a clear European dimension and align with the NGI TALER objectives, focusing on areas such as software services, cybersecurity, and open-source technologies.

The application process is a single-stage, requiring a concise proposal limited to two pages. Projects are evaluated based on technical merit, strategic relevance to the NGI vision, and value for money, necessitating a minimum score of 5.0 out of 7 for acceptance. The program prioritizes open access publication of results and mandates that any developed software and hardware must be released under a free and open-source license.

Proposed activities can range from scientific research and software development to standardization work and community engagement activities. The initiative seeks to reshape digital payment systems, promoting alternatives to conventional methods while fostering a democratic internet landscape. Successful projects may have opportunities for further funding through related programs.

The NGI TALER open call (2025-12T) is a funding opportunity within the Next Generation Internet (NGI) initiative, specifically targeting the development and rollout of privacy-preserving and libre digital payment methods at internet scale. The call is funded by the European Commission and the Swiss State. It aims to support free and open source efforts aligned with the topics and approach of NGI TALER, building upon the foundations of GNU Taler.

The opening date for submissions is October 1, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is December 1, 2025, at 12:00 Brussels time. The call employs a single-stage submission model. The expected duration of participation in projects is flexible, ranging from 1 to 12 months. A total of 396,000.00 EUR is available for funding. The project acronym is TALER, and the full name of the EU-funded project is Taxable Anonymous Libre Electronic Reserves. The grant agreement number is 101135475. The relevant topic is HORIZON-CL4-2023-HUMAN-01-12 - Pilots for the Next Generation Internet (IA).

Projects can be submitted through https://NLnet.nl/propose. Applicants should consult this page and the guide for applicants before preparing their proposal. Anyone can apply, including private individuals and organizations of any type. Proposals should align with the NGI vision and have research and development as their primary objective. Proposals should be complete, concise (no longer than two pages for the main application), and have a clear European dimension.

Project proposals will be evaluated based on a 7-point scale, considering the following criteria: technical merit (30% weight), strategic relevance to the Next Generation Internet and expected contribution to the goals of NGI TALER (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 key objective is to deliver potential break-through contributions to the objectives of NGI TALER and the introduction of privacy-preserving and libre digital payment methods at internet scale.

The following types of activities are eligible for financial support, provided they are cost-effective and directly relevant to NGI TALER's topics and objectives:

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, e.g., packaging
Participation in technical, developer, and community events like hackathons, IETF, W3C, RIPE meetings, FOSDEM, etc. (admission fee, travel, and subsistence costs)
Other activities relevant to adhering to robust software development and deployment practices
Project management
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 published under a recognized free and open source license in its entirety.

Further information, including the complete call text, proposal guidelines, and an FAQ, can be found at https://NLnet.nl/taler. Additional information is available on the official project website: https://ngi.taler.net.

The NGI TALER project aims to roll out a new electronic payment system that benefits various stakeholders, including people, merchants, banks, financial authorities, auditors, and anti-corruption researchers. It builds on the GNU Taler system, offering privacy for payers while ensuring transparency for sellers. GNU Taler facilitates micro payments at low overhead, enabling alternative internet business models beyond advertising or subscriptions. It also aims to lower transaction fees and extend online payment access to underbanked populations.

15% of the NGI TALER budget is allocated to open calls for additional free and open source efforts. Contributions are sought to reshape digital payment systems and create an open, trustworthy, and reliable internet. This includes adding new capabilities to GNU Taler, building auxiliary tools, improving user experience, developing integrations into FOSS applications and open standards (e.g., P2P micropayments in instant messengers, social media, or video conferencing tools), and enhancing infrastructure components like merchant backends.

The program seeks project proposals with budgets between 5,000 and 50,000 EUR. Successful projects may have opportunities to scale up through other NLnet-funded programs like NGI0 Commons Fund. The goal is to establish reliable, low-cost, secure, and resource-efficient payments as the norm on the internet, empowering users with control.

The call encourages independent researchers and developers to contribute to building powerful new technologies that can serve as building blocks for a fair and democratic society. Even unconventional ideas are welcome, provided they align with the eligibility criteria.

In summary, the NGI TALER open call is a funding opportunity for projects that contribute to the development and adoption of privacy-preserving, open-source digital payment systems, particularly those that enhance or integrate with the GNU Taler ecosystem. It seeks to foster a more democratic and user-centric internet by supporting innovative solutions in the realm of online payments. The call is open to a wide range of applicants, from individuals to organizations, and encourages both incremental improvements and out-of-the-box ideas that align with the NGI vision. The focus is on research and development activities that lead to tangible, open-source outputs that can be widely adopted and contribute to a more trustworthy and reliable digital economy.

Eligible Applicant Types: Anyone can apply, including private individuals and organizations of any type.

Funding Type: Grant. Specifically, small to medium-size R&D grants are awarded. This is also referred to as cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement: Single. While collaboration is encouraged through community hubs, the application appears to be designed for single applicants.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The proposal should have a clear European dimension. The NGI TALER project is funded by the European Commission and the Swiss State.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is finance, specifically digital payment systems. It also touches upon ICT, software services, security/cybersecurity, and innovation, particularly in the context of open-source technologies and privacy-enhancing technologies.

Mentioned Countries: Switzerland. The call specifies a clear European dimension.

Project Stage: The project stage is primarily focused on research and development, with potential for validation, demonstration, and improvements to existing solutions like GNU Taler. The call also supports activities related to broader deployability, suggesting projects can be geared towards later stages as well.

Funding Amount: The funding range is between €5,000 and €50,000. The total funding available for this call is €396,000.

Application Type: Open call.

Nature of Support: Money. Beneficiaries will receive financial support in the form of grants.

Application Stages: 1. The deadline model is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This opportunity is an open call for proposals under the NGI TALER project, which aims to foster the development and adoption of privacy-preserving and libre digital payment methods at internet scale. Funded by the European Commission and the Swiss State, the NGI TALER project is allocating 15% of its budget to open calls, seeking contributions that align with its goals. The call is open to anyone, including individuals and organizations, with a focus on research and development projects that have a clear European dimension.

The ideal project will contribute to the objectives of NGI TALER, which builds upon the GNU Taler system. This includes enhancing GNU Taler itself, developing auxiliary tools, improving user experience, integrating with FOSS applications and open standards (like enabling P2P micropayments in instant messengers or social media platforms), or improving infrastructure components like merchant backends. The call supports a range of activities, including scientific research, open-source software/hardware development, validation of technical solutions, software engineering, security audits, documentation, standardization activities, usability improvements, packaging, and participation in relevant events.

Projects should aim to deliver breakthrough contributions to privacy-friendly digital payment systems. All project results must be open access, and any new software or hardware must be released under a free and open-source license. The call seeks proposals requesting between €5,000 and €50,000. The total funding available for this call is €396,000. The program runs until November 2026.

Proposals will be evaluated based on technical merit (30%), strategic relevance to NGI TALER (40%), and value for money (30%). A minimum score of 5.0 out of 7 is required for selection. The application deadline is December 1, 2025, at 12:00 Brussels time. The expected duration of participation is flexible, ranging from 1 to 12 months.

In essence, this is an opportunity for researchers and developers to receive funding for projects that advance the state of digital payment systems, making them more privacy-friendly, reliable, and accessible. The focus is on open-source solutions and contributions to the technology commons, empowering users and fostering a more democratic digital society.