NGI Zero Commons Fund (2025-06Z)

The NGI Zero Commons Fund is a funding opportunity co-funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program and additional support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. The fund aims to support the Next Generation Internet initiative, providing financial support to third parties to foster a resilient, trustworthy, and sustainably open internet. It aims to support the development, maturation, and scaling of new internet commons across various technologies, including libre silicon, middleware, P2P infrastructure, and end-user applications, employing a holistic, full-stack approach for comprehensive coverage.

The application process opens on April 1, 2025, and closes on June 1, 2025, at 12:00 Brussels time, following a single-stage model. The total funding available is €19,400,000.00, with project durations being flexible, ranging from 1 to 12 months. The project acronym is NGI0 Commons Fund, and the full name is "Create, mature and grow internet commons," specifically targeting topic HORIZON-CL4-2023-HUMAN-01-11 - Next Generation Internet Fund (RIA).

Eligible applicants can include private individuals and any type of organization. Proposals must align with the NGI vision and focus primarily on research and development, adhering to a concise application format. Projects will be evaluated based on three criteria: technical merit, strategic relevance to the Next Generation Internet, and overall value for money, requiring a total weighted score above 5.0 out of 7 for selection.

Eligible activities for financial support include scientific research, design and development of open-source software and hardware, validation of technical solutions, standardization activities, and participation in technical and community events.

All scientific outcomes must be published as open access, with any software and hardware made available under a recognized free and open-source license. The fund addresses gaps in the current internet landscape by encouraging collective action and public investment. It supports innovative ideas and technologies, ensuring project results remain open for validation and reuse, ultimately fostering an open internet for all.

The NGI Zero Commons Fund is a funding opportunity co-funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101135429. Additional funding is provided by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). It aims to support the Next Generation Internet initiative by providing financial support to third parties, fostering a resilient, trustworthy, and sustainably open internet. The fund supports the development, maturation, and scaling of new internet commons across the technology spectrum, including libre silicon, middleware, P2P infrastructure, and end-user applications. The fund employs a holistic, full-stack approach to ensure comprehensive coverage.

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 follows a single-stage deadline model. The expected duration of participation is flexible, ranging from 1 to 12 months. The total funding available is 19,400,000.00 €. The project acronym is NGI0 Commons Fund, and the full name of the EU-funded project is "Create, mature and grow internet commons". The relevant topic is HORIZON-CL4-2023-HUMAN-01-11 - Next Generation Internet Fund (RIA).

Projects can be submitted through https://NLnet.nl/propose. Applicants should consult this page and the guide for applicants before preparing their proposal. 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 (no more than two pages for the main application), and have a clear European dimension.

Projects are evaluated based on a 7-point scale across three criteria: technical merit, strategic relevance to the Next Generation Internet, and overall value for money. The key objective is to deliver potential breakthrough contributions to the open internet. Projects must achieve a total weighted score above 5.0 (out of 7) to be selected.

Eligible activities for financial support include:

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 software and hardware must be published under a recognized free and open source license in its entirety.

The NGI Zero Commons Fund aims to address gaps in the current internet landscape by fostering collective action and public investment. It seeks to deliver, mature, and scale new internet commons across the technology spectrum, from libre silicon to middleware, P2P infrastructure, and end-user applications. The fund encourages collaboration between the public sector, aligned companies, academia, and civil society to restore the internet and economies. It supports new ideas and disruptive technologies while evolving and growing existing future-proof technologies. Project results must be available under a free or open-source license, allowing for validation, reuse, and innovation. The fund is supported by the European Commission's Next Generation Internet programme and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

In summary, the NGI Zero Commons Fund is a significant funding opportunity aimed at bolstering the Next Generation Internet by supporting projects that develop and scale open and free technologies. It seeks to address market failures and promote a more resilient, trustworthy, and open internet through collaborative efforts and public investment. The fund is open to a wide range of applicants, including individuals and organizations, and supports various activities, from scientific research to software development and community engagement. The ultimate goal is to create a strong and open internet for all, fostering innovation, reducing e-waste, and enabling greater control over digital lives.

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

Funding Type: Grant, specifically cascade funding (financial support to third parties).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, the description mentions the "quadruple helix" collaboration, suggesting that projects involving collaboration between the public sector, companies, academia, and civil society are encouraged. Therefore, while not strictly required, collaborative projects may be viewed favorably.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call has a clear European dimension, and is funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe program. Additional funding is provided by Switzerland. This suggests eligibility extends to at least EU member states and Switzerland. The text does not explicitly exclude other countries, but the emphasis on a "European dimension" implies a preference for applicants within Europe or those whose projects significantly benefit the European internet ecosystem.

Target Sector: The program targets the Next Generation Internet (NGI) and digital commons. Specific areas of interest include: free and open source software and hardware, open standards, open data & AI, open science, creative commons, open educational resources, libre silicon, middleware, P2P infrastructure, end-user applications, virtual and augmented reality, generative AI, and intelligent mediators. The program has a holistic, full-stack approach, covering the entire technology spectrum related to the internet.

Mentioned Countries: Switzerland, European Union member states.

Project Stage: The program supports projects at various stages, including development, maturation, and scaling of new internet commons. This suggests that projects from the research and development stage through to validation, demonstration, and potentially early commercialization or scale-up could be eligible.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 19,400,000.00 €. The expected duration of participation is 1-12 months (flexible). The text does not specify the funding range for individual projects, but given the total funding and the project duration, it is likely that individual grants will vary considerably, potentially ranging from under €50k to over €200k, or even higher depending on the project's scope and impact.

Application Type: Open call.

Nature of Support: Money. Beneficiaries will receive financial support to carry out their projects.

Application Stages: Single-stage.

Success Rates: The text does not provide specific success rates. However, it mentions that projects will need a total weighted score above 5.0 (out of 7) to be selected, suggesting that the selection process is competitive.

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

Summary:

The NGI Zero Commons Fund is a funding opportunity under the European Union's Horizon Europe program, with additional funding from Switzerland, aimed at fostering the development, maturation, and scaling of internet commons. The fund supports projects that contribute to a resilient, trustworthy, and sustainably open internet. It welcomes applications from private individuals and organizations of all types, provided that the projects align with the NGI vision and have research and development as their primary objective. The program has a broad scope, covering various technologies and areas, including open source software and hardware, open standards, open data & AI, and emerging technologies like virtual reality and AI. The application process is a single-stage open call, with projects evaluated based on technical merit, strategic relevance to the Next Generation Internet, and overall value for money. The total funding available is 19,400,000.00 €, and the expected project duration is between 1 and 12 months. The NGI Zero Commons Fund seeks to address market failures and promote collective action by supporting projects that create shared building blocks and collective resources for governments, businesses, and civil society. The program encourages collaboration between the public sector, companies, academia, and civil society to restore the internet and economies to health. Project results must be made available under a free or open source license.