NGI Zero Commons Fund: Open Science & Open Source Innovations

About

The NGI Zero Commons Fund offers funding opportunities for startups and organizations dedicated to advancing open science and open source technologies, providing up to €500,000 in support to foster innovative projects that contribute to the future of the internet, with expert reviews and a focus on sustainable growth.

Benefits

• Access to high-quality funding to advance open, user-centered next-generation internet projects
• Facilitates breakthrough innovations in open source and open science
• Inclusion of professional reviews and support from community experts
• Supports gradual development and long-term impact of projects

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to individuals, research teams, open source communities, non-profit organizations, companies, and institutions
• Applicants must be dedicated to open technology-related projects
• Maximum funding of €500,000 over the fund's lifecycle; single proposals can request up to €150,000
• Requests over €50,000 must demonstrate prior successful completion of NGI Zero projects with publicly available results
• Initial proposals typically request no more than €50,000

Participation Commitments

• 📄 Proposal Submission
• Must submit a detailed proposal outlining the project and its objectives
• 🔍 Audit Requirement
• Projects requesting over €50,000 may require an independent security audit
• ⏰ Progress Reporting
• Regular updates on project progress and outcomes may be required

Target Region

Open to applicants from various countries and regions

Target Sector

Focused on open source software, hardware, and open science research