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NLnet; NGI Zero Core
<!DOCTYPE html> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/><meta charset="utf-8" /><meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff" /><meta name="robots" content="index,follow" /><link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" /><link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico" /><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/nlnet.css" media="screen, projection" /><link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="NLnet News" href="/feed.atom" /><title>NLnet; NGI Zero Core</title> </head> <body class="support" id="topofpage"> <div class="notice"><a href="#main" class="skip">To main content</a><div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col12" id="call_banner"><strong><span><a href="/news/2024/20241001-call.html">Send in your ideas. 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No more new aplications are sought for this fund, but the calls for <a href="/commonsfund">NGI Zero Commons Fund</a> are wide open. We have some tailormade funds as well: if you are interested in <a href="/taler">FOSS digital payment systems</a> look at <a href="/taler">NGI Taler</a>, if you are interested in <a href="/fediversity">hosting stacks</a> look at <a href="/fediversity">NGI Fediversity</a>, and if you are into <a href="/mobifree">open mobile</a> platforms and solution, look at <a href="/mobifree">Mobifree</a>.</p> <p class="center"><a class="buttonlight" href="/propose">Submit a proposal</a></p> <hr /> <p><q>The next generation internet initiative envisions the information age will be an era that brings out the best in all of us. We want to enable human potential, mobility and creativity at the largest possible scale – while dealing responsibly with our natural resources. In order to preserve and expand the European way of life, the programme helps shape a value-centric, human and inclusive Internet for all.</q></p> <p>The internet was never designed with our modern usage in mind. Important decisions that shaped how the internet works today were made in the distant past, and we continue to run into the consequences — <strong>cascading effects</strong> and <strong>limited resilience</strong>, <strong>scalability</strong> issues, lack of strong <strong>privacy</strong> and <strong>security</strong> and a blind spot for <strong>energy efficiency</strong>. These may have seemed less important at the time, but currently they certainly are not, and we need to act.</p> <p>We want a more resilient, trustworthy and open internet. We want to empower end-users. Given the speed at which the 'twin transition' is taking place, we need a greener internet and more sustainable services sooner rather than later. Neither will happen at global scale without protocol evolution, which — as the case of three decades of IPv6 introduction demonstrates — is extremely challenging. <strong>NGI0 Core</strong> is designed to push beyond the status quo and create a virtuous cycle of innovation through <em>free and open source software</em>, <em>libre hardware</em> and <em>open standards</em>. If we want everyone to use and benefit from the internet to its full potential without holding back, the internet <em>must</em> be built on strong and transparent technologies that allow for permissionless innovation and are equally accessible to all.</p> <p>We work towards better technologies to restore and maintain European sovereignty and to secure democratic ownership of the digital society. <a href="/NGI0">NGI Zero</a> actively works towards <strong>digital commons</strong> and trustworthy <strong>technological building blocks</strong> for the next generation of the internet. The goal is to help set the <strong>course of the evolution of technology</strong>, provide people with <strong>concrete new tools</strong> and <strong>more reliable infrastructure</strong>, which provides better overall security and allow them more agency and choice.</p> <div class="row"> <div class="col6"> <div class="interlude"><q>A greener, more secure and resilient global Internet.</q><div class="signaturelogo_container"><a href="/NGI0" class="blank"><img src="/image/logos/NGI0_tag.svg" alt="Next Generation Internet initiative logo" class="signaturelogo" /></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="col6"> <p>We need your contributions to help reshape the state of play, and to help create an <a href="#NGI">open, trustworthy and reliable internet for all</a>. This includes developing alternatives and improvements to core internet hardware, software and protocols removes gatekeepers, choke points and surveillance capabilities. But also improving issues of security, privacy, interoperability, high availability and scalability of decentralised technologies to allow us to benefit from both 'local first' <em>and</em> from economies of scale without unnecessary centralisation. And we want to enable you to make such contributions. This is why between now and 2026 we will award <strong>8.8 million euro</strong> in small to medium-size R&D grants towards solutions that bring the next generation of the internet closer.</p> </div> </div> <p>We are looking for <strong>troubleshooters</strong> that help society tackle the <strong>ossification</strong> of the internet and other hard but very very important challenges, each of which has significant social and economic consequences. We need <strong>new ideas</strong> and <strong>disruptive core technologies</strong>, while at the same time <strong>evolving</strong> and <strong>growing</strong> existing technologies that are still enough future-proof. The project results become available under an open source license, so anyone can read and validate the source code, and anyone can use the code to create technology that fits their own purposes. The right to reuse and right to repair not only allow for unrestricted scrutiny and permissionless innovation, but also help to reduce e-waste. And the use of standards enables interoperability and redundancy in implementation to reduce the risk of compromise and failure.</p> <p>We are seeking project proposals <strong>between 5.000 and 50.000 euro's</strong> — with the possibility to scale them up if there is proven potential. Reliability, confidentiality, integrity, security, and resource efficiency should be the 'new normal' of the internet, something ordinary users should not have to worry about — users should be in control. So let's make it happen.</p> <p>We assist independent researchers and developers to create powerful new technologies, and to help them put it in the hands of future generations as building blocks for a fair and democratic society and a sustainable and open economy that benefits all. Have a look at <a href="/thema/NGIZeroPET.html">other</a> <a href="/thema/NGIZeroDiscovery.html">NGI Zero</a> <a href="/thema/NGI0Entrust.html">programmes</a> to see the kind of efforts we mean, but don't be afraid to send something completely different if you think you can contribute to the topic — it really is an open call.</p> <div class="box marge bg_grey rounded"> <p>The eighth call of NGI Zero Core opened up on <strong>June 1<sup>st</sup> 2024</strong>, with a deadline of <strong>October 1<sup>st</sup> 2024 12:00 CEST (noon)</strong>. <a name="preamble"> </a>Check out the <a href="/core/guideforapplicants">guide for applicants</a> and the <a href="/core/faq/">frequently asked questions</a>.</p> <p class="center"><a class="buttonlight" href="/propose">Submit a proposal</a></p> </div> <div class="box marge bg_grey rounded"> <p>It is no longer possible to submit new projects. In total there were eigth calls held for NGI Zero Core, the last one closed on October 1<sup>st</sup> 2024. Have a look at our <a href="/funding.html">other funds</a>, or if you are interested in the projects please check out the <a href="/thema/NGI0Entrust.html">ongoing projects</a> or the <a href="faq/">frequently asked questions</a>.</p> </div> <h2 id="NGI">Next Generation Internet</h2> <p><q>A human centric Next Generation Internet shall reflect the openness, diversity and the inclusion that are at the core of European values </q> - <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/internet-humans-how-we-would-internet-future-be">Roberto Viola</a></p> <div class="row box marge bg_grey rounded"> <div class="col6"> <p>The overall mission of the Next Generation Internet initiative is to <a href="https://ngi.eu/vision">re-imagine and re-engineer the internet</a> for the third millennium and beyond to shape a value-centric, human and inclusive society for all. How we share and retrieve information is an essential part of that equation. The internet can and should bring out the best in all of us. It should enable human potential, mobility and creativity at the largest possible scale — while dealing responsibly with our natural resources. Doing so is essential to preserve and expand the European way of life. The Next Generation Internet initiative aims to mobilise the best ideas to improve how we find and connect people, devices, services and ideas.</p> </div> <div class="col6"> <div class="interlude">The internet can and should bring out the best in all of us. <br /><div class="signaturelogo_container"><a href="https://ngi.eu" class="blank"><img src="/image/logos/NGI_tag.svg" alt="Next Generation Internet initiative logo" class="signaturelogo" /></a></div> </div> </div> </div> <h2 id="ack">Acknowledgements</h2> <div class="terzijde"><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/communications-networks-content-and-technology_en" class="blank"><img src="/image/logos/EC.svg" alt="Logo European Commission" class="flagright" /></a></div> <p>NGI0 Core is made possible with <a href="acknowledgement.pdf">financial support</a> from the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu">European Commission</a>'s <a href="https://ngi.eu">Next Generation Internet</a> programme, under the aegis of <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/communications-networks-content-and-technology_en">DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology</a>.</p> <p>This project has received funding from the European Union’s <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizoneurope/">Horizon Europe</a> research and innovation programme under grant agreement No <a href="https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101092990">101092990</a>.</p> <p class="attention"> <div class="center"><a href="/NGI0"><img src="/image/logos/NGI0_tag.svg" alt="Logo NGI Zero: letterlogo shaped like a tag" class="" /></a></div> </p> </div> <div class="col4 reorder"> <div class="part"> <h3>Search</h3> <form onsubmit="/js/searchbutton.js" method="get" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="/search/static.html" class="sitesearch"><input id="searsia-input" type="text" name="q" class="form-control" value="" autocomplete="off" /><label for="searsia-input"><span class="hide">Search</span></label><input type="submit" id="searsiasubmit" name="submit" value="Search" /><label for="searsiasubmit"><span class="hide">Submit search</span></label></form> </div> <div> <ul class="pointer"> <li><a href="/core/guideforapplicants/index.html">Guide for Applicants</a></li> <li><a href="/core/background/index.html#organisation">Who is behind this?</a></li> <li><a href="/core/eligibility/index.html">Eligibility</a></li> <li><a href="/core/faq/index.html">FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="/thema/NGIZeroCore.html">Ongoing projects</a></li> <li><a href="https://mastodon.xyz/@NGIZero">Follow us</a></li> <li><a href="/core/index.html">About NGI0 Core</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="/core" class="blank"><img src="/image/logos/NGI0Core_tag.svg" alt="Next Generation Internet initiative logo" class="signaturelogo" /></a></p> <p class="box marge"> <h5>Currently open for proposals:</h5> </p> <ul class="pointer"> <li><a href="/commonsfund/">NGI0 Commons Fund</a></li> <li><a href="/taler/">NGI TALER</a></li> <li><a href="/mobifree/">NGI Mobifree</a></li> <li><a href="/fediversity/">NGI Fediversity</a></li> </ul> <div><a href="/foundation/jobs/regionalrepresentative.html" class="part part_link part_green"><img src="/image/git-merge-2.svg" width="40" height="40" alt="git merge icon" /> <h5 class="color_white">Job opening</h5> <font color="white">NGI Zero is looking for a Regional Representative.</font> </a></div> <div><a href="https://podcast.nlnet.nl/@NGIZero" class="part part_link part_blue"><img src="/image/ic_antenna_white.svg" width="40" height="40" alt="podcast logo, antenna with radio waves" /> <h5 class="color_white">Listen to our podcast</h5> <font color="white">Converstations with people building the Next Generation Internet</font> </a></div> <!-- <div> <a href="https://social.nlnet.nl/@nlnet" class="part part_link part_blue"><img src="/image/ic_fediverse.svg" width="50" height="50" alt="fediverse logo, 5 nodes in pentagon shape with all diagonals, black" /> <h5 class="color_white">Come meet us in the Fediverse</h5> @nlnet@nlnet.nl </a> </div> <div> <a href="/bluehatsprize/" class="part part_link part_green"><img src="/image/ic_hat.svg" width="40" height="40" alt="bluehats logo, three blue hats" /> <h5 class="color_white">Nominate FOSS projects</h5> Nominate Free Software Projects for the four €10.000 BlueHats Prizes. </a> </div> <div> <a href="/help" class="part part_link part_green"><img src="/image/ic_hand.svg" alt="" /> <h5 class="color_white">Want to do us a favour?</h5> Help us with 5 minutes of your time. </a> </div> --> </div> <div class="part"> <h3>Events</h3> <p class="h-event"><a href="/events/20250201/FOSDEM/index.html"><span class="dt-start dt-end">2025-02-01</span> - <span class="p-name">Let's meet at FOSDEM 2025</span></a></p> <p class="h-event"><a href="/events/20241128/index.html"><span class="dt-start dt-end">2024-11-28</span> - <span class="p-name">Webinar: Ask Us For Help: Practical Support for NGI Beneficiaries</span></a></p> <p class="h-event"><a href="/events/20240502/index.html"><span class="dt-start dt-end">2024-05-02</span> - <span class="p-name">Tech talk with bunnie on IRIS: an open hardware project to verify chips</span></a></p> <ul class="pointer"> <li><a href="/webinars">Upcoming webinars & recordings</a></li> <li><a href="/events">Event archive</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="part"> <h3>News</h3> <p><a href="/news/2024/20241121-CfP-Fosdem.html">Call for Participation: Devroom on FOSS Funding at FOSDEM</a> 2024-11-21</p> <p><a href="/news/2024/20241111-NGI-Taler-grants.html">NGI TALER Grants for Tryton and Interledger Interoperability </a> 2024-11-11</p> <p><a href="/news/2024/20241111-NGI-Mobifree-grants.html">NGI Mobifree Grants Awarded for Fair Mobile Software</a> 2024-11-11</p> <p><a href="/news/2024/20241015-BlueHatsPrize4.html">Monitoring Plugins wins BlueHats Prize for maintainers</a> 2024-10-15</p> <p><a href="/news/2024/20241014-announcing-CommonsFund-call.html">NGI0 Commons Fund Supports 32 Projects Building the Public Internet</a> 2024-10-14</p> <ul class="pointer"> <li><a href="/news">More news</a></li> </ul> </div> <div><a href="/help" class="part part_link part_green"><img src="/image/ic_hand.svg" alt="" /><h5 class="color_white">Want to help?</h5>Help us by protecting open source and its users with 5 minutes of your time. </a></div> <div><a href="/donating/" class="part part_link part_blue"><img src="/image/ic_flower.svg" alt="icon of a flower" /><h5 class="color_white">Donate today</h5>Your donation can help grow the future! </a></div> <!-- <div> <a href="/bluehatsprize/" class="part part_link part_green"><img src="/image/ic_hat.svg" width="40" height="40" alt="bluehats logo, three blue hats" /> <h5 class="color_white">Nominate FOSS projects</h5> Nominate Free Software Projects for the four €10.000 BlueHats Prizes. </a> </div> --> </div> </div> </div> <footer> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col3"><strong>NLnet</strong><ul class="menu"> <li><a href="/foundation/">Foundation</a></li> <li><a href="/people/">People</a></li> <li><a href="/press/">Press</a></li> <li><a href="/foundation/media-coverage/">In the media</a></li> <li><a href="/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="/privacy/">Privacy statement</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col3"><strong>News & events</strong><ul class="menu"> <li><a href="/news/">News</a></li> <li><a href="/events/">Events</a></li> <li><a href="/webinars/">Webinars</a></li> <li><a href="/tour-schedule/">NGI Zero Tour Schedule</a></li> <li><a href="/speakerbureau/">Speaker bureau</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col3"><strong>Connect with us</strong><ul class="menu"> <li><a href="https://social.nlnet.nl/@nlnet">Fediverse: NLnet</a></li> <li><a href="https://mastodon.xyz/@NGIZero">Fediverse: NGI Zero</a></li> <li><a href="https://podcast.nlnet.nl/@NGIZero/">Our podcast</a></li> <li><a href="https://vc.ngi-0.eu/rooms/ahq-y96-uhs-jka/public_recordings">Our webinars</a></li> <li><a href="/feed.atom">RSS feed</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col3"><strong>Site search</strong><p></p> <form onsubmit="/js/searchbutton.js" method="get" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="/search/static.html" class="sitesearch"><input id="searsia-input" type="text" name="q" class="form-control" value="" autocomplete="off" /><label for="searsia-input"><span class="hide">Search</span></label><input type="submit" id="searsiasubmit" name="submit" value="Search" /><label for="searsiasubmit"><span class="hide">Submit search</span></label></form> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col3"><strong>Funding</strong><ul class="menu"> <li><a href="/propose/">Open calls</a></li> <li><a href="/themes/">Theme funds</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col3"><strong>Projects</strong><ul class="menu"> <li><a href="/project/">All projects</a></li> <li><a href="/project/current.html">Currently running</a></li> <li><a href="/thema/">Thematic index</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/">Stories</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col3"><strong>Newsletters</strong><ul class="menu"> <li><a href="https://lists.nlnet.nl/mailman3/lists/newsletter.lists.nlnet.nl/">The NLnet newsletter</a></li> <li><a href="https://lists.ngi-0.eu/subscribe/ngizero-newsletter">The NGI Zero newsletter</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col3"><strong>Support NLnet</strong><ul class="menu"> <li><a href="/donating/">Financial contribution</a></li> <li><a href="/help/">Join the Open Invention Network</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </body> </html>