[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

December 1, 2025 | February 1, 2026

€5,000–€50,000 per project (max €60,000 per third party across project lifetime); typical duration 1–12 months.

Supports innovative open source research and development to advance privacy-preserving digital payment systems based on GNU Taler.

All outputs must be open source and open access; anyone can apply, including individuals and organizations worldwide.

--- ## Description This call funds projects that contribute to the development of privacy-preserving, libre digital payment systems built on the GNU Taler technology. The aim is to foster an open, trustworthy, and reliable payment infrastructure for the internet, supporting individuals, merchants, banks, regulators, and the broader digital economy. Funded activities may include research, software and hardware development, integrations, usability improvements, documentation, security audits, standardization, and more. All results must be released under recognized free and open source licenses, and scientific outcomes must be open access. The program is particularly interested in projects that introduce new features, improve user experience, or support broader deployment and interoperability of GNU Taler-based systems. --- ## Due Dates - December 1, 2025: Submission deadline (EU Funding & Tenders Portal listing) — 12:00 Brussels time - February 1, 2026: Submission deadline (NLnet / NGI TALER open call) — 12:00 CET (noon) --- ## Funding Amount - Typical grant size: €5,000–€50,000 per project - Maximum total funding per third party across the project: €60,000 - Total open call budget: up to €396,000 (this round); at least €676,000 over the program lifetime - Project duration: 1–12 months (flexible) --- ## Eligibility - Open to individuals and organizations of any type and nationality - Priority is given to applicants from the EU and countries associated with Horizon Europe, but exceptional proposals from outside these areas are eligible - Applicants under the legal age of consent may apply (parental consent required before contract signing) - Proposals must align with the NGI vision and have research and development as the primary objective - All outputs must be published as open access (research) and under a recognized free/open source license (software/hardware) - Exclusions: Staff of the program consortium partners (other than NLnet Foundation), and their close family members, are not eligible --- ## Application Process - Prepare a concise proposal (main application should not exceed two pages) - Submit via the [NLnet application portal](https://nlnet.nl/propose) - Review the [Guide for Applicants](https://nlnet.nl/taler/guideforapplicants) and [Eligibility Information](https://nlnet.nl/taler/eligibility) before applying - Proposals are evaluated on technical merit (30%), strategic relevance (40%), and value for money (30%) - Projects must score above 5.0/7 to be considered for funding - The process includes two review stages and potential requests for clarifications or revisions - All applicants are notified of outcomes after review --- ## Additional Information - Eligible activities include research, open source software/hardware development, validation, usability improvements, documentation, standardization, event participation, project management, and infrastructure costs directly related to the project - Projects may focus on core GNU Taler development, integrations with other FOSS platforms, user experience, infrastructure, or related tools - Budget is limited and the call is competitive; early submission is recommended - Previous successful grantees may apply for additional funding, subject to satisfactory completion and publication of prior deliverables --- ## External Links - [EU Funding & Tenders Portal – NGI TALER Open Call](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/competitive-calls-cs/11904?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [NLnet NGI TALER Call Information](https://nlnet.nl/taler) - [Eligibility Criteria](https://nlnet.nl/taler/eligibility) - [Guide for Applicants](https://nlnet.nl/taler/guideforapplicants) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://nlnet.nl/taler/faq) - [Proposal Submission Portal](https://nlnet.nl/propose) - [GNU Taler Technology Overview](https://taler.net/) --- ## Contact Information | Contact Type | Details | |----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Funder Main Page | [European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en) | | Funder Contact | [Contact the European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) | | NLnet (Program Admin)| [NLnet Contact Page](https://nlnet.nl/contact) | | Phone (EC) | +32 2 299 11 11 |

NGI TALER open call (2025-12T)

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