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

September 30, 2025 (Opens) | December 1, 2025, 12:00 Brussels time (Closes)

€14,000,000 total available | Typical project duration: 1–12 months

Supports open internet commons projects—software, hardware, standards, data, and more—to foster a resilient, trustworthy, and sustainable digital future.

All results must be open access and/or under recognized free/open source licenses.

--- ## Description The NGI Zero Commons Fund is an initiative of the European Commission, co-funded under the Horizon Europe program, designed to support the creation, maturation, and growth of internet commons. The fund targets a broad range of projects, including open source software and hardware, open standards, open data and AI, open science, creative commons, and educational resources. Its goal is to address gaps in the digital commons ecosystem by encouraging collective action, public investment, and collaboration across public sector, industry, academia, and civil society. The program seeks projects that contribute to a resilient, trustworthy, and sustainably open internet. It supports innovation across the technology stack—from foundational infrastructure to end-user applications—aiming to enable new paradigms such as Web 4.0 and responsible adoption of emerging technologies. --- ## Due Dates - **Call opens:** September 30, 2025 - **Submission deadline:** December 1, 2025, 12:00 (Brussels time) --- ## Funding Amount - **Total funding available:** €14,000,000 - **Project duration:** 1–12 months (flexible) - **Funding model:** Cascade funding to third parties --- ## Eligibility - Open to private individuals and organizations of any type, worldwide. - Proposals must align with the [NGI vision](https://nlnet.nl/NGI/vision) and have research and development as their primary objective. - All scientific outcomes must be published as open access; all software and hardware must be published under a recognized free/open source license. - Proposals should have a clear European dimension. --- ## Application Process - Proposals must be concise (main application no longer than two pages). - Submit proposals via [https://NLnet.nl/propose](https://nlnet.nl/propose). - Review the [guide for applicants](https://nlnet.nl/commonsfund/guideforapplicants) before applying. - Projects are evaluated on: - Technical merit - Strategic relevance to the Next Generation Internet - Value for money - Minimum required score: weighted average above 5.0 out of 7. --- ## Additional Information Eligible project activities include: - Scientific research - Design and development of open source software/hardware - Validation or constructive inquiry into technical solutions - Software engineering for new uses or quality improvement - Security audits, formal proofs, and testing infrastructure - Documentation and educational materials - Standardization activities (including membership fees) - Usability and inclusive design work - Packaging and deployability measures - Participation in technical/community events - Project management and essential infrastructure costs All deliverables must be openly licensed, ensuring reuse and validation by the broader community. --- ## External Links - [Official call and application portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/competitive-calls-cs/11902?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [Project website and full guidelines](https://nlnet.nl/commonsfund) - [Guide for applicants](https://nlnet.nl/commonsfund/guideforapplicants) - [Submission form](https://nlnet.nl/propose) - [NGI vision](https://nlnet.nl/NGI/vision) - [Web 4.0 factsheet](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/virtual-worlds-and-web-40-factsheet) --- ## Contact Information | Contact Type | Details | |----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Funder general info | [European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en) | | Funder contact | [Contact the European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) | | Phone | +32 2 299 11 11 | | Program website | [NGI Zero Commons Fund](https://nlnet.nl/commonsfund) |

NGI Zero Commons Fund (2025-12Z)

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