New EU Funding Calls Target Open Internet and Responsible Security

- The NGI Zero Commons Fund represents the European Commission's most significant single investment in the Next Generation Internet (NGI) initiative since 2019, allocating over €21.6 million. - The Commons Fund utilizes an agile cascade funding model, offering grants between €5,000 and €50,000 through open calls held every two months until the budget is fully distributed. - Both funds are part of the EU's broader NGI initiative, which aims to re-engineer the internet to be more aligned with European values like openness, data protection, inclusivity, and privacy. - A 2021 study for the European Commission estimated that open-source software already contributes between €65 billion and €95 billion to the EU's GDP, highlighting the economic case for public investment in this area. - The 7th REINFORCING Open Call will provide grants of up to €20,000 for projects lasting eight months, specifically targeting the integration of Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) practices within the field of security. - This funding aligns with a broader EU strategy to bolster its "digital sovereignty" by investing in a European open technology stack, thereby reducing reliance on proprietary systems from non-European companies. - The REINFORCING project aims to create a central hub of knowledge for Open and Responsible Research and Innovation, supporting institutions in embedding these practices through mentoring, training, and a total of 96 grants. - While the NGI Zero fund primarily targets individual engineers and researchers, the REINFORCING call is open to legal entities, including civil society organizations, NGOs, universities, research centers, and SMEs.