Deadline: 01-Oct-2026
The European Commission is offering €6 million in funding to strengthen research infrastructure and tools for analysing information integrity across the EU. The programme supports data access, advanced analytics, and collaboration between researchers and civil society. It also includes sub-granting to expand impact and build long-term capacity for studying information manipulation.
Overview
The European Commission has launched a funding programme to enhance Europe’s capacity to analyse and safeguard the information environment.
The initiative focuses on building advanced infrastructure, tools, and collaborative frameworks to study information integrity, including risks such as misinformation, disinformation, and manipulation.
Funding Details
- Total funding: €6,000,000
- Type: Research and infrastructure grant
- Focus: EU-wide collaboration and capacity building
Programme Objectives
The programme aims to:
- Develop a common European research framework for information integrity
- Strengthen infrastructure for analysing the information ecosystem
- Improve access to data for researchers and civil society
- Enable collaboration under EU digital regulations
- Build long-term research and analytical capacity
Key Focus Areas
1. Research Infrastructure Development
- Build hardware and software systems for large-scale analysis
- Enable secure and scalable research environments
2. Analytical Tools for Information Integrity
- Develop tools to detect and analyse misinformation and manipulation
- Support computational and AI-based analysis
3. Situational Awareness Systems
- Monitor real-time information environments
- Identify emerging risks and trends
4. Data Access Mechanisms
- Improve access to platform data for researchers
- Ensure transparency and usability of data systems
5. Regulatory Collaboration
- Support implementation of the Digital Services Act
- Gather feedback on data access frameworks
- Identify gaps and best practices
6. Sub-Granting to Third Parties
- Provide funding to external researchers and civil society organisations
- Support additional projects aligned with programme goals
7. Dissemination and Capacity Building
- Share research outputs widely
- Build long-term expertise and institutional capacity
Key Concepts Explained
Information Integrity
The reliability and trustworthiness of information in the digital ecosystem, including protection against misinformation and manipulation.
Information Manipulation
Deliberate attempts to influence public opinion through false or misleading information.
Research Infrastructure
Systems, tools, and facilities that enable large-scale scientific research and data analysis.
Sub-Granting
A funding mechanism where primary grant recipients distribute funds to third-party organisations for additional projects.
Who is Eligible?
While specific eligibility may vary, the programme typically supports:
- Research institutions and universities
- Non-profit organisations and civil society groups
- Consortia working on digital, data, or policy research
- Organisations capable of managing infrastructure and sub-grants
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Expertise in information ecosystem analysis
- Capacity to manage large-scale infrastructure projects
- Ability to collaborate across sectors and countries
How the Programme Works
Step-by-Step Process
- Needs Assessment
- Identify gaps in infrastructure, tools, or data access
- Proposal Development
- Design scalable and sustainable solutions
- Include infrastructure, tools, and collaboration plans
- Submission
- Provide detailed methodology, budget, and expected impact
- Evaluation
- Based on quality, innovation, and long-term value
- Implementation
- Build infrastructure and deploy tools
- Enable access for researchers and civil society
- Sub-Granting
- Allocate funds to third-party projects
- Dissemination
- Share findings, tools, and best practices
Why This Programme Matters
- Strengthens Europe’s resilience against misinformation
- Enables evidence-based policymaking
- Improves transparency in digital platforms
- Supports collaboration between research and civil society
- Builds long-term capacity for analysing digital information ecosystems
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Proposing non-scalable or short-term solutions
- Lack of clear data access strategy
- Weak alignment with EU regulations
- Insufficient collaboration or stakeholder involvement
- Ignoring sustainability and long-term impact
Tips for a Strong Application
- Focus on interoperability and scalability
- Align with the Digital Services Act requirements
- Include clear plans for data access and sharing
- Demonstrate real-world impact and usability
- Incorporate sub-granting strategies effectively
FAQs
1. What is the total funding available?
The programme offers a total of €6,000,000.
2. What is the main objective?
To strengthen infrastructure and tools for analysing and protecting information integrity in the EU.
3. What types of projects are supported?
Projects focused on research infrastructure, analytical tools, data access, and collaboration.
4. What is sub-granting?
It allows main beneficiaries to fund third-party organisations for additional research or tool development.
5. How does the Digital Services Act relate to this programme?
The programme supports data access and collaboration aligned with the Digital Services Act framework.
6. Who benefits from this initiative?
Researchers, civil society organisations, policymakers, and the broader public.
7. What makes a strong proposal?
Scalable infrastructure, clear data access plans, strong collaboration, and long-term sustainability.
Conclusion
This European Commission initiative represents a strategic investment in strengthening information integrity across Europe. By supporting advanced research infrastructure, data access, and collaborative innovation, the programme plays a crucial role in addressing misinformation challenges and building a more transparent and resilient digital ecosystem.
For more information, visit European Commission.