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NLnet Foundation Now Accepting Proposals for Breakthrough Open Internet Projects

Deadline: 01-Feb-2026

The NLnet Foundation is accepting proposals for technically excellent and strategically aligned projects that deliver breakthrough contributions to the open internet under the Next Generation Internet (NGI) TALER framework.

Funding supports fully open source, open access, and high-impact initiatives that strengthen the internet’s security, usability, openness, and sustainability.

Overview

The NLnet Foundation invites proposals for projects that contribute meaningfully to the Next Generation Internet (NGI) by delivering breakthrough, open, and reusable technologies.

This funding opportunity operates under the NGI TALER framework, which focuses on strengthening the open internet ecosystem through technical excellence, strategic relevance, and full openness in research and development.

The programme supports projects that are transparent, accessible, community-oriented, and capable of long-term impact.

Core Objectives of the NGI TALER Call

The NGI TALER funding aims to support projects that:

  • Deliver breakthrough contributions to the open internet

  • Demonstrate high technical excellence

  • Align strategically with Next Generation Internet and NGI TALER priorities

  • Provide strong value for money

  • Publish results through open access

  • Release all software and hardware as fully open source

  • Strengthen internet security, resilience, and trust

  • Promote openness, accessibility, and transparency

Priority Focus Areas

Projects are expected to address one or more of the following areas.

Open Science and Open Technology

  • Open access scientific research

  • Free and open source software development

  • Open hardware design and implementation

Technical Quality and Validation

  • Validation and improvement of technical solutions

  • Security audits, quality assurance, and robustness

  • Formal verification and testing where relevant

Usability and Accessibility

  • Usability engineering and user research

  • Inclusive and accessible design practices

  • Compliance with accessibility standards

Standardisation and Deployability

  • Contribution to open standards

  • Interoperability and deployability in real-world environments

  • Adoption-readiness and sustainability

Community and Ecosystem Building

  • Community participation and collaboration

  • Engagement with relevant technical and open source communities

  • Transparent governance and documentation

Project Operations

  • Robust development and deployment practices

  • Clear project management structures

  • Essential infrastructure and operational costs

Who Can Apply?

Eligible Applicants

The call is open to:

  • Individual developers or researchers

  • Informal teams and open source communities

  • Non-profit organisations

  • Companies and research institutions

All applicants must commit to full openness, including open licensing and public availability of deliverables.

Funding Amounts and Limits

Per-Proposal Funding

  • Maximum request per proposal: €50,000

  • Funding is based on the actual resources required to achieve project objectives

Lifetime Funding Cap

  • Maximum funding per third party under NGI TALER: €60,000

  • Applies across the entire lifetime of the NGI TALER programme

Final Grant Agreement

  • Funding amounts may be adjusted by NLnet to:

    • Remove ineligible costs

    • Add recommended activities that improve impact

  • The final grant size is formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NLnet and the grantee

How Projects Are Evaluated

Review Criteria

Proposals are assessed through a structured review process focusing on:

  • Technical excellence and feasibility

  • Strategic alignment with NGI TALER objectives

  • Value for money

  • Contribution to the open internet ecosystem

  • Openness, accessibility, and transparency

Ranking and Selection

  • Proposals are ranked based on strategic potential and cost-effectiveness

  • Only projects that meaningfully strengthen the open internet are selected

Reapplying for Additional Funding

Excellent teams may reapply for further funding if they:

  • Successfully complete a significant portion of their previous project

  • Make all deliverables publicly available

  • Release outputs under recognised open and free licenses

  • Comply with accessibility and audit requirements, where applicable

This approach encourages incremental progress and sustained impact rather than one-off funding.

Why This Funding Matters

The NGI TALER programme plays a crucial role in:

  • Preserving and strengthening the open internet

  • Supporting technologies that remain public, auditable, and reusable

  • Reducing dependence on proprietary infrastructure

  • Improving security, usability, and trust online

  • Enabling community-driven innovation

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

  • Proposing closed or partially proprietary solutions

  • Weak alignment with NGI TALER objectives

  • Poor justification of costs and value for money

  • Insufficient attention to security, usability, or deployability

  • Failing to plan for open access publication and open licensing

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the main goal of the NGI TALER funding?

To support open, high-quality projects that deliver breakthrough contributions to the open internet.

2. Who manages this funding call?

The funding is managed by the NLnet Foundation under the Next Generation Internet framework.

3. How much funding can one proposal receive?

Up to €50,000 per proposal.

4. Is there a lifetime funding limit per applicant?

Yes. A single third party can receive up to €60,000 over the lifetime of NGI TALER.

5. Are commercial applicants allowed?

Yes, provided all outputs are fully open source and openly accessible.

6. Can successful teams apply again?

Yes. Teams may reapply after completing earlier projects and releasing all deliverables openly.

7. Are accessibility and audits mandatory?

Projects must comply with accessibility requirements, and audits may be required depending on scope and impact.

Conclusion

The NLnet Foundation’s NGI TALER funding opportunity offers targeted support for open, secure, and community-driven technologies that shape the future of the internet.

By prioritising technical excellence, openness, and real-world impact, the programme enables innovators to build digital infrastructure that serves the public interest and strengthens the global open internet ecosystem.

For more information, visit NLnet Foundation.