Researchers and Innovators will have the chance to collaborate on multidisciplinary topics related to Next Generation Internet:

• Human-centric internet values: Autonomy, Interoperability, Cooperation, Openness, Inclusivity, Data protection, Data sovereignty, Data privacy, Transparency, etc.
• Research and/or technology domains, such as, IoT, 5/6G, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Blockchain, Cloud and Edge computing, Cybersecurity, Quantum computing and algorithms, Xtended Realities, Peer to peer technologies, Virtual Realities, Decentralized Internet, Trust, and data sovereignty, metaverse, digital commons, Web 3.0, greening of ICT, etc.
• Application domains: health, environment, energy transition, Industry 4.0, emobility, defence, Autonomous V2X, immersive environment, intuitive user experience, lifelong learning, inclusiveness, digitalization, etc.

The programme will also support any other technological foundations on which future services and platforms will be built, with a human-centric approach considering social participation, open Internet, respect of the user’s consent, privacy, and security issues. The list is not exhaustive, and it is up to the applicant to argument the relevance of the proposed topic to Next Generation Internet. Applicants from Social Sciences and the Humanities (SSH)who believe they can contribute to Next Generation Internet related projects in technology fields are encouraged to apply as well.

The programme provides travel funding and living allowance for visiting Fellows from Europe. It supports both Fellows and their host institutions with activities such as bootcamps, training, mentorship sessions, and community building.

The applicants have 3 participation options for this round of calls:

• Paired Teams: The applicant can submit their proposal along with an organisation who agrees to host the applicant. This organisation can be from the pool of host on the website or an external host. The agreement between the host and the applicant must be done prior the application process.
• Challenges: Hosting organisation from US and Canada – which have agreed to collaborate with the NGI Enrichers programme – defines specific research topics (challenges) related to the Next Generation Internet domain. The applicant can submit a proposal answering a challenge defined by the hosting organisation.
• Open ideas: Applicants submit a proposal around their ideas, products or services, selecting three preferred hosts among the list of organisations collaborating with the NGI Enrichers programme. The programme will facilitate the best match between the applicant and the host organisations based on the idea, product or service which has been proposed. Participants are encouraged to choose this track if none of the proposed challenges matches their envisioned project or skills.

Applicants should use the Search for hosts tool to find hosts that match their profile, Focus area and Application domain, and should check whether the host accepts applications from the track that interests you. More details on the proposed challenges can be found in each host’s individual profile, which can be accessed by clicking on a host’s name.