Programme Category
Programme Name
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
NGI Sargasso aims to revolutionise the Next Generation Internet technologies, services and standards, and contribute to the evolution of the Internet according to a human-centric approach of the internet commons.
The purpose of this call is to provide support to EU MS and Associated Countries entities that would like to collaborate in research projects, within the Next Generation Internet field, with US and/or Canadian entities.
Detailed Call Description
The Approach of NGI Sargasso is to contribute and promote a sustainable open Internet environment through a transatlantic collaborative ecosystem (EU-USACanada) with the objective to cooperate on emerging topics for the Next Generation Internet.
NGI Sargasso focuses on specific areas of knowledge critical to developing a more human-centric and sustainable internet: Trust, Data sovereignty, Digital identity, Internet architecture and renovation, Decentralised technologies, Interoperability & Standardisation and New Internet Commons.
Proposals submitted to the NGI Sargasso Open Call could use some of the following base technologies to address the challenges in the above areas of knowledge: Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and DLTs, Data, Cybersecurity, 6G and novel networks, IoT (Internet of Things), Open-source hardware and software, novel software architectures, etc. The proposals are not limited only to the use of the technologies mentioned above. The selected projects are expected to have a clear development component, going further than theoretical approaches or just mere studies.
NGI Sargasso has identified a set of challenges for this first cut-off date. There are 9 concrete challenges and an open one. Proposals should be directed towards one of those (including the open challenge for NGI):
- Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Across Continents.
- Harmonised Cross-Atlantic Digital Governance.
- Inclusive Public Digital Spaces for Global Community Engagement.
- Enhanced Data Security and Privacy in Transcontinental Perspective.
- Interoperability and Standardisation Across Borders.
- Global Implementation of Decentralised Technologies.
- Encouraging Transatlantic Citizen Participation.
- Quantum-Resistant Security Systems.
- Ethical Implementation of Blockchain and Decentralised Technologies.
- Open Challenge for Next Generation Internet.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The programme offers three types of grants based on the project’s duration:
- 3-month experiment: up to € 50 000.
- 6-month experiment: up to € 75 000.
- 9-month experiment: up to € 100 000.
The grant is disbursed over the course of the project, subject to meeting specific outcomes and milestones, and applicants must comply with the program’s accounting and reporting requirements to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of funds.
Apart from the grant amount, NGI Sargasso also provides mentoring, coaching, and networking opportunities to help applicants achieve their project goals.
Thematic Categories
- Education and training
- New Entrepreneurship
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
Eligibility for Participation
- Educational Institutions
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
The European eligible entities by NGI Sargasso open call should be legally identified under the following categories of organisations:
- Universities and research centres;
- NGOs and foundations;
- SMEs and start-ups.
From a legal perspective, beneficiaries should be identified as established legal entities in any of the eligible countries in the call.
In the case of companies only SMEs are eligible.
Natural persons, mid-caps or large industries or corporations are not eligible for the purpose of the call.
EU entities will apply on their own (no consortium) with a USA and/or Canadian collaborator. These entities should be included via signed-support letter. Moreover, only the EU Member States and Associated Countries entity will receive financial support. To facilitate this process, NGI Sargasso consortium provides a brokerage system that enables applicants to identify potential partners and submit joint proposals.
Eligible countries
Only applicants legally established/resident in any of the following countries (“Eligible Countries”) are eligible for funding:
- The Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU), including their outermost regions;
- In the case of Hungary, although it is an MS of the EU, according to Council Implementing Decision 2022/2506, no legal commitments should be entered into with any public interest trust established based on the Hungarian Law IX of 2021 or with any entity maintained by said public interest trust.
- The Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to the Member States;
- Horizon Europe associated countries: according to the updated list published by the EC.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
THE EU ECO-TANDEM CONSORTIUM: info@eu-ecotandem.eu