NGI Internet architecture funding: 5 things you should know

NGI is supporting architects to change the underlying fabric of the Internet and the Web through NGI Pointer. The current funding opportunity is open until 1 June, 2020 with further calls to come.

1. NGI Architects: Am I an NGI Architect?

NGI Architects are people with the ambition of changing the Internet and Web with European Values at the core and they can be Researchers, Activists, Open Source, Hackers, SW/HW developers, acting on an individual basis or under an established entity. Both natural and legal persons are eligible for funding.

2. What are the goals of NGI POINTER?

We want to fund those willing to change the face of the internet. The World thinks the internet could have been better and we are on time to change it, but for that we need to change the very fabric of the internet, to rebuild it/relaunch it from the ground up. Europe wants to lead this change, by funding innovators and trailblazers willing to step into uncharted territory.

The project aims to support promising bottom-up projects that are able to build, on top of state-of-the-art research, scalable protocols and tools to assist in the creation of a new Internet Architecture.

3. What are the preferred areas?

NGI Pointer has pre-identified multiple areas poised to disrupt the future of the Internet, thanks to the work of the consortium partners and the valuable feedback of Advisory Board members.

These are some of the topics of the projects that apply to the open call:

Privacy-by-design.
Internet at the edge.
Network optimization.
Virtualization and isolation.
Limitations in the TCP/IP protocol suite.
Industrial internet security.
Autonomous network operations and control.
Energy efficiency.
Trust for new internet users.
Disruptive new internet architecture.

We want these to serve as inspiration, nothing more, nothing less.

4. When does NGI Pointer start?

Important dates. The project runs until Dec 2022. Open calls in NGI POINTER will select several NGI Architects in at least two cut-off dates along the period from April 2020 to June 2021. Once they are selected they will enter into a 12-month support framework programme, across different stages that will be tailored to the beneficiaries’ needs.

The support program will at least include the following stages:

Application + Selection + Welcome + Tech Development + Adoption