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Form of the funding

Internet Freedom Fund

By Bulgaria, Country suitable for the funding, Form of the funding, Grant, International initiative, OPPORTUNITIES, OPPORTUNITIES: Funding, Other, Type of funding initiativeNo Comments
Internet Freedom Fund

17.07.2024 |

About the Internet Freedom Fund

The Internet Freedom Fund is the primary opportunity through which Open Technology Fund supports innovative global internet freedom projects. These projects are focused on technology development and implementation, but can also include applied research, convenings, and digital security projects. See below for more details about each category.

OTF prioritizes projects coming from individuals or organizations who are applying for the first time, identify as under-represented within the field, and address areas that are underfunded.

 

Application Process and Award Information

Applications to the Fund go through a two-stage application process and are accepted on a rolling basis

Awards are between $10,000 and $900,000 for up to 24 months. Ideal applicants seek funding between $50,000 and $200,000 for efforts between 6 and 12 months.

Funding awards are performance-based contracts signed directly with the applicant or applicants. Funding is dispersed upon completion of stated objectives, activities, and deliverables per a schedule outlined in the contract. All payments are made in U.S. dollars and will comply with local laws, regulations, and ethics rules.

Successful applicants are paired with an OTF program manager who will oversee all project monitoring and evaluation for the duration of the contract. Monitoring and evaluation assessments are based on predetermined and agreed-upon metrics, deliverables, and goals as laid out by the applicant in the project proposal.

Funding Categories
Technology Development

OTF supports the development of innovative internet freedom technologies from the prototype phase to deployment phase, in addition to supporting core infrastructure projects that serve the internet freedom and human rights communities.

Applications for this category can include, but are not limited to:

  • Creating new, open-source circumvention technologies
  • Taking an existing open-source internet freedom technology and improving upon its security, usability, and adaptability
  • Developing content redistribution methods to aid in content access behind government firewalls
  • Next-generation tools
  • Improving security standards, quality assurance, and best practices within core infrastructure projects
  • Improving accessibility and usability of existing projects
How to Apply:

Applying for the Internet Freedom Fund is a two-stage application process:

Stage 1: Submit a Concept Note through OTF’s online application system in which you tell us about your project idea through a short form.

Stage 2: Applicants whose Concept Notes are deemed to be highly competitive will be invited to submit a Proposal in which they will expand upon their project idea

The Internet Freedom Fund Advisory Council, comprising subject-matter experts who understand various relevant fields and issues related to internet freedom, will conduct a final review of competitive Proposals.

For additional information, check HERE.

 

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology 

Digital skills

Media literacy

Artificial intelligence

Form of the funding

Country suitable for the funding

Bulgaria

Other

Financial intermediate 

Benefitials 

Individuals

Organizations (for-profit or nonprofit)

HOW TO GET FUNDING UNDER THE DIGITAL EUROPE PROGRAMME

By Bulgaria, Country suitable for the funding, EU Institutional initiative, Form of the funding, Grant, OPPORTUNITIES, Opportunities, OPPORTUNITIES: Funding, Other, Type of funding initiativeNo Comments
HOW TO GET FUNDING UNDER THE DIGITAL EUROPE PROGRAMME

08.08.2023 |

The funding and tender opportunities web page gives you an overview of the calls for proposals (‘calls’) that are forthcoming or already open.  Each call has its own call document, related to a particular topic. It gives more precise information on some of the issues that the European Commission would like you to address in the proposal.

The funding and tender opportunities web page hosts the services for managing your proposals and projects throughout their lifecycle.

The application process

Submit your proposal

If you wish to respond to a call, you must submit a proposal before 17:00 Brussels time on the day of the indicated call deadline.  Please note that this deadline and specific time are strict and must be respected. The European Commission strongly advises to submit your proposal in good time and not to wait until the last moment.

All proposals need to be submitted online.

Find your partners

If you need help to identify a potential partner with particular competences, facilities or experience, use the partner search options.

Evaluation 

Once the deadline has passed, all proposals are evaluated against the criteria published in the Work Programme, resulting in a list of proposals in priority order. Independent experts specialized in the relevant fields may be involved in the evaluation. 

Grant agreement

When the evaluation is over, applicants are informed on the outcome.  

The European Commission will draw up a grant agreement with each of the successful participants within the limits of the allocated budget. The grant agreement describes the activities to be undertaken, in line with the objectives of the call, the project’s duration, budget, rates and costs, as well as the European Commission’s contribution, the rights and obligations and other specificities linked to the topic covering the specific grant agreement. 

The time frame for signing the grant agreements is up to 9 months from the closure of the call.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology 

Digital skills

Form of the funding

Country suitable for the funding

Bulgaria

Other

Financial intermediate 

BOOSTING DIGITAL SKILLS OF YOUNG PUPILS, IN PARTICULAR GIRLS

By Bulgaria, Country suitable for the funding, EU Institutional initiative, Financial instrument, Form of the funding, OPPORTUNITIES: Funding, Other, Type of funding initiativeNo Comments
BOOSTING DIGITAL SKILLS OF YOUNG PUPILS, IN PARTICULAR GIRLS

04.08.2023 |

This Digital Europe project aims to increase collaboration between primary, secondary and vocational schools and higher education and research, and to increase the number of students enrolled in digital learning in order to close the gender gap in digital skills.

The means to achieve these results will include running summer schools, organising specialised information and careers days, and conducting dissemination and outreach activities, including events such as EU Coding Week.

Objective:

Students in digital and ICT disciplines represent a minority, in 2021 they were 4.5% of total graduates. There is also a severe gender balance issue, with only 19% of ICT specialists and one in three science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics (STEM) graduates being women.

Part of the commitments will be to fund summer schools for high school students in digital fields, career days for people interested in digital technologies, with a view to promoting more gender diversity and encouraging exchanges between higher education institutions and primary and secondary schools on digital topics. In addition, a special role should be given to the role of girls and women in the digital field, with a focus on debunking existing stereotypes and addressing the lack of confidence.

In order to fill the significant shortage of sector specialists using advanced digital technologies and ICT specialists, it is necessary to increase the pool of pupils who would be ultimately interested to study STEM and ICT, with a special focus on girls and women who are vastly underrepresented in the digital field. This action will have as a goal the inclusion of dedicated activities to encourage girls and women to take part in digital studies..

For example, the actions will finance summer schools for high-school students in digital areas, career days for people interested in digital, with a view to encourage more gender diversity and promote exchanges between higher education institutions and primary and secondary schools on digital topics.

Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology 

Digital skills

Form of the funding

Country suitable for the funding

Bulgaria

Other

Financial intermediate 

Benefitials 

Universities

Business

Schools

Summer schools

Requirements