The Approach of NGI Sargasso is clear and precise: to contribute and promote a sustainable open Internet environment through a transatlantic collaborative ecosystem (EU-USA-Canada) with the objective to cooperate on emerging topics for the Next Generation Internet.
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: Addressing environmental issues in digital networks, systems and infrastructure has emerged as a priority in both Europe, Canada and the USA, as increased complexity in systems may require additional resources. Sustainable maintenance, repair, and life-cycle management of digital technologies is included in this challenge.
Harmonized Cross-Atlantic Digital Governance: The need for a unified techno/legal framework for digital services across the Atlantic is gaining attention in both the EU, Canada and the USA. This includes the development of efficient networks, interconnections, and consistent regulation of data and cloud services to facilitate cross-border data exchanges and services.
Inclusive Public Digital Spaces for Global Community Engagement: Facilitating community engagement via public digital spaces is becoming a priority in Europe, the US, and Canada. These public platforms should be inclusive and accessible, complementing private platforms.
Enhanced Data Security and Privacy in Transcontinental Perspective: The improvement of data security measures and stronger protections for personal data are a shared concern in Europe and North America. A focus is on respecting individual’s data sovereignty and privacy.
Interoperability and Standardisation Across Borders: Seamless interaction between systems and devices is essential for interconnected digital environments. Europe, the US, and Canada have a joint interest in establishing widely accepted technological standards and protocols.
Next-Gen Cybersecurity and Generative AI: The recent advancements in Generative AI capabilities offer new threats and new opportunities in the area of cybersecurity. This challenge delves into the intersection of advanced cybersecurity and Generative Artificial Intelligence to tackle this ever-shifting landscape.
Next Generation Space Based Internet : This challenge addresses issues regarding the integration of space-based networks to terrestrial networks such as: techniques to provide reliable high data rate internet connectivity to areas without or with minimal supporting terrestrial infrastructure; optimized transport protocols for satellite communications; integration of satellite communications and 5G/6G mobile technologies in a truly hybrid satellite/5G/6G network.
Redefining intelligence in a hyperconnected world: It’s time for citizens to demonstrate that the synergy between human users, data sensors, and AI agents is the solution to today’s societal challenges, all while safeguarding human rights.
Internet Archiving: Being able to find information on or from websites that no longer exist or the history of changes to a site or page is very valuable. Setting standards, promoting efforts towards this goal and as well as defining best practices to ensure personal data protection and right to be forgotten in such archiving effort is a challenge for NGI.
Open Challenge for Next Generation Internet: Open for any project that addresses an emerging issue related to the specified areas of knowledge. This challenge encourages innovative solutions in the fields of Trust, Data Sovereignty, Digital Identity, Internet Architecture and Renovation, Decentralised Technologies, Interoperability & Standardisation, and New Internet Commons across Europe, USA and Canada.
Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and DLTs, Data, Cybersecurity, 6G and novel networks, IoT (Internet of Things), Open-source hardware and software, novel software architectures
NGI Sargasso will offer up to €100,000 per project, as well as a complete set of services to help you succeed, including capacity building, coaching and access to a vast global network of contacts.
NGI Sargasso will only provide financial support to European entities for projects submitted to this open call.
The program offers three types of grants based on the project’s duration:
• 3-month experiment: up to EUR 50.000.
• 6-month experiment: up to EUR 75.000.
• 9-month experiment: up to EUR 100.000.
NGI Sargasso encourages and supports projects that focus on the creation, improvement, and enhancement of open-source technologies. These projects involve activities related to
generating, expanding, or significantly improving the current state-of-the-art projects within specific knowledge areas or technologies.
This open call for proposals emphasizes cross-border collaboration with the US and Canada oriented towards the development of novel technologies under open-source licensing.
It is important to note that NGI Sargasso does not provide support for projects involving the creation of proprietary developments protected under copyright.
This open call is not intended to finance well-mature and market-ready developments. NGI Sargasso focuses on projects that are still in earlier stages of development, prioritizing innovation and advancements rather than solely market readiness.
The European eligible entities by NGI Sargasso open call should be legally identified under the following categories of organisations:
❏ Universities and research centers: academic and research institutions with a focus on developing novel knowledge areas and technologies aligned with the focus of NGI Sargasso.
❏ NGOs and foundations: non-profit organizations and foundations that work under the NGI areas of knowledge and technologies.
❏ SMEs and startups: small and medium-sized enterprises and startups that focus on developing innovative solutions related to NGI Sargasso’s areas of focus.
EU entities will apply on their own (no consortium) with a USA and/or Canadian collaborator. Applicants should be registered in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country and twinning with a USA/Canada counterpart.
It will be requested, for EU beneficiaries to clearly identify an USA and/or Canadian collaborator(s) in their application via Support Letter.
NGI Sargasso consortium will help you finding your transatlantic partner : https://cascadefunding.sploro.eu/application/new?program=ngi-sargasso-brokerage-service.
