APPLY: Open Research Grants for Internet Studies

The Research Grant Programme from the Internet Society Foundation supports global research collaborations that advance understanding of the Internet and its value for all. Proposals should address topics related to one of the following thematic areas:

• Greening the Internet:  The Internet both affects and is affected by the environment and climate change. Having a critical awareness of this impact is key to the Internet’s resilience and ensures its sustainability for generations to come.
• The Internet Economy: New and emerging Internet-based activities have the power to disrupt our economic landscapes and lead to unpredictable economic futures. Having a firm grasp of the interactions that create the Internet Economy has the potential to reshape this uncertainty.
• A Trustworthy Internet: The Internet is completely trustworthy if and only if it is completely resilient, reliable, accountable, and secure in a way that consistently meets users’ expectations for information and services. The Internet is only worthy of trust when it conforms with what people expect will happen regardless of whether or not those expectations are reasonable.
• Decolonizing the Internet: We acknowledge that the Internet’s development depended on industrial societies that, by their nature, used resources from lands dispossessed from Indigenous people and communities throughout the world. We acknowledge that the Internet can proliferate inequality and injustice, perhaps especially when its design is not inclusive nor its designers diverse.

There is need for novel research methodologies that generate solutions to Internet-related challenges that are applied and open. Research that seeks to answer a real-world question and should be openly published and made available to the scientific community at no cost. We should also identify and support a diverse and collaborative group of researchers and research institutions developing intersectional research that can be applied to decision-making in government and industry. 

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants should be independent researchers with a postgraduate research degree (PhD, Masters) and peer reviewed publications, patents, academic or independently published work in the relevant area. Independent researchers may apply for funding up to US$200,000.
• Applicants can also be public research institutions that are 501c3 or equivalent with a mission that is aligned to that of the Foundation. Organizations may apply for funding up to US$500,000.
• Private institutions are not eligible entities to receive funding.

Application procedure and deadline 

Applicants should visit the official website for more information on how to apply. Application deadline is May 31, 2023.