Internet Sustainability Call

Idea/project:

• The project must serve the public interest; it must deliver added value for the community. The project must not therefore be intended to serve the interests of a particular person or a particular commercial or political organisation; it must have general social significance and impact.

• Geographical scope: the project must focus on a Dutch context, and have potential added value at the European level.

• A multidisciplinary approach (e.g. involving collaboration between technical personnel, academics and journalists) will be viewed positively, but is not a requirement.

• It is desirable for the project to have a communication vision and an impact realisation vision.

• A high-quality description of the idea/project must be provided. Quality will be assessed by reference to the problem outline and the rationale given for the proposed solution.

• The project must be innovative. That implies the application of an existing idea in a new context, the broadening of access to an existing, promising tool, the development of a new idea, or the application of new digital technology. The proposal must clarify the innovative aspects of the proposed project.

• The project must be scalable: the underlying principle must be transferrable to larger groups of users, and the upscaling pathway must be clear. This is less applicable in relation to a pioneering project.

• The project must be potentially capable of achieving long-term impact in relation to the objectives of the call. This is less applicable in relation to a pioneering project.

• The project must be result-oriented. The proposal must state what steps the proposer has taken to gauge the need and demand for the project within the target group. The proposal must also identify the target group and the means by which the group is to be reached. This is less applicable in relation to a pioneering project.

• The project duration must be no more than two years, or six months in the case of a pioneering project.

Proposer/team::

• The proposal must be submitted by a legal entity (or a legal entity currently in formation, which will be in existence by the time of the grant award, if made). A legal entity is, for example, a foundation, an association, a cooperative, a mutual guarantee company, a public limited company, or a private limited company. A Pioneer Project forms an exception in that regard. Pioneer Project proposals may be submitted by individual persons.

• The proposer must demonstrably possess the capacity and expertise to successfully undertake the project. Wherever possible, the team itself should possess the required expertise, and not be reliant upon third-party providers. Diversity within the team is desirable. It is also desirable if partners are involved in the project.

• Have a clear picture of the current situation in the relevant field, if you are seeking funding for a larger project. Pioneering project grants may be sought for innovative schemes.

• The proposer must have a strong contact network.

• Does not have another project still running by SIDN Fund (or your current project is completed in July 2023).

You won't qualify for funding if your project:

• Develops or improves a website or app without substantial innovation in services, functions or processes that contribute to the mission of the Fund.

• Involves sponsorship or an event.

• Is a standalone media production such as a podcast or video (which is not part of a larger project and/or lacks a concrete plan for dissemination and use).

• Has a religious or party-political objective.

• Involves structural organisational costs, operating costs and salary costs that cannot be attributed to the project.

• Only impacts a single company or person, is a purely B2B proposal, or involves product development for the benefit of a single company.

• Deploys innovative technology without a clear social problem or demonstrable need within a clearly defined target group (or 'technology in search of a problem').

• Does not involve the active and proactive sharing of results and knowledge.

• Charges commercial rates. This is critically examined in the assessment.

To learn from each other

SIDN Fund supports multiple projects linked to each funding theme, so that the project organisers can benefit from one another's expertise. Extra (live) meetings are organised to facilitate knowledge exchange between the projects supported in each themed cycle. If your project is awarded a grant, you will be expected to attend the meetings and knowledge sessions that we organise.