Funding sources

[zackbatist]

During our most recent meeting (September 4, 2024) @SCSchmidt suggested that we compile a list of funding sources that could be leveraged to support our work or the work of our members. We can use this discussion to assemble a relatively stable list of resources, which can then me edited and compiled on the website.

To get us started, here are a few initiatives that seem relevant to our interests. Feel free to reply with additional resources or to input additional info about resources already mentioned.

• Digital Infrastructure Insights Fund

  • The D//F (Digital Infrastructure Insights Fund) is a multi-funder initiative by Ford Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Omidyar Network, Schmidt Futures and Open Collective sustaining a platform for researchers and practitioners to better understand how open digital Infrastructure is built and deployed. We’re creating a body of research and implementation insights that advance our goal to ensure a public commons of technology, sustainably developed and maintained, for the benefit of everyone.

• Software Sustainability Institute Fellowship

  • The main goals of the Programme are to improve and promote good computational practice across all research disciplines and support those who are doing this important work. We encourage our Fellows to be ambassadors of good practices in their own domains, fields, and/or areas of work.

• UK Research and Innovation

[zackbatist]

Some of these are from my own notes, which overlap with a similar list maintained here: https://codeberg.org/teaserbot-labs/delightful-funding

• Netherlands eScience Center
  Aimed at members of the academic research community, working in the Netherlands, who are passionate to act as ambassadors for the use (and reuse) of research software.

• NLNet Foundation
  Offers a variety of grants (including those to foster cross-Atlantic collaboration) geared toward developing key technical infrastructure for broad-level applications (i.e. jitsi, CryptPad, etc)

• Prototype Fund
  "Low-threshold funding program for free developers in Germany who develop innovative open source software from society and for society." Also: "After approval, you can expect coaching on UX/UI design or project management and optionally on other topics during the funding period"

• SIDN
  Support initiatives focused on themes including cybersecurity, data autonomy, disinformation and digital accessibility & inclusion. Focused specifically on the Netherlands, no funding for internationally-oriented projects (whatever that means on the internet?) :(

• Sovereign Tech Fund
  Offers general investments, bug bounties and fellowhip programs for maintainers of digital infrastructure. Unclear what they mean by digital infrastructure, but seems to imply widely-used open source initiatives (perhaps inspired by the left-pad incident?)