Up to €1M available to support Developers, Innovators, Researchers, SMEs and Entrepreneurs

The TrustChain Open Call 4 topic is “Multi chains support for NGI protocols”. The objective of this OC is to design and build the gateways that will make it possible to transfer knowledge/ metadata/ data/ process/ requirements from one chain to another in a trustworthy and secure manner. Interoperability across multiple chains, privacy by design, trustworthiness by design, scalability, greenness, openness, and legal compliance should be carefully considered.

Funding Information

• Its indicative budget is €1.989.000,00 with up to a maximum of 17 proposals funded.
• TrustChain is an opportunity to fund truly multidisciplinary projects involving partners from different (natural and humanistic) disciplines relevant to Internet development. Thus, applicants can apply, participate and benefit from the five TrustChain’s open calls but as the main objective of the action is to support a large number of third parties through open calls, the maximum amount to be granted to each third party is 200,000.00 € to allow cases were a given legal entity (e.g. large research, academic or industrial organisations) may receive several grants (e.g. from different calls).

What types of projects will be eligible?

• Furthermore, applicants should demonstrate their long-term commitment to the TrustChain Research and Innovation agenda. Selected proposals will work to demonstrate that the proposed solution progresses from the beginning of the project, reaching a higher maturity level and take-up by the end of the action. Thus, all the projects must provide evidence of substantial progress with a particular focus on the interoperability and sustainability of the outcomes according to the TrustChain framework.
• Following the spirit of the calls for the Next Generation Internet, the TrustChain Research and Innovation Action encourages open-source software and open hardware design, open access to data, standardisation activities, access to testing and operational infrastructure as well as an IPR regime ensuring interoperability, reusability of results, lasting and sustainable impact. If the expected results of the proposed project cannot be released as open source, it should be duly justified in the application document.

Eligibility Criteria

• The target applicants of this call are developers, innovators, researchers, SMEs, and entrepreneurs working on different NGI relevant topics and application domains at the intersection between the technical field (e.g., Software Engineering, Network Security, Semantic Web, Cryptography, Blockchain, Digital Twin, Blockchain Security, Digital Identity, Blockchain Protocol), the Social sciences and Humanities (e.g., Social Innovation, not-for-profit sector, Social Entrepreneurship, public goods) as well as any others including economics, environment, art, design, which can contribute to the NGI TrustChain relevant vision.
• Applicants can apply as individuals or linked to a legal entity. Hence, the participation is possible in several ways:
  • Team of natural person(s):
    • Team of individuals, all established in any eligible country. This does not consider the country of origin but the residence permit.
  • Legal entity(ies):
    • One or more entities (consortium) established in an eligible country. The entities can be Universities, Research centres, Non-Governmental Organisations, Foundations, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, large enterprises working on Internet or/and other related technologies are eligible.
    • Any combination of the above.
  • In addition, the following conditions apply:
    • The participating entities should not have been declared bankrupt or have initiated bankruptcy procedures.
    • The entities or individuals (Team of natural persons) applying should not have convictions for fraudulent behaviour, other financial irregularities, and unethical or illegal business practices.
    • Only Applicants legally established/resident in any of the following countries are eligible:
      • Only applicants legally established/resident in any of the following countries (hereafter collectively identified as the “Eligible Countries”) are eligible:
        • The Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU), including their outermost regions.
        • The Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to the Member States.
        • Horizon Europe associated countries.

For more information, visit TrustChain.