Imagine the internet as a giant city where a few huge companies own all the roads and pipes. This project helps build a public library of digital tools and hardware that anyone can use and improve for free. It's like creating a shared toolkit for the web so that no single entity controls how we communicate or store data.
Businesses rely on a centralized internet architecture that creates dependencies on a few providers, risking technological sovereignty and increasing vulnerability to single points of failure.
A funding and support mechanism that has matured 95 open-source projects across 10 layers of the internet stack, from silicon to applications.
If you are a software vendor dealing with fragile supply chains — this project developed support services for security and reproducibility that improve the robustness of the overall technology supply chain.
If you are a provider dealing with proprietary lock-in — this project developed open standards and libre technology that increase strategic autonomy and European competitiveness.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with high R&D costs for basic components — this project developed OSHW (Open Source Hardware) building blocks from the silicon level up to applications.
The project focuses on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and digital commons, meaning the tools are generally free to use, though the project provides mentorship on open source compatible business models.
Yes, the project specifically provides support services to address internet-scale requirements and aims to mainstream the commons approach globally.
The project promotes Libre Technology and FOSS, providing access to reliable legal infrastructure and support for licensing and copyright compliance.
The project runs from 2024-01-01 to 2027-06-30, with many projects currently underway and expected to complete in the second reporting period.
Beneficiaries can request expert support services to improve the maturity, quality, and usability of their projects, including security and accessibility.
The consortium is highly diversified with 15 partners across 8 countries. It is heavily weighted toward non-traditional entities (9 'Other' and 8 SMEs), with a 20% industry ratio, suggesting a focus on community-driven growth and agile development rather than traditional corporate R&D.
Contact Stichting NLnet in the Netherlands
Contact us to identify which of the 95 supported open-source projects fit your tech stack.
