The Next Generation Internet (NGI) initiative, launched by the European Commission in the autumn of 2016, aims to do things very differently from the research and development activities of past programmes. Through its cascade funded programmes, the NGI initiative aims to shape the future internet as an interoperable platform ecosystem that embodies the values that Europe holds dear: openness, inclusivity, transparency, privacy, cooperation, and protection of data.
Indeed, since the launch, the NGI initiative has progresses rapidly and come a long way, largely in part due to the success of the “Pathfinder” CSA projects that kicked off in 2017, acting in unison to build up the NGI initiative from scratch; these pathfinders included our own project, SpeakNGI.eu (open and dynamic consultation mechanisms), NGI-Move (programme shaping), Engine Room (NGI research topics), and Hub4NGI (outreach and communications).
Indeed, since the launch, the NGI initiative has progressed rapidly and come a long way with €75 million funding available for innovators in NGI open calls with NGI expected as an intervention area in Horizon Europe (2021-2027).
As repeated many times in the presentations in relation to the ambitious vision of this initiative, the NGI initiative is doing things very different: it is not Brussels centric and the funding model through RIAs acting as intermediaries to provide cascade funding to projects is designed to attract those who would NOT normally get involved in the EU’s research and innovation programme, perhaps due to its often criticised administrative burden, such as bright and innovative SMEs, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and even individuals should be able to apply.
In carrying out its impact assessment, SpeakNGI.eu as one of four Coordination and Support Actions of 2017-2019, has actively contributed to enabling these technology and human-centric developments towards Horizon Europe, which will benefit society as a whole, if successful.
The main contributions of SpeakNGI.eu have come from the NGI Consultation Platform and Knowledge Base designed, developed and maintained by the project since November 2017 (
http://www.consultation.ngi.eu(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)). The Consultation Platform, currently in the process of being handed over to the current batch of NGI CSAs, NGI FORWARD and NGI4ALL, has enabled validation of the community generated research and innovation priorities in NGI, with production of valuable content, publicly available for post-processing and interpretation via the Knowledge Base.
