Restack Open Internet Stack Grants: apply by November 3, 2026

Restack is a Europe-focused grant programme for people building the open internet stack. Organised by the NLnet / Restack Consortium and supported by European Commission DG CONNECT / Horizon Europe, the programme backs work on free and open-source software and hardware, open standards, open data, and open science. It is designed for projects that strengthen the technical foundations of an open, trustworthy, and reusable internet.

The current deadline is November 3, 2026. Applications are submitted online through the NLnet proposal process, and the official programme page is available at https://nlnet.nl/restack/.

Overview: what Restack is looking for

Restack focuses on the open internet stack. That includes free and open-source software and hardware, open standards, and open data or open science work. The programme is especially relevant for developers, maintainers, researchers, technical communities, and independent builders working on infrastructure that other people can inspect, reuse, improve, or deploy.

The programme runs from June 1, 2026 to May 30, 2030. Individual project dates are not stated in the provided information, so applicants should be ready to explain their own realistic timeline in the proposal.

What selected projects can receive

First proposals can request between €5,000 and €50,000. Across the programme, Restack will award €7 million in grants through 2030. The support is not only financial: selected projects may also receive practical help such as accessibility scans, security audits, reproducible packaging, copyright and governance support, and standardisation support.

For many open-source teams, this combination matters. A grant can fund development time, but audits, packaging, and governance help can make a project easier to trust, adopt, and maintain over the long term.

Who can apply

Restack is described as open without categorical exclusions of persons. Minors may apply, although guardian consent is required for later negotiations. Projects must fit the Restack scope, and EU-supported funding should have a strong European dimension.

Applicants from the EU and Horizon Europe-associated countries receive priority. Exceptional proposals from outside those areas may still be possible if they have a clear European dimension. The work location is not stated, and applications are submitted online.

How to apply

  1. Read the official Restack page. Check the scope carefully and make sure your project clearly supports the open internet stack.
  2. Prepare a plain-text proposal in English. The NLnet proposal form asks for practical, direct information rather than a polished pitch deck.
  3. Select the correct fund. Choose Restack or the relevant fund option when completing the NLnet proposal form.
  4. Describe the project and expected results. Explain what you will build, improve, document, audit, package, or standardise, and what will be available at the end.
  5. Explain the budget. First proposals can request €5,000–€50,000, so match the amount to a clear set of activities and outcomes.
  6. Cover technical challenges and users. Describe the hard parts, the ecosystem around your work, and who benefits from the results.
  7. Add applicant background and AI disclosure. Include relevant experience and disclose any generative-AI use as requested in the application process.
  8. Submit before the deadline. The current deadline is November 3, 2026.

Key dates

  • Programme period: June 1, 2026 to May 30, 2030.
  • Current application deadline: November 3, 2026.
  • Individual project dates: Not stated in the provided programme information.

Practical tips to strengthen your application

  • Make the European dimension obvious. Since EU and Horizon Europe-associated applicants receive priority, and exceptional outside proposals need a clear European dimension, explain how European users, communities, infrastructure, standards, or public-interest goals benefit.
  • Define concrete open outputs. Avoid describing only intentions. State what will be delivered: code, hardware designs, documentation, tests, standards work, reproducible packages, datasets, or other reusable results.
  • Connect the budget to milestones. A strong grant request shows why the amount is reasonable. Break the work into understandable tasks and link each part of the budget to a practical outcome.

Before applying, confirm every detail, deadline, eligibility rule, and submission requirement on the official Restack website. Legitimate programmes never charge an application fee.