Ecosystem Grants Programme

Ecosystem Grants Programme

The European AI & Society Fund is opening a new funding stream with grants of up to €30.000 to support civil society organisations that want to shape Artificial Intelligence so that it better serves people and society.

Artificial Intelligence and automated decision making are transforming the world. But too often these technologies are developed without consideration for the needs of the individuals and communities they affect. With the launch of ChatGPT, AI has become a mainstream issue and there is new urgency to address its impacts. Now more than ever it is crucial that a diverse ecosystem of civil society organisations has the skills and capacity to drive that debate in the public interest.

The Ecosystem Grants programme is designed to be flexible and help organisations that want to respond rapidly in this dynamic and changing field.

Scope of the grants

• The Ecosystem Grants programme offers project funding for a specific set of activities or objectives and the overhead costs associated with carrying them out. Funding is available for the following areas:
  • Capacity building around AI
  • Narrative building around AI
  • Advocacy towards new policy developments around AI
  • Research (AI-related topics)
  • Organising or participating in AI–related events

Funding Information

• The total amount available for Ecosystem Grants in 2023 is €200.000.
• Individual grants can be up to €30.000.
• The duration of the grant is flexible, but activities should be completed no later than the end of 2024.

Eligibility Criteria

• The European AI & Society Fund supports organisations from across Europe that want to shape policies so that Artificial Intelligence better serves people and society. Some of our grantees have previous expertise working on AI, digital rights and technology. Others represent particular communities or interests and want to address how AI is affecting their work. They think it’s important that a diverse spectrum of civil society has the knowledge and capacity to advocate for AI that supports a fair, inclusive and sustainable future.
• They have some criteria for applications:
  • Organisations must be registered in the EU, EEA, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia or the UK.
  • This grant is not open to organisations that received funding through our two previous rounds of Open Calls.
  • The grants are open to organisations with not-for-profit status.
  • The organisations should carry out their activities in the European countries.