Open Internet Stack Support for Scale (CSA)

The coordination and support action aims to build and scale an open, interoperable, and open-source Internet stack in Europe. It targets national and regional authorities, municipalities, as well as other actors from industry, research, and digital procurement who wish to pilot innovative open-source solutions within a joint procurement process. With a funding amount of €4 million at 100% funding over 36 months, the program supports personnel expenses, travel and transport costs, material costs, as well as subcontractor costs. Key elements include an open market and stakeholder consultation, competitive and phased procurement of R&D services, and a strict separation of research & development and series procurement. Selection is based on innovation potential, relevance to the European digital market, as well as the quality and efficiency of project implementation.

The objective is to promote trustworthy data and AI services, reduce European dependencies, and sustainably strengthen innovation capacity. A joint branding and communication concept ensures a unified perception, while security and accessibility audits guarantee technical quality. By involving national and pan-European initiatives for sovereign open-source solutions, a vibrant ecosystem is created that enables new services in mobility, energy, health, and manufacturing. Submissions are possible until April 15, 2026; the project start is already scheduled for January 15, 2026. Interested public procurers and stakeholders from the digital and innovation sectors are invited to jointly strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty.