ICANN launches Grant Program in India to support global internet development

New Delhi, January 17, 2024: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the nonprofit organization overseeing the Domain Name System (DNS), has introduced the ICANN Grant Program in India. This initiative will allocate millions of dollars in funding to back projects that contribute to the growth of a unified, open, and globally interoperable Internet. The application cycle for the initial $10 million in grants will commence in March 2024.

As global Internet connectivity continues to rise, especially in developing nations, ICANN aims to support this growth phase. The Grant Program is designed to encourage an inclusive and transparent approach in developing stable, secure Internet infrastructure solutions that uphold the Internet's unique identifier systems.

ICANN will start accepting grant applications from 25 March 2024, with the window remaining open until 24 May 2024. Detailed eligibility criteria are available at ICANN Grant Program.

Following the closure of the application window, all submissions will undergo admissibility and eligibility checks. An Independent Application Assessment Panel will review the applications, with the tentative announcement of grantees from the first cycle expected in January 2025.

“With the rapid evolution of emerging technologies, businesses and security models, it is critical that the Internet's unique identifier systems continue to evolve,” said Samiran Gupta, Vice President, Government and IGO Engagement APAC, ICANN. “The ICANN Grant Program offers a new avenue to further those efforts by investing in projects that are committed to and support ICANN’s vision of a single, open and globally interoperable Internet that fosters inclusion amongst a broad, global community of users.”

Prospective applicants can gather more information about the Call for Proposals and engage with ICANN Grant Program staff in question-and-answer webinar sessions over the coming months. For comprehensive details on the program, including eligibility and submission requirements, refer to the ICANN Grant Program Applicant Guide.