CFAs: Research for a Transparent and Resilient Information Ecosystem Programme

The key objective is to foster an inclusive approach, embedded in ambitious, trans-disciplinary, data-driven and, where relevant, transnational projects, rather than a series of small scale studies in single disciplines.

In particular, grants will fund the production of studies on fundamental epistemological issues linked to the digital transformation of the media landscape, including research on the effects of digital media and technologies, such as AI, on human cognitive processes, civic behaviour, social interactions, trust and democratic participation.

Research Topics

• In terms of research topics, applicants are invited to present proposals addressing one or more of the research areas listed in EDMO’s Scientific Focus, taking into account the specificities of the information environment in the targeted geography and with a view to:
  • Filling existing gaps in relevant literature by combining perspectives from different disciplines, or
  • identifying persistent and emerging societal vulnerabilities to disinformation and foreign interference threats, which can inform both policy responses and online platforms’ risks- mitigating measures, and/or
  • deploying new methodologies to answer fundamental human and societal questions surrounding disinformation, and/or
  • laying out and/or elaborating on standards/frameworks/approaches to better understand social harms resulting from different forms of media manipulation, and/or
  • exploring possible remedies to these harms, and potential institutional, regulatory and/or technological solutions to counter disinformation, and/or
  • laying out and/or elaborating on standards/frameworks/approaches to better understand the impact of regulations, media literacy projects and other countermeasures implemented in Europe.

Funding Information and Duration

• Maximum grant per project: € 400 000.
• Maximum duration per project: 18 months.

Eligible Activities

• Activities may be developed at local, regional, national, or international levels across the territory of the EU, EFTA and the UK. Cross-border activities within the EU, EFTA and the UK territories are eligible.
• The following types of activities are eligible:
  • research activities, including data collection and analytics;
  • production of original content in the form of studies, analyses, and mapping projects;
  • creation and use of testing environments (sandboxes) to experiment with methodological solutions to improve the detection of disinformation, or to provide original approaches to explore and expose disinformation campaigns and related harms, or to enhance the reach of quality information;
  • actions aiming at the creation and improvement of networks, exchanges of good practices, and uptake of innovative methodologies and relevant technologies;
  • usage of innovative tools, capable of improving the analysis of systemic risks within specific information environments and digital media ecosystems, as well as the effectiveness of remedial actions.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible, any proposal must be submitted by a group of at least two legal entities (partnerships or consortia)
• Should an applicant not be a signatory to any code, it should explain how it ensures de fac to adherence to the ethical and professional standards applicable to the type of activities carried out by its organisation.
• The following types of organisations may apply and be funded as Lead Applicants or members of the consortium:
  • Non-profit organisations, including public service media
  • Universities
  • Educational institutions
  • Research centres
  • Non-governmental organisations
  • For-profit organisations of any status and size operating as fact-checkers, news media organisations, technology providers or research companies, on that the consortium integrates one or more entities.
• Only applications submitted by legal entities established in the EU, EFTA or the UK are eligible. Organisations based in other countries may be part of a consortium, but their activities are not funded.
• Specific tasks may be subcontracted out to entities or natural persons irrespective of their place of establishment.
• Natural persons may be part of a consortium, but a natural person cannot lead the project. Activities and expenses pertaining to natural persons shall be allocated to the Lead Applicant.
• State-controlled organisations – other than universities, research centres, educational institutions, and public media organisations with editorial independence – are not eligible to receive funding and cannot lead a consortium, but they may take part in the action/project at their own costs.
• Consortia cannot be solely composed of entities affiliated with the Lead Applicant.

For more information, visit EMIF.