Employer profile
Prototype Fund
Berlin, DEImpact-drivenFoundationDigital & ITSocial Impact
Impact3Sustainability Goals
Employees2 - 10
Founded2016
LocationBerlin
About us
The Prototype Fund is a funding program for open-source software with societal value in Germany. It supports independent developers and small teams in realizing innovative ideas, particularly in IT security and software infrastructure. As a project of the Open Knowledge Foundation Germany, it is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Since 2016, nearly 400 projects have been supported, with a goal to guide another 100 projects by 2029.
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Sustainability Goals
Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Fostering Open Software Innovation for Society
The Prototype Fund supports the development of innovative open-source software projects that serve as digital infrastructure and create societal value.
Decent Work & Economic Growth
Empowering Developers for Sustainable Growth
The Prototype Fund supports independent developers and small teams in Germany by providing funding for innovative open-source software projects, thus strengthening the digital economy.
Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
Open Source for Transparency and Data Security
The organization promotes open-source software emphasizing data security and transparency, contributing to trustworthy digital systems and stronger institutions.
FAQs
Q1What is the Prototype Fund?+
The Prototype Fund is a funding program for open-source software with societal value in Germany. It provides financial and conceptual support to independent developers and small teams for implementing innovative ideas, especially in IT security and software infrastructure. The program is financially backed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Q2What kind of projects does the Prototype Fund support?+
The initiative exclusively supports open-source software projects that create significant societal value and are user-centric. A particular focus is placed on innovations in data security and software infrastructure. Projects are expected to be freely accessible, sustainably maintainable, and adaptable.
Q3When is the next application period for the Prototype Fund?+
The next application period for cohort 03 is scheduled from October 1 to November 30, 2026. Interested developers and teams can apply for funding during this timeframe.
Q4How is the Prototype Fund organized?+
The Prototype Fund is a project of the Open Knowledge Foundation Germany and is financially supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. It operates under a Code of Conduct and a Conflict of Interest Policy to ensure transparent and ethical operations.
Q5Which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) does the Prototype Fund support?+
The Prototype Fund primarily contributes to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Secondarily, it supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) through the promotion of digital innovations.
Q6How many projects has the Prototype Fund supported so far?+
Since its founding in 2016, the Prototype Fund has supported almost 400 projects. The program has been relaunched to guide an additional 100 software projects across four cohorts until 2029.
