Information Controls Research Program

About this program

The Open Technology Fund’s Information Controls Research Program supports applied research on internet censorship, surveillance, shutdowns, and other threats to internet freedom in highly repressive environments. Awards provide a $7,000 monthly stipend for three, six, nine, or twelve months, with possible travel and equipment support of up to $5,000 each. Applicants may include doctoral and postdoctoral students, experienced researchers, and practitioners from relevant technical or social science disciplines worldwide, but must propose measurable, technically oriented research with practical value for the internet freedom community and work full time with a host organization. The 2026 concept note deadline is September 7, 2026; applicants and hosts involved in surveillance technology, subject to sanctions, or located in U.S.-restricted countries are ineligible, and full-time PhD students generally need departmental support.