Applicants from all over the world are encouraged, including qualified Ugandan applicants. The programme accepts people from varied disciplinary backgrounds, including students, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and junior-to-mid-career practitioners. Typical expertise includes computer science, engineering, information security, software development, social sciences and data visualisation. Applicants must demonstrate how the research will advance internet freedom in information-restricted environments.

The Information Controls Research Program supports applied research into internet censorship, surveillance, information controls and practical methods for countering threats to internet freedom. Projects are expected to produce technically relevant outputs useful to the internet-freedom community.

Benefits
Researchers receive USD 7,000 per month for three, six, nine or twelve months. Projects may also receive up to USD 5,000 for travel and up to USD 5,000 for equipment depending on the research. Fellows work with a host organisation and receive programme oversight throughout the research period.

Requirements
Applicants must propose original, technically relevant and achievable applied research with measurable activities and milestones and an identifiable internet-freedom impact. Applicants identify and justify a proposed host organisation, although a confirmed host is not mandatory at the initial stage. Full-time student applicants must provide evidence of departmental support or explain why an exception is necessary.

How to apply
Create an account in Open Technology Fund\'s application system, select the Information Controls Research Program and submit the requested research concept, applicant background and host-organisation information by 2026-09-07. Applicants whose concepts are selected are invited to proceed through the programme\'s next proposal stage.