Digital Infrastructure Insights Fund

The D//F (Digital Infrastructure Insights Fund) is a multi-funder initiative by Ford Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Omidyar Network, Schmidt Futures and Aspiration sustaining a platform for researchers and practitioners to better understand how open digital Infrastructure is built and deployed.

We’re creating a body of research and implementation insights that advance our goal to ensure a public commons of technology, sustainably developed and maintained, for the benefit of everyone.

The D//F funders circle is pleased to announce today the selection of 9 projects with a press release. Investigating various aspects of producing, maintaining and deploying open digital infrastructure in their research, the grantees will commence project activities from November 2024, with project durations from 6-12 months.

The Digital Infrastructure Insights Fund (D//F) advances public-interest research and fosters coordination across the digital ecosystem. Rather than operating in isolation, D//F collaborates with partners who bring complementary expertise and networks to address key knowledge gaps.
At the heart of this mission is co-commissioning – a strategic approach that allows D//F to pool resources and generate insights that serve a shared goal: sustaining a public technological commons that is responsibly developed and maintained for the benefit of all.

These collaborations create pathways for more informed policymaking, stronger civil society engagement, and, ultimately, more resilient and equitable digital infrastructures.
They also enable deeper inquiry into critical challenges while amplifying impact across research communities, practitioners, and implementers.