After the first call deadline, a total of 56 applications have been received.
The amount of requested aid even exceeded the amount assigned for support in this call several times. The first application was received by the Pontis Foundation already one day after the call was published, i.e the 1st of October 2019 and the last one on 31st of October 2019at 23:35, a few minutes before the deadline. Minimal requested amount is 2,989 EUR and the maximum is 10,000 EUR.
After deadline of the call was over we were expecting the first report of the number of submitted projects, the requested amount, but mainly what kind of projects were submitted. The information surprised us pleasantly. It confirms the correct choice of topics for the first call.
Most applications came from the citizens associations and secondary vocational schools. Primary schools, local authorities, physical persons, but also social service centers and other organizations are among the applicants.
„I am pleased that so many applicants are interested in this pilot call and the projects they have submitted are likely to exceed the allocated amount. Now we will be waiting for the evaluation by the Pontis Foundation and submission of project proposals. We will build on this initial experience to prepare the next calls and set these calls as much as possible to meet the needs of the Internet community,“ said Mr. Jaroslav Kmeť, General Manager of the IT Department of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for Investments and Informatization (further as „the Office“).
In the first call we have allocated 100,000 EURO for the projects. We will provide financial support in the range of 2,500 EURO to 10,000 EURO for the projects, which meet the conditions of the call and will be confirmed by the Office.
The goal of the first call is to support the projects focused on:
- information and communication technologies education
- information security / cybersecurity
All necessary information about the SK-NIC Fund are on the SK-NIC, a.s. website and also at the Pontis Foundation website. Pontis Foundation is responsible for the process of collecting applications and evaluating the projects.
The call was published on 30th September until 31st October 2019.
