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Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6)
Funding for essential biomedical open source software
Last Update: April 21, 2026
Funding available
$ 50,000 - $ 200,000
Timeline
- Closing date : December 5, 2023
Location
Canada
Overview
This program supports open source software essential to biomedical research, with awards of $100,000 to $400,000 USD over two years. It funds maintenance, development, community engagement, and related activities for software projects that serve the biomedical research community.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Enhance an existing program
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Minimum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 15% of project cost
Timeline
- Closing date : December 5, 2023
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Maintenance, growth, and development of open source software tools
- Community engagement and contributor onboarding
- Improving documentation, usability, and compatibility
- Support for related or interconnected software projects
Documents Needed
- Letter of Intent
- Full Application, if invited
- Institutional Approval Form
- Budget description
- Biosketches and software project metrics
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Nonprofit organizations
- For-profit companies
- Public and private institutions
- Universities, hospitals, and laboratories
- Units of state and local government and eligible federal agencies
Who is not eligible
- Individuals
- Meta employees and employees of subsidiary Meta entities
- Applicants unable to comply with applicable sanctions and export-control requirements
Eligible expenses
- Staff salaries and contract support for project roles
- Community events, hackathons, sprints, and outreach
- Cloud computing, storage, networking, and continuous integration services
- Coordination across related software projects or ecosystems
Eligible geographic areas
- Any country, subject to sanctions and export-control compliance
Processing and Agreement
- Letters of Intent are reviewed first, and only a subset of applicants are invited to apply further.
- Invited applicants submit a Full Application for final evaluation.
- Applications are reviewed by the funders and expert advisors.
- Decisions are expected to be communicated by email.
- Successful grantees must provide annual reports during the award period.
Additional information
- Applications are submitted in two stages: Letter of Intent and Full Application.
- Only invited applicants may submit a Full Application.
- Annual reports are required from successful grantees.
- Applications are reviewed by all three funders, with final decisions made in consultation with expert advisors.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6) Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6). This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6)?
This program supports open source software essential to biomedical research, with awards of $100,000 to $400,000 USD over two years. It funds maintenance, development, community engagement, and related activities for software projects that serve the biomedical research community.
How much funding can be received?
Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6) Funds up to 15% of admissible expenses, capped at $200,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6) program?
To be eligible for the Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6) program, you must:
Open source software for biomedical research
Applicant must be an eligible organization
Institutional sign-off required for full proposal
What expenses are eligible under Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6)?
Maintenance, growth, and development of open source software tools
Community engagement and contributor onboarding
Improving documentation, usability, and compatibility
Support for related or interconnected software projects
Who can I contact for more information about the Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6)?
You can contact Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) by email at sciencegrants@chanzuckerberg.com or by phone at none.
Where is the Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6) available?
The Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6) program is available across Canada.
Is the Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Essential Open Source Software for Science (Cycle 6) is a Grant and Funding