Grant opportunity

New Commons Incubator for Indigenous Languages and Cultures 2026

The New Commons Incubator supports Indigenous-led teams to turn a data commons idea into a fundable proposal for responsibly governed language and cultural datasets in the AI era.

IncubatorIndigenous knowledgeData commonsAILanguagesGlobal
Funder
New Commons and Open Data Policy Lab at The GovLab
Applications close on 14 August 2026
Applications close on 14 August 2026: Aug 14, 2026
Award
Six-month capacity-building incubator with training, mentorship, technical guidance, networking and access to possible partners and funders
Applicant
Indigenous-led teams developing community-governed data commons for Indigenous languages, cultures and responsible public-interest AI.
Discipline
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Region
Global
Posted
Jun 23, 2026

Call summary

Overview

The 2026 New Commons Incubator focuses on Indigenous Languages and Cultures. It supports teams to build viable, community-governed data commons concepts that can enable responsible and equitable public-interest AI.

Who can apply

The incubator is aimed at Indigenous-led teams. Applicants should be able to show community support for the initiative and, where applicable, institutional support for participation and continued development.

What it supports

  • Indigenous languages and cultures
  • Community-governed data commons
  • Responsible AI
  • Capacity building, mentorship and technical guidance
  • Fundable concept development

Funding and duration

  • The programme is a six-month capacity-building incubator.
  • Support includes training, mentorship, peer learning, technical guidance, networking and access to potential partners and funders.

Applications close on 14 August 2026

Applications close on 14 August 2026: Aug 14, 2026

How to apply

Apply through the official New Commons application form by 14 August 2026.

Call details

Source-based overview

The 2026 New Commons Incubator focuses on Indigenous Languages and Cultures. It supports teams to build viable, community-governed data commons concepts that can enable responsible and equitable public-interest AI. The incubator is aimed at Indigenous-led teams. Applicants should be able to show community support for the initiative and, where applicable, institutional support for participation and continued development. Indigenous languages and cultures Community-governed data commons Responsible AI Capacity building, mentorship and technical guidance Fundable concept development The programme is a six-month capacity-building incubator. Support includes training, mentorship, peer learning, technical guidance, networking and access to potential partners and funders. Apply through the official New Commons application form by 14 August 2026.

Eligibility

The incubator is aimed at Indigenous-led teams. Applicants should be able to show community support for the initiative and, where applicable, institutional support for participation and continued development.

Funding and benefits

The programme is a six-month capacity-building incubator.

Support includes training, mentorship, peer learning, technical guidance, networking and access to potential partners and funders.

Themes and supported activities

Indigenous languages and cultures

Community-governed data commons

Responsible AI

Capacity building, mentorship and technical guidance

Fundable concept development

Deadline and timeline

Applications close on 14 August 2026: Applications close on 14 August 2026: Aug 14, 2026.

Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.

How to apply

Apply through the official New Commons application form by 14 August 2026.

Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.