Thematic focus areas for project funding in 2025 and 2026

In accordance with Section 2 (3) of the National Fund Law, the Board of Trustees of the National Fund has set a thematic focus area for project funding in the years 2025 and 2026. On the recommendation of the National Fund Committee, special focus will be placed on funding projects that serve to identify and combat disinformation circulated by online media. Particular focus will be placed on projects seeking to counteract disinformation relativising the Holocaust or undermining the culture of remembrance.

Especially since 7 October 2023, disinformation has been circulating on a massive scale in online media with narratives that seek to relativise the Holocaust and delegitimise the commemoration of the crimes of the Holocaust and its victims. Even if such narratives do not necessarily cross the threshold of criminal liability, they often have at least the same effect. Therefore, in order to counter this disinformation, it is necessary to develop targeted content that can be made available to users of online media, especially those who want to play an active role in combatting disinformation. This content is also essential for flagging false or misleading information and providing platforms with well-founded arguments to remove it .

Focus shall therefore be placed on:

Supporting projects seeking to identify and counteract disinformation in online media that aims to relativise the Holocaust and undermine the culture of remembrance, or has this as a consequence.

One third of the total project funding budget for 2025 has been earmarked for this focus area. The 2026 budgetary allocation for this focus area will be determined in autumn 2025.