Understanding Third Parties in Horizon Europe Projects: Budgeting and Reporting Costs
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding program for research and innovation, fostering collaboration across borders and sectors. A vital component of many Horizon Europe projects is the involvement of third parties. Understanding who these third parties are, how they can participate, and how to budget and report their costs is essential for successful project management. In this blog post, we’ll clarify the different types of third parties, including in-kind contributions, and offer guidelines for budgeting and reporting, referencing the Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AMGA) for deeper insights. Who are Third Parties? In the context of Horizon Europe, third parties [...]
How to use unit costs for travel costs in EU funded projects
Commission Decision C(2021)35, as amended by Commission Decision C(2023)4928, authorises the use of unit costs for the reimbursement of eligible travel costs awarded under any action or programme financed by the Union budget under the 2021-2027 MFF period[1]. Please note that the unit costs used for this Decision were calculated before the pandemic, therefore, an additional 25% should be added to each of the amounts indicated in the Decision. This means that eligible travel costs will cover the trip (round trip) based on the distance, in kilometres, that separates the point of origin from the destination, also taking into account [...]
In-Kind Contributions in Horizon Europe
For the implementation of Horizon Europe projects, there are different kinds of resources that can be made available. One aspect that often comes up in project budgets is the inclusion of in-kind contributions. In-kind contributions, as defined by the European Commission, refer to non-financial resources that beneficiaries bring to the project. These resources can take various forms and represent a valuable addition to the project's overall capabilities. In-kind contributions are offered by consortium partners or third parties and can include personnel, equipment, access to facilities, data, or services. In-kind contributions can be against payment or free of charge. Both [...]
Work cost of SME Owners in Horizon Europe
As happened in Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe also allows the declaration of costs associated with SME Owners who don’t receive a salary. Although the calculation of SME Owner costs not receiving salary follows the same steps as in Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe brings some minor differences regarding its predecessor. The main change comes from the shift in the unit used for the calculation: the base unit in Horizon 2020 for personnel cost were hours whereas in Horizon Europe we will be focusing on days. Therefore, in the case of SME Owners, we’ll also be talking about a fixed daily [...]
Updates on the Certificate on the Financial Statements (CFS) in Horizon Europe
Just as with Horizon 2020, cost calculation in Horizon Europe, as well as cost documentation, needs to be checked by an external auditor who will provide a Certificate on the Financial Statements (CFS). However, it is important to highlight that the EC still has the final decision on the eligibility of the costs, regardless of the CFS. A CFS given by a certified auditor must be provided if the amount of the EU grant per beneficiary reaches or exceeds a certain amount. The CFS expenditures qualify as "other direct costs," hence they must be budgeted during the proposal phase. [...]
The Certificate on the Financial Statements (CFS) in Horizon 2020
A Certificate on the Financial Statements (CFS) given by a certified auditor must be provided with the final financial report if the amount of the EU grant per beneficiary reaches or exceeds a certain amount. The CFS expenditures qualify as "other direct costs," hence they must be budgeted during the proposal phase. What is a Certificate On Financial Statements (CFS)? The CFS is a factual report produced by an independent auditor or Public Officer Its objective is to allow the European Commission or a grant giving body to determine whether costs declared in the financial statements [...]
First Steps on the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal
The Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal (F&TP) (the Single Electronic Data Interchange Area) is the entry point for participants and experts in funding programmes and tenders managed by the European Commission and other EU bodies. Through the F&TP, organisations are able to: Search and apply for funding opportunities in calls for proposals Search a call for tender and submit a tender Manage your grants Register as an expert, manage contracts and payments online. Create an EU Account In order to access all this content, your first step is to register on the F&TP to create your EU account. To complete [...]