09 Jan 2024
EARTO publishes position paper on lump sums in Horizon Europe
EARTO, the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations, published a position paper on lump sums funding in Horizon Europe on 9 January 2024.
EARTO points out that its members are very active participants in the EU RD&I Framework Programmes, especially in complex and large collaborative applied RD&I projects. In this context, EARTO Feedback on EARTO Members’ Experiences with Lump-Sums Projects within Horizon Europe addressed wider issues related to lump-sums funding within Horizon Europe. With the recent announcements and discussions pointing to the possible extension of the use of this funding principle, EARTO members wish to alert the EU Institutions on what they regard as worrying trends and signals concerning the evaluation and pre-contractual negotiations of lump-sums EU-funded RD&I projects. Indeed, with many newly selected projects using the lump-sums funding scheme under Horizon Europe, EARTO members have now proper feedback on their granting process and the issues that are rising, which is included in this position paper. The paper also includes recommendations for improvement of this funding tool.