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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a “call”, a “topic”, and an “action” in EU grant language?

A call is the funding invitation (with deadlines). A topic is the specific scope within a call (what the EU wants funded and what outcomes/impacts they expect). An action is the funding scheme/type of project (e.g., RIA/IA/CSA) that sets rules like budget model and evaluation emphasis.

What does “Type of Action” mean (RIA / IA / CSA / COFUND / MSCA / EIC)?

It’s the project “scheme” that defines the goal and many rules. RIA = Research and Innovation Action; IA = Innovation Action; CSA = Coordination and Support Action; COFUND = co-funding programme; MSCA = Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions; EIC = European Innovation Council calls. Type of Action affects eligibility, consortium needs, funding rates/cost rules, and evaluation focus.

What does “single-stage” vs “two-stage” submission mean?

Single-stage means you submit the full proposal once. Two-stage means you first submit a short proposal (stage 1); only shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a full proposal (stage 2).

What is an “Associated Country” vs “Non‑Associated (Third) Country”?

Associated Countries have an agreement with the EU programme, so their entities typically participate on (almost) the same terms as EU Member States. Non‑Associated (Third) Countries may be allowed to participate, but funding eligibility can differ by call and country—always check the call conditions.

What is the difference between “eligible countries” and “participating countries”?

“Participating countries” are those allowed to take part in the programme/call. “Eligible countries” usually refers to countries whose organisations are eligible to receive EU funding under that call. Some participants may join without EU funding depending on the rules.

What counts as an SME under EU rules (and how is it verified)?

An SME is generally an organisation with fewer than 250 employees and either turnover ≤ €50M or balance sheet total ≤ €43M, plus “autonomy/ownership” criteria. It’s typically declared by the applicant and can be verified during grant preparation or audits using corporate/financial information.

When is a consortium required vs single‑beneficiary allowed?

Many Horizon calls require a consortium (often at least 3 independent entities from 3 different EU/Associated countries). Some schemes/calls allow single beneficiaries (common in ERC/EIC-type calls and some CSAs). The call’s eligibility/admissibility conditions are the source of truth.

What is TRL (Technology Readiness Level) and how do I pick the right TRL?

TRL is a 1–9 scale describing technology maturity (1 = basic principles; 9 = proven in real operations). Pick a call whose expected TRL range matches your start point and the TRL you can credibly reach by the end of the project; RIAs tend to target lower TRLs than IAs.

What are “expected outcomes” vs “expected impacts”?

Expected outcomes are the direct results the EU expects from funded projects (short/medium term). Expected impacts are the longer-term changes those outcomes should contribute to (economic, societal, environmental, strategic). Strong proposals trace a clear path from activities → outcomes → impacts.

What are “work packages”, “tasks”, “deliverables”, and “milestones”?

Work packages (WPs) are major blocks of work. Tasks are the concrete activities within a WP. Deliverables are tangible outputs you submit (reports, prototypes, datasets, etc.). Milestones are checkpoints used to track progress and decisions.

What are the standard Horizon evaluation criteria (Excellence / Impact / Implementation)?

Many Horizon calls use three criteria: Excellence (quality of concept and methodology), Impact (value and credibility of expected outcomes/impacts), and Implementation (work plan, resources, team/consortium). Weighting and wording can vary by call and Type of Action.

What is a threshold score, and how does ranking work?

A threshold is the minimum score required for a criterion (and sometimes an overall minimum). Proposals that pass thresholds are ranked by total score (and sometimes tie-break rules). Funding is offered from the top of the ranked list until the available budget is exhausted.

What is “time‑to‑grant” and “grant agreement preparation (GAP)”?

Time‑to‑grant is the time from deadline to signing the Grant Agreement. GAP is the phase after selection where you provide validations/administrative info, confirm budget details, and finalise the grant agreement.

What are “eligible costs” vs “ineligible costs”?

Eligible costs are necessary for the project, incurred during the action, properly recorded, and compliant with the grant rules. Ineligible costs are not reimbursed (common examples include fines/penalties, some taxes like recoverable VAT, and costs not linked to the action). Always follow the specific programme rules for the call.

What are “direct” vs “indirect” costs (and what is the 25% flat rate)?

Direct costs are clearly attributable to the project (personnel, travel, equipment depreciation, subcontracting, etc.). Indirect costs are overheads (rent, utilities, admin) usually reimbursed as a flat rate—often 25% of eligible direct costs (excluding some categories, depending on the programme rules).

What is a “lump sum” grant (and how does it change reporting)?

A lump sum grant pays a fixed amount for completing agreed work (typically per work package). Reporting focuses on whether the work/deliverables were completed as agreed, rather than reimbursing actual costs line-by-line.

What is subcontracting vs “third parties” vs “in‑kind contributions”?

Subcontracting is purchasing a service from an external provider for a defined task (with procurement/value-for-money rules). “Third parties” can mean linked/affiliated entities contributing resources. “In‑kind contributions” are non-cash resources provided to the project (e.g., equipment use or staff time), under specific conditions.

What are the Open Science / Open Access requirements in Horizon Europe?

Typically, you must provide open access to peer‑reviewed publications and manage research data under FAIR principles via a Data Management Plan (DMP). Exceptions can apply for confidentiality, security, IP protection, or other justified reasons.

What are dissemination, communication, and exploitation (and how do they differ)?

Communication is outreach to the public and stakeholders about the project and its value. Dissemination is sharing results with target audiences (researchers/industry) to enable uptake. Exploitation is turning results into real use (products, services, standards, policy, further investment).

What is the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) requirement and who needs it?

In Horizon Europe, many public bodies, higher education establishments, and research organisations established in EU/Associated countries must have a GEP in place to be eligible. Exact applicability depends on organisation type and the current programme rules.

What are the ethics / GDPR requirements commonly checked in EU grants?

Projects often complete an ethics self‑assessment and may need approvals (e.g., human participants, animal research, sensitive data). If you process personal data, you must comply with GDPR and implement appropriate safeguards (lawful basis, minimisation, security, retention, etc.).

How does IP work (background vs results/foreground; consortium agreement basics)?

Background IP is what partners bring in before the project; results (sometimes called foreground) are created during the project. Access rights define who can use what for implementation and exploitation. A consortium agreement typically governs ownership, access, publication review, and exploitation rules among partners.

EU Grant Programmes Database

2D materials-based devices and systems for energy storage and/or harvesting (RIA)

Intersectionality and equality in deliberative and participatory democratic spaces

Onsite digital technologies to monitor nutrients and chemical or biological stressors in soil and plants with relevance for food safety and nutrition

Development and integration of advanced software tools in SCADA systems for High, Medium and Low voltage AC/DC hybrid systems

Innovative components and configurations for heat pumps

Development of innovative power take-off and control systems for wave energy devices

Soil pollution processes – modelling and inclusion in advanced digital decision-support tools

Demonstration of sustainable hydropower refurbishment

Soils in spatial planning

European Partnership on Rare Diseases

Accelerating the green transition and energy access in Africa

Back to earth: bringing communities and citizens closer to soil

Strengthen the bilateral cooperation on research infrastructures with Africa: improving the knowledge base on climate change in Africa

Support to National Contact Points (NCPs) for Research Infrastructures

Implementation research for management of multiple long-term conditions in the context of non-communicable diseases (Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases - GACD)

Research infrastructures services for a sustainable and resilient agriculture and agro-ecological transitions

Research infrastructures services for responding to climate-related risks on the environment

Proving the feasibility of a large clean ammonia marine engine (ZEWT Partnership)

Modular multi-powertrain zero-emission systems for HDV (BEV and FCEV) for efficient and economic operation (2ZERO)

Computational tools for shipbuilding

Frequently Asked Questions