Search and Filter Open and Forthcoming EU Grant Programmes

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

Cybercrime and Digital investigations

European partnership for the assessment of risks from chemicals (PARC)

Framework partnership agreements and annual operating grants to support EU level Social NGO Networks

Minimisation of environmental, and optimisation of socio-economic impacts in the deployment, operation and decommissioning of offshore wind farms

Development of new effective therapies for rare diseases

Addressing poorly-understood tumour-host interactions to enhance immune system-centred treatment and care interventions in childhood, adolescent, adult and elderly cancer patients.

Promoting a trusted mHealth label in Europe: uptake of technical specifications for quality and reliability of health and wellness apps

Design for adaptability, re-use and deconstruction of buildings, in line with the principles of circular economy (Built4People Partnership)

Robotics and other automated solutions for construction, renovation and maintenance in a sustainable built environment (Built4People Partnership)

Improvement of light harvesting and carbon fixation with synthetic biology and/or bio-inspired//biomimetic pathways for renewable direct solar fuels production

Methods for assessing health-related costs of environmental stressors

Coordination of European cultural heritage research and innovation among Member States

Deployment of the AI-on-demand platform

Partnerships for Innovation - Forward-Looking Projects - Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Preparing UNCAN.eu, a European initiative to understand cancer

Design and industrial deployment of innovative manufacturing processes for fuel cells and fuel cell components

Partnerships for Innovation - Forward-Looking Projects - Adult education (AE)

Ammonia powered fuel cell system focusing on superior efficiency, durable operation and design optimisation

Academia-Industry Forum on Emerging Enabling Technologies (CSA)

Support to EFSA for the risk assessment of pesticides

Frequently Asked Questions