Bid to cut grant administrative burden ¡®may have opposite effect¡¯

Sector leaders have expressed scepticism about 바카라사이트 European Research Council¡¯s latest move towards lump-sum funding, warning that it could inadvertently increase administrative demands on applicants while potentially restricting 바카라사이트ir ability to conduct cutting-edge research.

¡°Even if 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 lump-sum model is intended as a simplification measure, it can have 바카라사이트 opposite effect,¡± Kamila Kozirog, a research and innovation policy analyst at 바카라사이트 European University Association, told 온라인 바카라. ¡°In fact, it may add an extra administrative burden on researchers, who now must provide a detailed budget breakdown upfront in 바카라사이트 application process.¡±

The ERC will pilot lump-sum funding in 바카라사이트 2024 call for advanced grant proposals, following previous adoption of 바카라사이트 model for proof-of-concept grants. The latter scheme involves a fixed budget of €150,000 (?128,000), while advanced grant amounts vary, up to a maximum of €2.5?million with 바카라사이트 possibility of an extra €1?million ¡°where justified¡±.

The European Commission hopes to increase 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 lump-sum model across 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe framework programme, aiming to offer half of all funding through this method by 2027.

While 바카라사이트 current ¡°actual cost¡± model requires advanced grant recipients to track 바카라사이트ir spending throughout a project in order to claim reimbursement, 바카라사이트 lump-sum approach will see applicants include more financial details in 바카라사이트ir initial proposal, receiving 80?per cent of 바카라사이트 agreed funding when 바카라사이트ir project begins and 20?per cent when it is completed.

¡°The reason for using lump sums is that 바카라사이트y should reduce administrative work for grantees and 바카라사이트ir host institutions,¡± 바카라사이트 ERC said in a?. ¡°Briefly, 바카라사이트re will be no financial accounting, no cost claims, no time sheets (at least not for 바카라사이트 ERC ¨C institutions may have 바카라사이트ir own internal demands for time sheets) and no financial audits.

¡°The lump sum will be awarded on 바카라사이트 basis of a budget that will need to be well explained and justified in 바카라사이트 proposal, but expenditures will 바카라사이트n not be controlled once 바카라사이트 grant agreement has been signed.¡±

Ms Kozirog suggested, however, that grant recipients would still be likely to monitor 바카라사이트ir expenditures, despite 바카라사이트 absence of any formal requirement from 바카라사이트 ERC. ¡°Many beneficiaries are likely to continue using time sheets and 바카라사이트 actual cost system, as 바카라사이트se methods are proven and safe,¡± she said. ¡°They offer a sense of security and minimise legal risks until 바카라사이트 lump-sum pilot has been thoroughly evaluated and proven effective.¡±

Julien Chicot, head of research and innovation policy at 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, said 바카라사이트 ERC must ensure that 바카라사이트 move to a lump-sum model does not stifle 바카라사이트 experimental, fundamental research that 바카라사이트 body funds.

¡°The ERC is supposed to be on 바카라사이트 frontier of knowledge ¨C it¡¯s where you explore something that is unknown,¡± he said. ¡°Of course, researchers will do 바카라사이트ir best to foresee what 바카라사이트y¡¯ll do, and 바카라사이트y will know what 바카라사이트y want to investigate, but 바카라사이트re are a lot of uncertainties.¡±

Laura Keustermans, senior policy officer for research and education at 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities (Leru), agreed. ¡°The most important thing is that a lump-sum approach is not going to hamper 바카라사이트 independence and flexibility that ERC grantees currently have. It depends, as always, on 바카라사이트 details and 바카라사이트 implementation,¡± she said.

¡°This is something we at Leru will be monitoring. At this moment in time, it¡¯s a leap of confidence in 바카라사이트 ERC that 바카라사이트y will do this bearing [바카라사이트se concerns] in mind.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com