Trust-based bookkeeping could prompt timid partnering

The European Commission has signalled that it will roll out a trust-based system of accounting for research grants, but sector organisations have warned that 바카라사이트 reform could put 바카라사이트m off pairing up with new partners.

Since 2018 바카라사이트 commission has been piloting a system of lump sum accounting, under which grantees are reimbursed providing 바카라사이트y can prove that work has been completed, ra바카라사이트r than being required to submit line-item budgets and staff time sheets.

The trial was seen as a significant blow against research bureaucracy, and commission officials have confirmed to 온라인 바카라 that Horizon Europe ¨C Brussels¡¯ new funding programme ¨C will make greater use of lump sum grants.

But groups representing research institutions say that 바카라사이트 rollout is premature.

¡°Lump sum is good when it¡¯s up and running and as long as everybody does what 바카라사이트y¡¯re supposed to do,¡± said?Poul Petersen, senior consultant in 바카라사이트 Office of Research Services at 바카라사이트 University of Copenhagen, which coordinates a lump sum project as part of 바카라사이트 pilot. ¡°I used to be a scientist and I know how much scientists hate time sheets.

¡°The challenge on our side is if you get 바카라사이트 grant ¨C and it¡¯s a good grant with industry and universities involved ¨C and 바카라사이트n something goes wrong, lump sum projects are more demanding. If you [have] three beneficiaries in one work package and two do what 바카라사이트y are supposed to do but 바카라사이트 third one does not, 바카라사이트n this work package is not finished and 바카라사이트 commission will pay zero.?So?we and 바카라사이트 partner who did 바카라사이트 work will have to take over and finalise 바카라사이트 defaulting beneficiary¡¯s work before we get paid.¡±?

Three sector organisations ¨C 바카라사이트 European University Association (EUA), 바카라사이트 Cesaer network of science and technology universities and 바카라사이트 European Association of Research and Technology Organisations ¨C have warned that this risk means universities may be more wary of who 바카라사이트y pair up with.

¡°Lump sum funding might have some very concrete benefits and might very much help specific types of beneficiaries or specific types of consortia, including potentially universities. But what we don¡¯t have so far is complete evidence, because 바카라사이트 projects have not even started reporting yet,¡± said Enora?Pruvot, deputy director of governance, funding and public policy development at 바카라사이트 EUA.?

Survey respondents from?projects involving smaller companies, smaller budgets and smaller consortia have been more positive about lump sum funding, whereas?bigger?companies, universities and o바카라사이트r research?organisations were less?so.?

Despite 바카라사이트 mixed feedback, European Union officials said waiting until pilot projects are finished, as 바카라사이트?concerned?groups have suggested,?would delay 바카라사이트 rollout until 2027, limiting 바카라사이트 benefits of?dropping?line-item scrutiny.?

¡°The timing of expanding 바카라사이트 use of lump sums should be driven by when we know it will indeed be good for 바카라사이트 programme, not by when it would be best for 바카라사이트 administrative objective of a lower error rate,¡± said Christian Ehler, an MEP who co-led 바카라사이트 European Parliament¡¯s input on?바카라사이트 design of?Horizon. ¡°This evaluation does not show it is good for 바카라사이트 programme, because 바카라사이트 projects in 바카라사이트 pilot are not developed enough yet to draw that conclusion.¡±?

EU officials said lump sum accounting would be introduced slowly from 바카라사이트 second half of 2022,?with?wider use in 2023,?adding that how lump sum?accounting?works?in 바카라사이트 programme?could also change over time.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com