Horizont Europa

The ERC funds top-level research of individual, excellent scientists at all career stages with the following funding lines

• ERC Starting Grant: 2-7 years after the doctorate, max. 1.5 million € for 5 years
• ERC Consolidator Grant: 8-12 years after the doctorate, max. 2 Mio. € for 5 years
• ERC Advanced Grant: for established researchers, max. 2,5 Mio. € for 5 years
• ERC Synergy Grants: 2-4 excellent researchers, max. 10 Mio € for 6 years

Please contact the EU Funding Advisory Service at an early stage if you are considering an ERC application at TU Clausthal. The application to the ERC is developed in cooperation with the host institution. The involvement of the Presidential Board and, if applicable, the faculty is absolutely necessary. The necessary release from other activities ("time commitment" for the ERC) and, in the case of junior researchers, the scientific freedoms and rights to be granted must be discussed.

The MSC measures promote the international and European mobility of researchers and the cross-sectoral mobility and exchange between science, industry and civil society institutions. The calls for proposals are open to all topics. In addition to mobility, the programme focuses on the individual promotion of scientific careers and qualifications. Introductory information on the MSCA in Horizon Europe

• Doctoral Networks: structured doctoral networks for the promotion of young researchers during the doctoral phase; in addition to international mobility, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility is encouraged. Colaborations of at least 3 partners from 3 eligible countries are eligible.
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: Individual measures for postdocs up to 8 years after the doctorate, application possible for all nationalities; mobility with host institution in Europe (European PF) or host institution outside Europe and obligatory return phase (Global PF). The postdoctoral fellowships are also ideal for inviting young researchers from abroad to TU Clausthal and for networking one's own research group internationally.

When applying for the Marie Curie Programme, the EU Funding Advisory Service will support you in close coordination with the Graduate Academy (GA). The Funding Advisory Service provides advice on the requirements of the EU call for proposals, the grant application process and budget calculation, as well as on project management issues. The GA advises on aspects relating to the funding of young researchers and the qualification programme and supervision concept. In doing so the interdisciplinary offers of the Graduate Academy be actively involved in the planned qualification measures.

In the new European Innovation Council EIC, the EU promotes research, development and transfer of highly innovative technologies that have the potential to transform the economy and society. The funding lines build on each other and cover the entire TRL range from high-risk/high-gain basic research to startup and SME funding for market introduction.

• EIC Pathfinder with the funding lines "Open" and "Challenges": activities in the area of TRL 1-4, at the end of the project there should be a "Proof of Principle". Eligible collaborations consist of at least 3 partners from 3 different eligible countries; the protection of the resulting intellectual property plays an important role. For 2021, thematic calls are planned on AI, Green H2-Production, Engineered Living Materials, etc. For the further development of promising ideas and technological approaches from already funded EU projects (ERC, EIC or FET), the program EIC Transition is available for the funding of prototypes or demonstrators (activities up to TRL 5 or 6).

• EIC Accelerator Supports SMEs (including startups) in the market launch of disruptive, high-risk innovations with large market potential; possibility of mixed funding from grants and equity capital. The prerequisite for submitting an application is a technology with a maturity level of TRL 5-6. The contact persons for the EIC Accelerator funding programme are the colleagues at the Technology Consulting or the Startup Service.

The portal Funding & Tenders is the central participant portal of the EU for information on funding programmes, current calls, the review process at the EU and for submitting applications.

In order to use all functions of the portal, e.g. to be able to submit an application, you must first register Register personally. Please use your TU Clausthal email address for registration. You can use this registration for all further EU applications, project management or your expert activities at the EU.

Every organisation that wants to submit an application to the EU must register and receives a so-called Participant Identification Code PIC. With the number 999 865 913, an application with the participation of the TU Clausthal can be set up in the participant portal. Essential data of the institution are thereby pre-registered. Please note that when using the PIC number of the TU Clausthal in the EU application system, a notification is automatically sent to the central person responsible for the registration of the TU Clausthal, currently Dr. Heike Schröder.

In the course of the EU application it is often useful for the consortium to conclude pre-contractual arrangements:

• Letter of Intent (LoI): the coordinator must declare at the time of submission that he has the explicit consent of all partners to submit this application. A "Letter of Intent" contains this "explicit consent" in written form. At the same time, further agreements of the consortium can be recorded, e.g. on model consortium agreements or the roles in the project.
• Non-disclosureagreement (NDA): If sensitive information is exchanged during the application phase, an NDA should be concluded. In the case of funding, the NDA is superseded by the consortium agreement. An NDA is particularly important if the application is rejected, as no further contract is concluded here and the ideas / information are subsequently used by the other partners, among others. Occasionally LoI and NDA are combined.

Sample EU Consortium Agreements, LoI and NDA

The budget calculation is based on the articles 5 and 6 of the Model Grant Agreement.

Eligible costs = Direct costs + Indirect costs

Indirect costs are calculated as a flat rate of 25% of direct costs (excluding subcontracting, internal cost allocation and contributions to third parties).

In most Horizon Europe calls, the funding rate for TU Clausthal is 100%. Associated programmes partly deviate significantly from this (JTI, JU...).

The following direct costs are eligible:

• A. Personnel costs, based on the gross personnel cost lists of the MWK.
• B. Subcontracting
• C. Purchase costs
  • C.1 Travel costs (travel and subsistence)
  • C.2 equipment, only depreciation costs are eligible!
  • C.3 other goods, works and services, e.g. consumables, publication costs
• D. Other cost categories
  • D.1 Financial support to third parties
  • D.2 Internally invoiced goods and services (internal service charging)

We can provide you an Excel calculation tool for your budget calculation in a partner or coordinator version and advise you on the budget calculation. Please contact us!

Detailed information on budget calculation in Horizon Europe at TU Clausthal

During the preparation of the application, you will certainly come across terms and abbreviations that are unfamiliar to you (both in English and in German) and that have become part of EU jargon. The EU Office of the BMBF has published a glossary in which you can look up the terms:

German: http://www.horizont2020.de/service-abkuerzungen.htm

English (Glossary ProSciencia): http://www.prosciencia.eu/classic/glossary/index.html

The MWK and the BMBF support Lower Saxony and German coordinators in European networking and preparation of EU applications in collaborative research:

• ERA-Programme "A-HEU" of the BMBF: Application via easy-online, 3 deadlines per year in May, September and January, decision within 6 weeks. Information on the funding guidelines can also be found on the pages of the EU Office including the Hints for the project description which must be part of the application, and Answers to frequently asked questions.

• Europe Programme of the MWK: Grant applications can be submitted at any time with the assistance of the EU Funding Advisory Service at TU Clausthal; decisions are usually made within 4 weeks.

Funding is available to institutions based in one of the following countries:

• EU Member States
• States that have concluded an association agreement with the EU to participate in the programme, known as Associated States. In 2021, negotiations on association agreements will be underway with, among others, all the countries associated in the H2020; this can provide guidance for the time being.
• Low or middle income states.
• Exceptional cases: Participation of institutions from other countries possible if explicitly mentioned in the topic and essential for the success of the project.

The participation of institutions may be restricted in justified cases, e.g. if the institution is controlled by non-associated third countries.

A list of eligible countries will be provided by the European Commission with the publication of the work programme.

BREXIT: The UK participates as a partially associated state in Horizon Europe and EURATOM and is eligible for funding in almost all programmes - except the EIC Accelerator / Equity. UK institutions can therefore continue to participate in Horizon Europe projects as funded partners, as coordinators or as host institutions. For further information please contact UK Research Office. Note: UK is no longer participating in the ERASMUS programme.