Expert knowledge: Lump sums in Horizon Europe

The financing of projects funded under the European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation was still mainly based on the reimbursement of actual costs in Horizon 2020. However, due to the high time and effort involved and the susceptibility to errors, the European Commission is aiming for greater use of lump sums under Horizon Europe.

The lump sums are determined in advance and fixed in the grant agreements. They are paid after completion of the activities within the agreed work packages. Beyond that, the planning, evaluation and implementation of projects funded by lump sums does not change much. Payment of the lump sums also does not depend on successful project results (which are never certain in research) and follows the usual payment schedule. Projects funded with lump sums can be managed as flexibly as traditional projects based on actual costs, and their performance is judged by the same standards.

The simplification of the previously complex funding rules through "lump sums" is intended to make it easier for newcomers and smaller organisations in particular, which usually lack experience and staff capacity, to access Horizon Europe.
The European Commission has now set up a webpage for "lump sum" funding in Horizon Europe in the Funding & Tenders Portal. This contains all the information on this type of project funding as well as a list of the currently announced calls with "lump sum" funding.

This document explains the benefits of lump sums and how they work in practice:
Lump sum grants in Horizon Europe: Why do we need them and how do they work in practice?