1. Will the frontier science character of ERC grants change with lump sums?
ERC applicants should not change the way they plan and think about their research proposals. The ERC will continue to fund frontier research, and the introduction of the lump sums for Advanced Grants does not change the ERC funding strategy. Thus, proposals should not change in terms of ambition or the flexibility and openness to changes during project implementation.
2. What is the main difference between the lump sum model and the actual cost model?
Both under the actual cost model and under the lump sum model, ERC panels assess budgets of the proposed projects. Under the actual cost model, the ERC Executive Agency reimburses beneficiaries up to the maximum grant amount approved by the evaluation panel, based on the actually incurred eligible costs claimed in the periodic reports. Under the lump sum model, however, once the panel approves the budget of the proposal, the ERC Executive Agency will pay the full grant amount in two instalments, one of 80% at that start, and one of 20% upon completion. Beneficiaries do not have to submit cost claims, but they do have to report on the scientific progress and implementation of the project.
3. Will there be a change to how lump sum proposals will be evaluated?
There is no change to the evaluation criteria that will be applied by the panel when assessing proposals under the lump sum model. Scientific excellence remains the sole evaluation criterion. To help the panel assess the budget and to ensure sound financial management of EU funds, applicants will be asked to provide more detail on certain components of the budget. For example, personnel costs will have to be specified in person-months in each staff category, and equipment costs will have to include information on the depreciation rules that have been applied.
4. Once the lump sum is determined, how flexible is the budget of the project?
Deviations from the original plan are permitted within the allocated budget as long as they serve the scientific goals of the project.
5. Given the lump sum budget flexibility, can Host Institutions increase their overheads during the lifetime of the project?
As is the case with all grants funded by Horizon Europe, the Host Institution in ERC lump sum grants can claim overheads only up to the legal maximum of 25% of the EU contribution.
6. Will the ERC move to the lump sum model also for Consolidator and Starting Grant calls for proposals?
For the time being, the lump sum model is planned only for the ERC Advanced Grant 2024 call.
7. Will ERC lump sum grants be portable?
The right to portability, that is the possibility for the Principal Investigators to move with their grant to a different host institution, will be maintained under the ERC lump sum model.
8. Will it be possible to amend a project under the lump sum model?
Yes. There are no changes with respect to the current model. ERC grantees conduct frontier research and deviations from the original proposal can be expected. PIs can explain such changes in their mid-term scientific report, or report those changes at any time during the implementation of the project. If necessary, the grant agreement can be amended as long as the changes do not call into question the original award decision, in the same way as for actual cost grants.
9. How do payments work in lump sum projects?
At the start of the project, the ERC grant beneficiaries will receive 80% of the total grant, and the rest will be paid upon completion of the project.
10. Will there still be audits under the lump sum model?
There will be no financial audits of invoices, personnel costs, time sheets, etc. However, certain so-called ‘technical audits’ will still be conducted, as they have been in the past, in cases where issues with the implementation of the project arise, for example, relating to compliance with ethics, procurement procedures, or time commitment of the Principal Investigator. The scientific and technical documentation required for lump sum grants is the same as for the non-financial technical audits that can currently be performed under actual costs grants and for PoC grants.
11. Can applicants choose between the lump sum and the actual cost model?
No. All 2024 Advanced Grants will run under the lump sum model. The Starting Grant, Consolidator Grant and Synergy Grants calls will continue to run under the actual cost model.
12. Can applicants choose between one lump sum work package encompassing the entire project or several lump sum work packages?
In line with a decision of the ERC Scientific Council, Advanced Grant 2024 projects will comprise one single formal work package covering the entire project. This means that the project as a whole will be assessed for implementation and final payment, an aspect that was deemed important to protect the flexibility necessary for frontier research projects.
The principle of a single lump sum work package does not contravene the applicant’s freedom to plan and structure their research proposal in any form they see fit (e.g., research lines, objectives, different sub-projects, etc.
13. Is the lump sum model envisaged for the ERC Advanced Grant 2024 the same as the ERC Proof-of-Concept (PoC) scheme?
No. For the 2024 ERC Advanced Grants the size of the lump sum is defined by the proposed activities and the resources needed, and will therefore vary between proposals. The maximum grant amount for Advanced Grants is €2.5 million, to which a further €1 million can be added where justified.
ERC Proof of Concept grants are implemented under a fixed lump sum model where every funded project has the same budget, currently € 150,000.