Reflecting on Our Successful Training Session: “Lump Sum Funding in Horizon Europe”

We are delighted to report that the collaborative training session organized by the Initiate Project and the European Sustainable Energy Innovation Alliance (ESEIA) on 11 July 2024, was a resounding success. This event, conducted online, offered ESEIA Working Group members and INITIATE partners a comprehensive understanding of lump sum funding in the Horizon Europe program. Participants from 12 organizations across 8 countries came together to explore this innovative funding mechanism, which is funded by the European Union under Grant number 101136775.

Event Highlights

The training session opened with Hana Lee from ESEIA, who discussed the importance of lump sum funding, a simplified financial tool introduced in Horizon Europe. This approach reduces administrative burdens by focusing on project outcomes with payments made upon completion.

Marco Mimica of UNIZAG FSB then provided practical advice on creating lump sum proposals, emphasizing reduced financial errors and increased flexibility. He highlighted the importance of accurate cost estimations and streamlined procedures.

Carlos Ochoa from IERC shared insights from his experience managing projects with lump sum funding, offering practical perspectives on overcoming challenges.

Key Takeaways

  1. Simplification and Efficiency: Lump sum funding reduces administrative and financial errors by eliminating the need for detailed financial reporting and cost categories. This approach allows participants to focus on project outcomes, offering greater flexibility and resource allocation.
  2. Encouragement of Innovation: By simplifying financial management, lump sum funding encourages innovative and risk-taking approaches, particularly benefiting SMEs and newcomers with limited experience in handling complex financial documentation.
  3. Evaluation and Implementation: Proposals are evaluated based on standard criteria, including excellence, impact, and implementation. Cost estimations are critically assessed to ensure they are reasonable and aligned with project objectives.
  4. Practical Guidance: The session provided participants with comprehensive guidance on drafting proposals, managing work packages, and addressing potential challenges in lump sum-funded projects.

Acknowledgments

We extend our sincere gratitude to all the speakers and participants for contributing to an enriching training session. Special thanks to the following organizations for their active participation and support: Graz University of Technology, Vienna University of Technology, Cyprus Institute, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences, BrainIT, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Tyndall National Institute, IERC, ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon, National Laboratory for Energy and Geology, and the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences.

We look forward to more such collaborative efforts in the future to enhance understanding and application of innovative funding mechanisms within the Horizon Europe framework. For further information, please visit Initiate Project and ESEIA.

Contact Information:

ESEIA Team: office@eseia.eu

/by