Commission seeks to soothe ‘unfounded fears’ over lump sums

Payments for incomplete research projects will be reduced not cancelled under Horizon Europe system

The European Commission is trying to put to rest what it calls “unfounded fears” over its broader use of lump-sum funding in the EU’s Horizon Europe R&D programme.

Lump-sum funding involves applicants providing more detail about their research plans in requests for funding than is otherwise required. In return, they are paid when agreed ‘work packages’ are completed, and do not have to undergo a financial audit of their real costs later on.