European Research Council mulls broader use of lump-sum funding

ERC president says funder is also taking an interest in reform of research assessment

The European Research Council is considering making broader use of lump-sum funding, its president, Maria Leptin, has said. The ERC already uses the funding mode for its Proof of Concept grants.

With lump-sum funding, grant-winners are not required to undergo a financial audit of their costs, but instead have to provide more detail in their research plans about how budgets will be spent.