Scrutiny spurs Commission to consider cap on lump-sum grants

Auditors raise concerns over fraud risk for funding model being rolled out in Horizon Europe

The European Commission is considering capping the size of grants awarded from the EU research and innovation programme using the lump-sum funding mode, after auditors raised questions over risks of fraud.

With lump-sum funding, instead of tracking their costs and claiming them back after having won a grant and carried out their research, applicants submit extra detail on budgets in their proposal and receive cash when they reach agreed milestones.