ERA-NET (European Research Area)
The ERA-NET instrument under Horizon 2020 is designed to support public-public partnerships in their preparation, establishment of networking structures, design, implementation and coordination of joint activities as well as topping up of single joint calls and of actions of a transnational nature.
The ERA-NET under Horizon 2020 merges the former ERA-NET and ERA-NET Plus into a single instrument with the central and compulsory element of implementing one substantial call with top-up funding from the Commission. The focus of ERA-NETs is therefore shifting from the funding of networks to the top-up funding of single joint calls for transnational research and innovation in selected areas with high European added value and relevance for Horizon 2020. This aims at increasing substantially the share of funding that Member States dedicate jointly to challenge driven research and innovation agendas. Financial contributions of Member States can be in cash or in kind in order to broaden the scope of ERA-NETs towards the coordination institutional funding of governmental research organisations.
ERA-NETs under Horizon 2020 will be implemented by using a specific, new type of action: ERA-NET Cofund. There are a number of important changes compared to FP7.
Objectives
Objectives for the ERA-NET instrument under Horizon 2020
ERA-NET Actions:
ERA-NET PLUS ACTIONS
SPECIFIC SUPPORT ACTIONS
Implementation
ERA-NET Cofund under Horizon 2020 is designed to support public-public partnerships, including joint programming initiatives between Member States, in their preparation, establishment of networking structures, design, im plementation and coordination of joint activities as well as Union topping-up of a trans-national call for proposals. It allows for programme collaboration in any part of the entire research innovation cycle. The main and compulsory activity of the ERA-NET Cofund under Horizon 2020 is the implementation of the co-funded joint call for proposals that leads to the funding of trans-national research and/or innovati on projects. The call is normally based on a call for proposals resulting in grants to third parties. In addition to the co-funded call the consortia may implement other joint activities including other joint calls without Union co-funding. ERA-NET Cofund may also, depending on the research area and the underlying national programmes and their governing principles, target governmental research organisations. The co-funded call for proposals will in these cases be based on in-kind contributions from their institutional funding and the beneficiaries carry out the transnational projects resulting from their call for proposals fully or partially th emselves. The in-kind contributions are the resources allocated as direct expenditure in the selected trans-national projects that are not reimbursed by the Union contribution.
The participation of programme managers including governmental research organisations has to be mandated by the national/regional authorities in charge (normally the responsible Ministry).
The minimum conditions for participation have to be fulfilled by the entities participating in the joint trans-national call for proposals. Only in addition to the minimum conditions, and if justified by the nature of the action, programmes funded by other entities (international programmes, foundations or other non- public programmes) may participate.
Relevant for all 3 priorities of Horizon 2020 (Excellent science, Industrial leadership, Societal challenges).
All EU Member States highly involved in the ERA-NET scheme
(on average 5, many >10, some 25)
Source:http://www.jpi-culturalheritage.eu/wp-content/uploads/Horizon-2020-ERA-NET-instrument.pdf
Funding rate:
The Union contribution will be limited to a maximum of 33% of the total eligible costs of the action. The Union contribution to the costs for support to or implementation of trans-national projects is limited to one call pe r grant agreemenhe unit costs for coordination is fixed to EURO 29000 per year per beneficiary. Indirect costs for the coordination costs must be declared on the basis of the flat rate.
The Union contribution to coordination costs should not exceed 20% of the total Union contribution to the action. The total duration of the action should normally not exceed 5 years.