SRC EU matching funds for Horizon 2020

The Strategic Research Council (SRC) established within the Academy of Finland grants national matching funds to sites of research based on projects that have received funding under the Societal Challenges priority of Horizon 2020, the EU the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

The aim of SRC matching funds is to encourage research organisations to participate in preparing projects for upcoming EU funding calls.

SRC matching funds can be applied for to compensate for funding shortfalls. This refers to the difference between the overheads percentage calculated using the Finnish full cost model and the indirect costs reimbursement calculated using the Horizon 2020 model. The matching funds are granted according to a reimbursement rate decided by the SRC (0−75%).

The funding is allocated to the site of research – not the project – to cover indirect costs (overheads). It is intended for actions that strengthen the research organisation’s opportunities to apply for international research funding. The funding cannot be used for economic activity.

SRC matching funds can be applied for by research organisations, such as research services or financial administration units.

According to the EU Commission, a ‘research organisation’ refers to an organisation (e.g. higher education institutes, research institutes, technology transfer organisations, innovation intermediaries, and research-oriented physical or virtual collaborative entities), irrespective of its legal status (organised under public or private law) or financing source, whose primary goal is to conduct independent basic research, industrial research or experimental development or to disseminate its results widely by means of education, publication or knowledge transfer. When such an entity is also engaged in economic activities, separate accounts must be kept of the funding and costs of and the revenue generated by such activities. The enterprises exercising a controlling interest in such an entity (as shareholders, members, etc.) may not enjoy any preferential access to the results generated by the entity.

The state budget does not allow the use of SRC funds for single-year costs. This is why decisions made under the 2020 budget authority cannot be made to end before 2021.

Sites of research can apply for matching funds to cover the project’s entire Horizon 2020 funding period. The funding period ends according to the duration of the Academy’s budget authority. It is possible to apply for follow-on funding for subsequent periods, provided that the project runs for more than a year and the SRC has been granted additional budget authority.

SRC matching funds are intended for costs that are not covered by Horizon 2020. This refers to the difference between the overheads percentage calculated using the Finnish full cost model and the indirect costs reimbursement calculated using the Horizon 2020 model. More information is available in the Annotated Model Grant Agreement, a guide aimed at assisting Horizon 2020 beneficiaries.

The recipient of matching funds must be prepared to, if necessary, show that the funds will not be allocated to any part of indirect costs funded by the European Commission.

The funding will be granted according to a separately agreed, consistent rate covering no more than 75 per cent of the funding shortfall. The reimbursement rate will be decided in proportion to available funds and the total funding applied for. Applicants may use a single application to apply for a compensation for funding shortfalls in several EU projects. The shortfall and funding applied for must come to a minimum of 10,000 euros per individual project.

The funding period should start on 1 January 2020 at the earliest and end no later than 31 December 2023. The aim of the SRC’s budget authority is to enable a commitment to expenses over several years.

How to submit and supplement the application

The deadline is non-negotiable. The deadline for applications is 27 October 2020 at 16.15 Finnish time. The SRC will decide in November 2020 on applications submitted during the period 1 January–27 October 2020.

Sites of research can submit applications as soon as they have received the final, signed funding decision from the EU Commission.

The funding shortfall is demonstrated in a separate appendix to the application (“LASKELMA_ID of EU project_Title of EU project”).

Make sure to submit the application in good time before the deadline. The system will only accept applications that contain all obligatory information.

You can edit and supplement the application until the deadline. You can make changes to a submitted application (e.g. change appendices), but you must make them before the deadline. If you notice that your application lacks important information after the deadline, immediately get in touch with the call’s contact person, so that they can reopen the application for you. Make sure to re-submit the application after you have supplemented it. We will consider the additions insofar as it is possible in view of the review and decision-making process. We may ask applicants to supplement their applications. If the applicant has not supplemented the application by the given deadline, we may decide not to process the application.

The application is submitted in the Academy’s online services. Select Open calls > SRC matching funds for Horizon 2020

How the application becomes pending

According to section 17 of the Finnish Administrative Procedure Act and section 8 of the Act on Electronic Services and Communication in the Public Sector, the sender is responsible for the application arriving by the set deadline. An application becomes pending at the Academy when the online application and the obligatory appendices have been submitted in the online services. The system will confirm a successful submission by sending an email to the address provided by the applicant.

Publicity and data protection

Except for the research plan, plan of intent, abstract and progress report, which are primarily confidential, the application and its appendices are public documents. For example, the CV is a public document and as such must not include any confidential information. This publicity is based on the Finnish Act on the Openness of Government Activities. The Academy is committed to following regulations on data protection. The GDPR-compliant privacy statement concerning the research funding process is available on our website under Data protection.

Personal data/CV

• Personal data on the applicant/the organisation’s responsible person

Site of research

• Site of research
• Site of research, if other

• Website of site of research

Funding for the project

• Other expenses

Appendices

• Appendices must be PDF files.
• European Commission’s final and electronically signed funding decision (Horizon 2020, Societal Challenges); Name the attachment as follows: “Grant_Agreement_ID of EU project_Title of EU project”.
• Calculation showing the funding shortfall (download template, in Finnish). Name the attachment as follows: LASKELMA_ID of EU project_Title of EU project.

The SRC will decide in November 2020 on applications submitted during the period 1 January–27 October 2020.

Principles for granting SRC matching funds (27 February 2017) (pdf in Finnish)

You will receive an email notification after the funding decision has been made.

How to receive the funding

After being granted funding, you must check and accept it in the online services. The funds can be paid once the funding decision has been made.

Changing principal investigators

The main user of the organisation may change the responsible person of the decision on the SRC matching funds (application by organisation) in the online services. The organisation does not need to notify the Academy of the change. Read more: Instructions for representatives of sites of research (main users, representatives, invoicers).

Reporting

• Instructions for financial reporting on SRC matching funds (pdf in Finnish)
• Instructions for final reports on SRC matching funds (pdf in Finnish)

Contacts

• Sirpa Nummila, Finance Manager (Division of Financial Services), tel. +358 295 335 081
• Samuli Hurri, Science Adviser (Division of Strategic Research), tel. +358 295 33 5100