A

Access rights

Rights to use results or background under terms and conditions laid down in accordance with the Horizon Europe Framework Programme Regulation 2021/695.

Accession forms

Forms signed by all project beneficiaries’ project legal signatories (PLSIGNs) once the grant agreement has been signed between the project coordinator and the EC. The accession forms are available on the Participant Portal and must be signed up to 30 days after the grant agreement takes effect. In signing the accession forms, beneficiaries accept the rights and obligations set out in the grant agreement.

Action

The project which is being funded in the context of a Horizon Europe Grant Agreement.

Actual costs

Costs that are real vs. estimated or budgeted.

Actual costs grant

A grant based on actual costs incurred, but which may also include other forms of funding, such as unit costs, flat-rate costs, lump sum costs or financing not linked to costs (budget-based mixed actual cost grant).

Affiliated Entity (AE)

Also known as “linked third parties” under Horizon 2020, these have a link with a beneficiary, in particular a legal or capital link, which is neither limited to the action nor established for the sole purpose of its implementation. In the context of the Horizon Europe Grant Agreement, they participate in the action with similar rights and obligations as the beneficiaries (obligation to implement action tasks and right to charge costs and claim contributions).

Arbitration

One of the alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that parties may use to settle their disputes instead of going to court. Under this mechanism, the final decision is awarded by a neutral third party (‘arbitrator’) and shall be binding.

Assignment of IPR

The transfer of rights and obligations of an IPR to another individual or legal entity.

Associated country (AC)

Country associated to the funding programme by paying a contribution. The list of Associated Countries differs for each programme and may evolves over time.

Association to Horizon Europe is governed by the Horizon Europe Regulation 2021/6951. Legal entities from associated countries can participate under equivalent conditions as legal entities from the EU Member States, unless specific limitations or conditions are laid down in the work programme and/or call/topic text.

Associated partners (AP)

In the context of the Horizon Europe Grant Agreement, Entities which participate in the action, but without the right to charge costs or claim contributions. These may be associated to one or several partners or to the consortium as a whole.

B

Background

As defined in the HE regulation, any data, know-how or information — whatever its form or nature (tangible or intangible), including any rights such as intellectual property rights, that is held by the beneficiaries before they acceded to the Agreement, and needed to implement the action or exploit the results.

Beneficiaries (BEN)

The signatories of the Horizon Europe Grant Agreement, either directly (Coordinator) or through an ‘Accession form’ (other signatories).

Blended finance

In the context of the European Innovation Council (EIC), it is the direct financial support provided to an ‘innovation and market deployment action’ consisting of a specific combination of a grant or reimbursable advance and an investment in equity or any other repayable form of support.

Blending operation

In the context of Horizon Europe, Action supported by the Union budget, including within a blending facility or platform as defined in point (6) of Article 2 of the Financial Regulation, that combines non-repayable forms of support and/or financial instruments from the Union budget with repayable forms of support from development or other public finance institutions, as well as from commercial finance institutions and investors.

Blocking patents

Patent applications which are strategically used as a barrier to pre-empt rivals from getting their patents granted and entering into markets and technologies.

Bottom up approach

‘Bottom‐up’ funding is crucial to support excellent curiosity‐driven science, led by individual researchers who can choose the topics they wish to investigate or market-creating business who can benefit from emerging market opportunities. Horizon Europe will mainly use bottom up approach in Pillar I and III.

Budget

The estimation of the total eligible costs (broken down by beneficiary and budget category) required to implement the project and annexed to the Grand Agreement. The five main budget categories are Personnel costs, Subcontracting costs, Purchase costs, Other costs and Indirect costs.

Business plan

A business plan is a formal written document containing the goals of a business, the methods for attaining those goals, and the time-frame for the achievement of the goals. It also describes the nature of the business, background information on the organization, the organization’s financial projections, and the strategies it intends to implement to achieve the stated targets. In its entirety, this document serves as a road-map (a plan) that provides direction to the business.

Business readiness level scale (BRL)

Measures the capacity of a business to be ready to go to market with useful, useable and trusted outputs. Whilst the real purpose of achieving ‘market readiness’ is to develop a commercial offering for a group of customers, the process can be discretized to create a sector agnostic scale able to quantify how far is a business to be ready to market.

While it has nine levels, as the ones from TRL it can be divided into 3 main parts: Business conceptualization: (0-3), Business testing: (4-5) & Business deployment: (6-9)

C

Call for proposal

Group of topics with one opening and closing date that are open in parallel and address the same policy domain.

Classified information

European Union classified information as defined in Article 3 of Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 as well as classified information of Member States, classified information of third countries with which the Union has a security agreement and classified information of international organisation with which the Union has a security agreement.

Citizen science Citizen science

Broadly refers to the active engagement of the general public in scientific research tasks. Citizen science is a growing practice in which scientists and citizens collaborate to produce new knowledge for science and society. According to the Science with and for Society work programme, “Citizen Science covers a range of different levels of participation: from raising public knowledge about science, encouraging citizens to participate in the scientific process by observing, gathering and processing data, right up to setting scientific agenda and co-designing and implementing science-related policies”. Citizen Science can contribute to the Commission’s goal of Responsible Research and Innovation, as it reinforces public engagement and can redirect research agendas toward issues of concerns to citizens. As one important dimension and priority of Open Science, Citizen science can make science more socially relevant, accelerate and enable production of new scientific knowledge, increase public awareness about science and ownership of policy making, as well as increase the prevalence of evidence-based policy making.

Cluster

Under Horizon Europe, the “cluster” is the thematic component of the second Pillar, ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’. Six clusters were identified on the basis of the thematic consistency of R&I activities. The cluster-based structure of the second pillar ultimately aims at maximising integration across the respective thematic areas while securing high and sustainable levels of impact for the Union in relation to the resources that are expended.

Collaborative Projects

Research projects with the aim of generating new knowledge. This new knowledge can be used to develop a new technology, process or product. They can vary in size, scope and budget, depending upon the proposed topic and theme.

Communication

Measures for promoting the action itself and its results to a multitude of audiences, including the media and the public, and possibly engaging in a two-way exchange. The communication activities must be planned and implemented from the outset (and continue throughout the entire action), with a comprehensive communication plan that defines clear objectives (adapted to various relevant target audiences) and sets out a concrete planning for the communication activities including a description and timing for each activity in every Horizon Europe project proposal a communication plan should be included to ensure that project results are widely communicated to the public, even outside the R&I community.

Confidentiality agreement

Also known as non-disclosure agreement (NDA), refers to the written agreement that parties use when they wish to disclose information and ideas in confidence. This agreement therefore establishes the obligation of the recipient (i.e. the legal person to whom the information is disclosed) to not disclose the information and ideas to third parties. A confidentiality agreement is crucial for an inventor or any other party that needs to protect confidential information.

Consortium Agreement

The internal written agreement between the beneficiaries regarding their operation and coordination to ensure that the project is implemented properly. The Consortium Agreements may cover the internal organisation of the consortium, the distribution of EU funding, additional rules on rights and obligations related to background and results, settlement of internal disputes, liability, indemnification and confidentiality arrangements between the beneficiaries, etc. The consortium agreement must not contain any provision contrary to the Grant Agreement.

Contract

Under HE, ‘contract’ means an agreement concluded between the Commission or the relevant funding body with a legal entity implementing an ‘innovation and market deployment action’ and supported by ‘Horizon Europe blended finance’ or ‘EIC blended finance’.

Contractor

Contractor means a natural or legal person with whom a procurement contract has been concluded.

Coordination and Support Action (CSA)

An action consisting primarily of accompanying measures such as standardisation, dissemination, awareness raising and communication, networking, coordination or support services, policy dialogues and mutual learning exercises and studies, including design studies for new infrastructure and may also include complementary activities of networking and coordination between programmes in different countries.

Coordinator

The lead beneficiary in a group of beneficiaries and the main contact point for the EU regarding a project implementation. The coordinator of a consortium who submits the project in the name of the consortium. In case of successful application it participates in the grant preparation on behalf of the consortium and during the project period interacts with the European Commission on behalf of the consortium.

CORDIS

CORDIS (Community Research and Development Information Service), which was originally created in 1990, is managed by the EU’s Publications Office under the direction of the Common Support Centre for Horizon 2020. Focused on dissemination activities, CORDIS serves the various directorates-general of the European Commission, executive agencies and joint undertakings implementing the EU’s research and innovation programme (Horizon 2020). Applicants can find awarded projects in the free access CORDIS database, which they can filter per Programme/Topic/Country.

Critical risk

A critical risk is a plausible event or issue that could have a high adverse impact on the ability of the project to achieve its objectives. Level of likelihood to occur (Low/medium/high): The likelihood is the estimated probability that the risk will materialise even after taking account of the mitigating measures put in place. Level of severity (Low/medium/high): The relative seriousness of the risk and the significance of its effect.

D

Data Management Plan (DMP)

The Data Management Plan (DMP) outlines the ways in which data is collected, generated and/or processed throughout the lifespan of a research project. As part of the European Commission’s goal to advance Open Science policy and practices. Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement requires that a data management plan (‘DMP’) is established and regularly updated.

Deliverable

A deliverable represents a verifiable output of the project. Normally, each work package will produce one or more deliverables during its lifetime. Deliverables are often written reports but can also take another form, for example the completion of a prototype, a software etc.

Destination

A destination consists of packages of actions around which each work programme part will be designed, aimed at contributing to the objectives and the expected impacts set out in the strategic orientations. The destination will provide the policy narrative for the calls and actions included in the Work Programme.

Disruptive innovation

A disruptive innovation is an innovation that creates a new market or eventually disrupts an existing market, displacing established market-leading firms and products. What is disrupted is the entire support network for the existing products and firms, therefore disruptive innovations encounter strong resistance from the market. In the long run, high (disruptive) technology bypasses, upgrades, or replaces the outdated support network.

Dissemination

According to HE Regulation, the public disclosure of the results by appropriate means, other than resulting from protecting or exploiting the results, including by scientific publications in any medium.

In every Horizon Europe work plan a dissemination plan should be included to ensure the sharing of the knowledge produced.

Diversity and Inclusiveness

Diversity and inclusiveness contribute to excellence in collaborative research and innovation: collaboration across disciplines, sectors and throughout the European Research Area makes for better research and higher quality project proposals, can lead to higher rates of societal take-up, and can foster the benefits of innovation, thus advancing Europe.

DESCA

DEvelopment of a Simplified Consortium Agreement : https://www.desca-agreement.eu/desca-model-consortium-agreement/

Description of the action (DoA)

In the context of Horizon Europe, refers to Annex 1 to the Grant Agreement.

Direct actions

According to the Horizon Europe regulation, ‘direct actions’ means R&I activities undertaken by the Commission through its JRC.

Direct costs

In the context of the HE Grant Agreement, specific costs are directly linked to the action implementation and can therefore be attributed to it directly. They are either costs that have been caused in full by the activities of the action, or costs that have been caused in full by the activities of several actions (projects), the attribution of which to a single action can, and has been, directly measured (i.e. not attributed indirectly via an allocation key, a cost driver or a proxy). The beneficiaries must be able to show (with records and supporting evidence) the link to the action.

Dissemination

The public disclosure of the results by appropriate means, other than resulting from protecting or exploiting the results, including by scientific publications in any medium.

E

Eligibility Criteria

The conditions which a proposal must fulfil, if it is deemed ‘admissible’, so to be retained for evaluation.

Equity investment

Form of funding provided by financial instruments. Provides capital to a firm, invested directly or indirectly in return for total or partial ownership of that firm. The equity investor may assume some management control of the firm and may share the firm’s profits.

Ethics Review

All proposals above threshold and considered for funding will undergo an Ethics Review carried out by independent ethics experts. The Review starts with the Ethics Screening which can include, in the cases where there is no ethics issue identified in the proposal, a pre-screening to confirm or not the absence of ethics issues (this check can be conducted by qualified staff). If appropriate a further analysis called the Ethics Assessment is conducted. The Ethics Assessment can lead to ethics requirements that become contractual obligations.

Ethics Review Procedure

The Ethics Review Procedure focusses on the compliance with ethical rules and standards, relevant European legislation, international conventions and declarations, national authorisations and ethics approvals, proportionality of the research methods and the applicants’ awareness of the ethical aspects and social impact of their planned research. The ethics review covers issues as: • human rights and protection of human beings • animal protection and welfare • data protection and privacy • health and safety • environmental protection • artificial intelligence. It may also cover issues of research integrity, including, fabrication, falsification and plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research or in reporting research results; this includes misrepresenting credentials and improprieties of authorship.

EU grants

Grants awarded by EU institutions, bodies, offices or agencies (including EU executive agencies, EU regulatory agencies, EDA, joint undertakings, etc)

European Partnership

As defined in the Horizon Europe Regulation, the ‘European Partnership’ means an initiative, prepared with the early involvement of Member States and associated countries, where the Union together with private and/or public partners (such as industry, universities, research organisations, bodies with a public service mission at local, regional, national or international level or civil society organisations including foundations and NGOs) commit to jointly supporting the development and implementation of a programme of R&I activities, including those related to market, regulatory or policy uptake.

Evaluation Procedure

Methodology under which the evaluation is performed for a specific call for proposals.

Evaluation Summary Report (ESR)

The assessment of a particular proposal following the evaluation by independent experts is provided in an Evaluation Summary Report. It normally contains both comments and scores for each evaluation criterion.

Exclusion Criteria

Experts check on the exclusion criteria which reflect if applicant is or not excluded and the reasons for exclusion. Tenderers and applicants must be excluded from participation in procurement procedures if they incur in one of the grounds set out in Article 93 of the Financial Regulation. Furthermore contracts shall not be awarded to tenderers or candidates who, during the procurement procedure for the contract in question find themselves in one of the situations referred to in Article 94 of the Financial Regulation.

Expected impacts

The expected impacts are a core element of the impact-driven approach of Horizon Europe, describing the long-term effects to which research and innovation are due to contribute. In total, the strategic plan (2021-2024) defines 32 expected impacts that cover a wide range of social, economic, ecological and scientific aspirations. The expected impacts for Pillar II were codesigned to bridge the intervention areas set out by Horizon Europe legal basis with societal expectations. Each expected impact is deployed in the work programmes relevant parts, to cover the different dimensions (creation of knowledge, technology and social innovation) of research and innovation needed to achieve the objectives.

Exploitation

According to HE regulation, the use of results in further R&I activities other than those covered by the action concerned, including among other things, commercial exploitation such as developing, creating, manufacturing and marketing a product or process, creating and providing a service, or in standardisation activities. It is strongly advised to include such plans in a R&I proposal, especially when the project outputs have a good potential of entering the market.

F

FAIR data

Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable data. With the view to have an even more open science, the EU strongly encourage to the production of FAIR data, making them available on public repository. It is advisable that the data produced and/or used in the project are discoverable with metadata, identifiable and locatable by means of a standard identification mechanism (e.g. persistent and unique identifiers such as Digital Object Identifiers), or indicating what naming conventions do you follow, provide search keywords that optimize possibilities for re-use, etc.

Fair and reasonable conditions

According to HE regulation, ‘fair and reasonable conditions’ means appropriate conditions, including possible financial terms or royalty-free conditions, taking into account the specific circumstances of the request for access, for example the actual or potential value of the results or background to which access is requested and/or the scope, duration or other characteristics of the exploitation envisaged.

Funding body

A body or organisation, as referred to in point (c) of Article 62(1) of the Financial Regulation, to which the Commission has entrusted budget implementation tasks under the Programme.

Final report

In addition to the periodic report for the last reporting period, the coordinator must submit the final report within 60 days following the end of the last reporting period.

FSIGN

Financial Signatories – have the right to sign financial statements. The FSIGNs for each beneficiary are appointed by the LEAR (Legal Entity Appointed Representative) of the beneficiary on the Participant Portal. An organisation can have an unlimited number of FSIGNs.

G

Grants

Direct financial contributions donated from the EU budget, under specific rules and procedures, in order to finance activities that are in line with EU policies, i.e research and innovation, regional & urban development, employment & social inclusion, etc. Under Horizon Europe, grants are awarded in the context of a Grant Agreement.

Grant Agreement

A contract concluded between the European Commission (representing the European Union) and the beneficiary (or beneficiaries) under which the parties receive the rights and obligations (e.g. the right of the Union’s financial contribution and the obligation to carry out the research and development work). It consists of the basic text and annexes.

An Annoted Model Grant Agreement can be found on the participant portal – https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf

Green Deal

The European Green Deal is the plan to make the EU’s economy sustainable carbon-neutral by 2050. The plan outlines investments needed and financing tools available. The Green Deal brings together all the measures and research programmes put in place to achieve this objective.

Guarantee

Guarantee means a written commitment to assume responsibility for all or part of a third party’s debt or obligation or for the successful performance by that third party of its obligations if an event occurs which triggers such guarantee, such as a loan default.

H

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe framework programme represents the largest collaborative multinational research and innovation investment in Europe and is open to participants worldwide. The European Union undertakes an investment of this magnitude because research and innovation is essential for finding new solutions to the challenges we are facing – and because the challenges are of such a magnitude that they cannot be addressed by one country alone. Research and innovation generates new opportunities, helps to tackle climate change, supports sustainable economic growth and the competitiveness of businesses and industries, and provides better public services for all Europeans. Research and innovation allows us to shape the future and the reality in which we want to live. Its specific objective is to generate knowledge, strengthen the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing Union policies and support the access to and uptake of innovative solutions in European industry, notably in SMEs, and society to address global challenges, including climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Horizon Europe regulation

Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013 (Text with EEA relevance).

Full text in 24 languages : https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32021R0695.

Host institution

The applicant legal entity that engages and hosts the Principal Investigator. It is established in a Member State or an Associated Country.

I

Impact

The impact described Horizon Europe documents should set the direction for to the future Horizon Europe work programmes; Impact may be broadly defined as a change or a benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life. The European Commission’s Horizon Europe Intervention Logic distinguishes between three types of expected impacts – scientific, innovation/economic and societal. But successful Horizon Europe proposals need to cover impacts that go even further, such as: – Generating or improving awareness – Changing attitudes – Positive effects on the economy or the environment – Improving health and wellbeing – Effecting a desired cultural change.

Indirect action

Research and innovation activities to which the European Union provides financial support and which are undertaken by participants.

Indirect costs (also called overheads)

Costs that cannot be identified as specific costs directly linked to the performance of the action. In practice, they are costs whose link to the action can NOT be (or has not been) measured directly, but only by means of cost drivers or a proxy (i.e. parameters that apportion the total indirect costs (overheads) among the different activities of the beneficiary).

Individual Evaluation Report

Outcome of the individual evaluation process which includes a minimum of three experts At the end of the process, each expert should produce for each proposal an Individual Evaluation Report with justification for all scores.

In-kind contributions

In-kind contributions within the meaning of Article 2(36) of EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046, i.e. non-financial resources made available free of charge by third parties.

Innovation actions (IA)

In the context of Horizon Europe, Action primarily consisting of activities directly aiming to produce plans and arrangements or designs for new, altered or improved products, processes or services, possibly including prototyping, testing, demonstrating, piloting, large-scale product validation and market replication.

Innovation and market deployment action

In the context of Horizon Europe, action which embeds an innovation action and other activities necessary to deploy an innovation in the market, including the scaling-up of companies, Horizon Europe blended finance or EIC blended finance.

Innovation ecosystem

In the context of Horizon Europe, Ecosystem that brings together at Union level actors or entities whose functional goal is to enable technology development and innovation; it encompasses relations between material resources (such as funds, equipment, and facilities), institutional entities (such as higher education institutions and support services, research and technology organisations, companies, venture capitalists and financial intermediaries) and national, regional and local policy-making and funding entities.

Intellectual Property (IP)

Refers to the creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)

Private legal rights that protect the creation of the human mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce. They are commonly divided into two categories:  Industrial Property Rights (e.g. patents, trade-marks, industrial designs, geographical indications) and Copyright and Related rights (e.g. rights of the authors/creators and those of performing artists in their performances, producers of phonograms in their recordings, and those of broadcasters in their radio and television programmes).

International European research organisation

In the context of Horizon Europe, ‘international European research organisation’ means an international organisation, the majority of whose members are Member States or associated countries, whose principal objective is to promote scientific and technological cooperation in Europe.

J

JRC (Joint Research Centre)

The Joint Research Centre is the Commission’s science and knowledge service. The JRC employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy.

K

Key Enabling Technologies (KETs)

A group of six technologies : • micro and nanoelectronics, • nanotechnology, • industrial biotechnology, • advanced materials, • photonics, and • advanced manufacturing technologies) introduced by the EC in 2009, considered to allow European industries to retain competitiveness and capitalise on new markets. In 2018, the High Level Strategy Group on Industrial Technologies published the report “Re-finding Industry”, which also updated the list of KETs: • Advanced Manufacturing Technologies • Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology • Life Sciences Technologies • Micro-Nanoelectronics and Photonics • Artificial intelligence • Security and Connectivity.

Key Impact Pathways (KIP)

In the context of Horizon Europe, the identification and use of KIPs will help to better measure scientific, societal and economic impacts of projects (including their contributions in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals).

Scientific/Technological/Economic impact pathway indicators The Horizon Europe Programme is expected to have scientific/ technological/economic impact especially within the Union by influencing the creation and growth of companies, especially SMEs including startups, creating direct and indirect jobs especially within the Union, and by leveraging investments for research and innovation. Progress towards this impact will be monitored through proxy indicators set along these three key impact pathways.

Key Strategic Orientations (KSOs)

The four key strategic orientations detailed in the Strategic Plan 2021- 24 mirror the political priorities of the European Union, outline the way research and innovation can address them and enable us to better measure impact. They will guide the Horizon Europe work programmes until 2024 and will provide the basis for building synergies with other EU programmes and funds, as well as investments in research and innovation at Member State level in the context of the European Research Area.

The KSOs are the following: • a. Promoting an open strategic autonomy by leading the development • of key digital, enabling and emerging technologies, sectors and value chains to accelerate and steer the digital and green transitions through human-centred technologies and innovations; • b. Restoring Europe’s ecosystems and biodiversity, and managing sustainably natural resources to ensure food security and a clean and healthy environment; • c. Making Europe the first digitally enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy through the transformation of its mobility, energy, construction and production systems; • d. Creating a more resilient, inclusive and democratic European society, prepared and responsive to threats and disasters, addressing inequalities and providing high-quality health care, and empowering all citizens to act in the green and digital transitions.

L

LEAR (Legal Entity Authorised Representative)

Person (in a beneficiary organisation) responsible for managing the beneficiary’s data in the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal. Must keep the data up to date and is responsible for attributing user roles in the organisation (e.g. FSIGN or LSIGN).

Legal entity

A natural person, or a legal person created and recognised as such under Union, national or international law, which has legal personality and the capacity to act in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity which does not have legal personality as referred to in point (c) of Article 197(2) of the Financial Regulation.

Legal representative

A legal representative is a natural person who has been empowered (directly or indirectly) by a legal entity to enter into legal commitments on its behalf.

Linked third party

Under Horizon 2020, a.k.a. Third parties with a legal link to a beneficiary – any legal entity which has a legal link to the beneficiary implying collaboration that is not limited to the action. More information on linked third parties can be found in the H2020 Annotated Model Grant Agreement – Article 14 and 15 . cf. Affiliated Entities under Horizon Europe.

Lump sum grant

A global amount deemed to cover all costs of the projects. For example, in a CSA-LS (Coordination and Support Action – Lump sum) grant the funding amount is predefined in the GA and the payment of the grant is linked to the approval of the deliverables instead of the eligible costs.

LSIGN (Legal Signatory)

Legal Signatories – have the right to sign grant agreements and amendments. The LSIGNs for each beneficiary are appointed by the LEAR (Legal Entity Appointed Representative) of the beneficiary on the Participant Portal. An organisation can have an unlimited number of LSIGNs.

M

Member States

Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

Milestones

Control points in the project that help to chart progress. Milestones maycorrespond to the achievement of a key result, allowing the next phase of the work to begin. They may also be needed at intermediary points so that, if problems have arisen, corrective measures can be taken. A milestone may be a critical decision point in the project where, for example, the consortium must decide which of several technologies to adopt for further development. The achievement of a milestone should be verifiable.

Missions

In the context of Horizon Europe, a portfolio of excellence-based and impact-driven R&I activities across disciplines and sectors, intended to: (i) achieve, within a set timeframe, a measurable goal that could not be achieved through individual actions; (ii) have an impact on society and policy-making through science and technology; and (iii) be relevant for a significant part of the European population and a wide range of European citizens.

Model grant agreement (MGA)

The grant contract concluded between the EU and the beneficiaries. It establishes the rights and obligations that govern the grant. It consists of the core part (determining the terms and conditions of the grant, including the Datasheet which is a summary of the specific data of the grant agreement) and the annexes (including Annex1: Description of the action, Annex2: Budget Table, Annex5: Special Rules etc).

MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions)

Part of the first Pilar of Horizon Europe “Excellent science”, MSCA aims at equipping researchers with new knowledge and skills through mobility and exposure across borders, sectors and disciplines, enhancing training and career development systems as well as structuring and improving institutional and national recruitment, taking into account the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers; in so doing, the MSCA help to lay the foundations of Europe’s excellent research landscape across the whole of Europe, contributing to boosting jobs, growth, and investment, and solving current and future societal challenges.

Mutual Insurance Mechanism (MIM)

In the context of Horizon Europe, the Mutual Insurance Mechanism replaces the H2020 Guarantee Fund and extents to other funding programmes of the EU beyond Horizon Europe. It is an insurance scheme for all Horizon Europe beneficiaries by providing security against certain defaults in payment. The beneficiaries’ liability towards the Commission/funding agency is thus limited to their own debts. An amount of up to 8% (usually 5%) of each project’s total grant is retained from the pre-financing payment and transferred to the MIM on behalf of the beneficiaries. The amount is returned to the consortium with the final payment of the project.

N

NACE code

In French \”Nomenclature générale des Activités économiques dans les Communautés Européennes\”, NACE refers to the statistical classification of economic activities. NACE groups organizations according to their business activities. Statistics produced on the basis of NACE are comparable at European level and, in general, at world level in line with the United Nations’ International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC).

National Contact Point

NCPs provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe. NCPs are established in all European Member States and Associated Countries and in many non-EU and non-associated countries. NCP Services: as the NCPs are national structures, the type and level of service offered may differ from country to country. In general, the following basic services are available: • Guidance on choosing relevant Horizon europe topics and types of action • Advice on administrative procedures and contractual issues • Training and assistance on proposal writing • Distribution of documentation (forms, guidelines, manuals etc.) • Assistance in partner search.

Link to NCPs worldwide : https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp

Non-profit legal entity

a legal entity which by its legal form is non-profit-making or which has a legal or statutory obligation not to distribute profits to its shareholders or individual members.

O

Objectives

In the context of Horizon Europe projects, The goals of the work performed within the project, in terms of its research and innovation content. This will be translated into the project’s activities. These may range from tackling specific research questions, demonstrating the feasibility of an innovation, sharing knowledge among stakeholders on specific issues. The nature of the objectives will depend on the type of action, and the scope of the topic.

Open Access (OA) 

Online access, provided free of charge to the end user, to research outputs resulting from actions under the Programme in accordance with Article 14 and Article 39(3) of HE regulation, typically focussing on: (a) open access to scientific publications resulting from research funded under the Programme; (b) open access to research data, including those underlying scientific publications, in accordance with the principle ‘as open as possible, as closed as necessary’.

Open science

Approach to the scientific process based on open cooperative work, tools and diffusing knowledge, and includes the elements listed in Article 14 of HE regulation. Open science Open Science is defined as an umbrella term that involves various practice that aim to make academic research more accessible, inclusive, and transparent. It encompasses several movements such as open access to publications, open research data, open source software, open collaboration, open peer review, open notebooks, open educational resources, open monographs, citizen science, or research crowdfunding. Each one of them has a specific goal but a common objective to remove the barriers for sharing any kind of output, resources, methods or tools, at any stage of the research process, trying to re-define the paradigm of the future of knowledge creation and dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Outcomes

In the context of Horizone Euorpe projects, the expected effects, over the medium term, of projects supported under a given topic. The results of a project should contribute to these outcomes, fostered in particular by the dissemination and exploitation measures (including the uptake, diffusion, deployment, and/or use of the project’s results by direct target groups). Outcomes generally occur during or shortly after the end of the project.

Ownership of IP rights

The state or quality of being an owner of an intellectual proprietary (IP) right.  It enables its holder to exercise exclusive rights of use in relation to the subject matter of the IP and to restrict others from using these IP rights.

P

Part A

The part of a proposal containing all administrative data. This part is completed directly on the Participant Portal.

Part B

The part of a proposal explaining the work to be carried out, and the roles of the participants in the consortium. This part is uploaded to the Participant Portal as a pdf file. 

Participant

In the context of Horizon Europe Grant Agreement, Entities participating in the action as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors or recipients of financial support to third parties.

Participant Identification Code (PIC) 

A 9-digit number serving as a unique identifier for organisations (legal entities) registered to participate in EU funds/funding programmes.

Participant Portal

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal is an electronic portal and exchange system managed by the European Commission and used by itself and other EU institutions, bodies, offices or agencies for the management of their funding programmes (grants, procurements, prizes, etc.), including Horizon Europe.

Partnership

European Partnerships are initiatives where the EU together with private and/or public partners commit to jointly support the development and implementation of a programme of research and innovation activities. They will play an important role in achieving the EU’s strategic objectives of accelerating the twin transitions towards a green, climate neutral, and digital Europe. Partnerships are also in a unique position to address complex challenges that require an integrated approach, since they allow bringing together a broad range of actors across the value chain and countries to work on the basis of a common vision and a roadmap that is shared and committed to by all partners. Horizon Europe introduces a more strategic, coherent and impact-driven approach to European Partnerships. European Partnerships will be established only in cases where they will achieve objectives of Horizon Europe more effectively than what can be achieved by other activities of the Framework programme.

Participant Register

A central database of organisations (legal entities) participating in EU funding programmes. Each organisation has a Participant Identification Code (PIC) that is used as the unique identifier in all interactions in any proposals or grants in which the organisation is involved. A search for registered beneficiaries and their PICs and the service for self-registering new organisations are available at :

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/organisations/register.html 

Patent

An intellectual property right (IPR), granted by a government agency which, as a result, confers on its owner the exclusive right to prevent third parties from commercially exploiting – making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing the invention, which is protected by patent for a limited period of time (generally 20 years).

Pathway to impact

It is a narrative explaining how the project’s results are expected to make a difference in terms of impact, beyond the immediate scope and duration of the project. In Horizon Europe, the Pathway to Impact is a key part of the Impact section of the proposal. Proposers will be asked to describe the unique contribution project results would make towards the outcomes specified in this topic, and the wider impacts, in the longer term, specified in the respective destinations in the work programme. Further, they will be requested to describe any requirements and potential barriers – arising from factors beyond the scope and duration of the project – that may determine whether the desired outcomes and impacts are achieved. Finally, they will have to give an indication of the scale and significance of the project’s contribution to the expected outcomes and impacts, should the project be successful, possibly in quantitative way.

Pillar

Horizon Europe is built on 3 pillars. The pillar concept emphasizes that an excellent research and Innovation european ecosystem should be built on 3 founding R&I dimensions, among them interconnected and synergic: • Pillar 1 – Open Science (ERC, MSCA, Research Infrastructures) (€25.8 billion) • Pillar 2 – Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness (€52.7 billion) • Pillar 3 – Open Innovation (European Innovation Council, European innovation ecosystems, European Institute of Innovation and Technology) (€13.5 billion).

 Procurement

‘pre-commercial procurement’ means the procurement of research and development services involving risk-benefit sharing under market conditions, and competitive development in phases, where there is a clear separation of the research and development services procured from the deployment of commercial volumes of end-products;

‘public procurement of innovative solutions’ means procurement where contracting authorities act as a launch customer for innovative goods or services which are not yet available on a large-scale commercial basis, and may include conformity testing.

Project Portfolio approach

The project Portfolios is a set of actions presenting thematic similarities or contributing to the same Challenge or strategic objective defined by the European Commission. These portfolios of selected projects will be further developed and enhanced, each along a vision developed with their Communities, but also shared with the research and innovation community at large. It ensures that the projects articulate a clear strategy beyond the confines of the own project. The portfolio approach should articulate a clear and ambitious vision, a set of possible novel paths to achieve this vision, a strategy for making a difference beyond the narrow confines of the R&I Communities, in order to determine relevant barriers to the vision (market-entry, regulatory, in terms of standardization issues or technical) and support its progress and success.

Prize 

Prize means a financial contribution given as a reward following a contest.  It rewards past actions (not financed by Horizon 2020)

Project-based remuneration

Remuneration that is linked to the participation of a person in projects, is part of the beneficiary’s usual remuneration practices and is paid in a consistent manner.

Proposal

A description of the planned research activities, information on who will carry them out, how much they will cost, and how much funding is requested. 

Public body

Any legal entity established as public body by national law or an international organisation. Excludes Research Organisations and Higher or Secondary Education Establishments.

Public-Private Partnership

A partnership where private sector partners, the European Union and, where appropriate, other partners, such as public sector bodies, commit to jointly support the development and implementation of a research and innovation programme or activities. 

Purchases

In the context of Horizon Europe Grant Agreement, Contracts for goods, works or services needed to carry out the action (e.g. equipment, consumables and supplies) but which are not part of the action tasks (see Annex 1).

R

Ranking

In the context of calls for proposals, proposals are ranked on the basis of the evaluation results. The selection of successful proposals is made on the basis of that ranking.

Reimbursable advance

As defined in the Horizon Europe regulation, the part of the blended finance or EIC blended finance that corresponds to a loan under Title X of the Financial Regulation, but that is directly awarded by the Union on a non- profit basis to cover the costs of activities corresponding to an innovation action, and which is to be reimbursed by the beneficiary to the Union under the conditions provided for in the contract.

Reporting periods

Each action is divided into reporting periods. The length of the reporting periods is set out in the Grant Agreement. In general, reporting periods last 18 months but they can be longer or shorter. The number of reporting periods is also set out in the Grant Agreement, and depends on the action duration.

Research and Innovation Actions (RIA)

As defined in the HE regulation, an action primarily consisting of activities aiming to establish new knowledge or to explore the feasibility of a new or improved technology, product, process, service or solution. This may include basic and applied research, technology development and integration, testing, demonstration and validation on a small-scale prototype in a laboratory or simulated environment.

Research executive agency

A funding body created by the European Commission to foster excellence in research and innovation. As of 1 January 2014 in the framework of H2020 the REA has been entrusted with the implementation of parts of Excellence Science, Industrial leadership, Societal challenges, Spreading excellence and widening participation and Science with and for Society plus the implementation of the legacy of parts of FP7 (People, Research for SMEs and for SMEs associations, Space and Security).

Research infrastructures

As defined in the HE regulation, facilities that provide resources and services for the research communities to conduct research and foster innovation in their fields, including the associated human resources, major equipment or sets of instruments; knowledge-related facilities such as collections, archives or scientific data infrastructures; computing systems, communication networks and any other infrastructure of a unique nature and open to external users, essential to achieve excellence in R&I; they may, where relevant, be used beyond research, for example for education or public services and they may be ‘single sited’, ‘virtual’ or ‘distributed’.

Research output

As defined in the HE regulation, the results generated by a given action to which access can be given in the form of scientific publications, data or other engineered results and processes such as software, algorithms, protocols and electronic notebooks.

Research performing organizations (RPOs)

Non-profit organizations  that complement the roles of the universities and the industry, often playing an important economic role regionally. RPOs can have different legal forms: state agency, foundation, NGO or event an incorporated company or part of a ministry.

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)

A policy framework aimed at interpreting and guiding the relationship among science, technology and society, from both the theoretical and operational point of view. In particular, the RRI approach aims to incorporate into the scientific research and technological development processes a reflective, critical, and meta-scientific dimension in order to highlight the moments where the needs of science and society may conflict, or where simply research and innovation may entail potential important transformational effects and impacts on society. In order to realize the RRI approach, a number of founding values shall be incorporated within the R&I methodologies and approaches, and namely: anticipation; reflexivity; reactive adaptation; inclusion and diversity; openness and transparency; sustainability. The European Commission has identified a number of interconnected and priority policy areas – the so-called RRI pillars – strategic to convey RRI principle into action and operation. Such pillars are: governance of R&I; gender [and diversity] issues; ethics; public engagement; science education; open access [and open science].

Results

As defined in the HE regulation, any tangible or intangible effect of a given action, such as data, knowhow or information, whatever its form or nature and whether or not it can be protected, as well as any rights attached to it, including intellectual property rights.

R&D

Research and development.

RTD

Refers to research and technological development and demonstration activities. They are aimed at advancing significantly in the established state-of-the-art.

Research- acquiring SMEs

Enterprises who need to outsource their research to a university or research centre, which will perform the research on their behalf.

Research-performing SMEs

Enterprises who have the ability to conduct research in-house.

Royalty

A payment made to a right holder for the use of the intellectual property which it owns, such as a patent, trade mark, or copyrighted work. Royalties can be freely negotiated but usually constitute a percentage of the revenues obtained by using the owner’s right. They are the most used remuneration method in the context of licence agreements.

S

Seal of Excellence

As defined in the HE regulation, a quality label which shows that a proposal submitted to a call for proposals exceeded all of the evaluation thresholds set out in the work programme, but could not be funded due to lack of budget available for that call for proposals in the work programme and might receive support from other Union or national sources of funding.

Single stage/two stages Submission

Different mechanisms of proposals submissions. In the single stage submission, proposers should send a full, complete proposal on the day of the single deadline. In the two stages submission process, applicants submit a first, shorter proposal, which is then evaluated; proposers going through this first evaluation, are invited to submit a full proposal, which undergoes a new, independent evaluation.

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)

A micro, small or medium-sized enterprise as defined in Article 2 of the Annex to Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 36).

Small mid-cap

An entity that is not an SME and that has up to 499 employees where the staff headcount is calculated in accordance with Articles 3 to 6 of Annex to Recommendation 2003/361/EC.

Smart specialisation strategy

The national or regional innovation strategies which set priorities in order to build competitive advantage by developing and matching R&I own strengths to business needs in order to address emerging opportunities and market developments in a coherent manner, while avoiding duplication and fragmentation of efforts, including those that take the form of, or are included in, a national or regional R&I strategic policy framework, and fulfilling the enabling condition set out in the relevant provisions of the Common Provisions Regulation for 2021-2027.

Social innovation

An “innovation that is social both in its ends and its means” (Murray et al., 2010). Social in its ends means aiming at addressing and solving societal problems or challenges; social in its means relates to the fact that social innovations mobilize and activate societal resources. Therefore, social innovations “lead to new or improved capabilities and relationships and better use of assets and resources. In other words, social innovations are both good for society and enhance society’s capacity to act” (The Young Foundation, 2012). To understand social innovations is also important to specify that: • Social innovations can be products, solutions, services, but also markets, processes, organizational models and systems. • Resources and assets relevant for social innovation are also intangible and non-monetary ones, since they directly contribute to the creation of social capital, e.g. time, knowledge, competences, emotional tights, the quality of relationships. • Social innovations target the deep causes of a problem, and not its symptoms, therefore they may lead to structural transformations of the relationship among societal actors, and of social fabric.

Self-registrant

A role in the Participant Portal giving particular access rights for managing organisation-related data. Self-registrants acquire this role by registering a new entity in the Beneficiary Register on the Participant Portal. Self-registrants have full read/write access to the organisation data until the moment when the organisation is validated and has a Legal Entity Appointed Representative (LEAR).

Sideground

Results (including IPRs) that have been created in paralel to the project, but are not part of the project or project-related.

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder engagement refers to the series of processes and methodologies aimed at involving and including different social actors in dialogue and bidirectional and interactive opinion exchange activities. The final objective of stakeholder engagement (or public engagement, if referred to a wider panorama of actors) is to better understand actors’ different needs, interests, and perspectives, to integrate those within the research and innovation process, or co-decide on sensitive issues. Through the actuation of the RRI principles of participation, inclusion, reactive adaptation, and societal desirability, stakeholder engagement contributes to RRI objectives through improving the mutual understanding between science and society. Stakeholder engagement is effective if its process is appropriately designed. In particular we shall be able to understand and assess: If there is real need to engage (do I need different and additional knowledge? Is the issue too complex?; Why and on what R&I questions to engage; When/ in which phase of our research or policy work we want to engage; Who shall be engaged (who has interests? Who can provide a useful perspective?); How to engage, through which methodologies, processes and formats; How much to engage, meaning the intensity of engagement (e.g. shall the action be recursive; at which extent there is a real power delegation and co-decision).

Strategic Plan

The first Horizon Europe strategic plan (2021) defines the strategic orientations for EU research and innovation investments over the period 2021-2024 and acts as a compass to stay on course with the political priorities of the Commission with a focus on a climate-neutral and green Europe, fit for the digital age, where the economy works for the people. The aim is to ensure an effective interface between EU policy priorities, and programme activities and ultimately, the research and innovation projects funded by Horizon Europe.

Strategic Planning

The Strategic Planning Process is an important founding new feature of Horizon Europe. It prepares the contents of multiannual work programmes and calls for proposals covering a maximum period of four years. It defines the priorities, suitable types of action and forms of implementation to use. It focuses especially on Pillar II of Horizon Europe. Its aim is to provide transparency and a broad multi-stakeholder involvement and a real consultation process, prioritisation and flexibility to align to political priorities and programme coherence and synergies with other programmes.

Subcontracts

In the context of the Horizon Europe Grant Agreement, contracts for goods, works or services that are part of the action tasks.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”.The SDGs were set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030. They are included in a UN Resolution called the 2030 Agenda or what is colloquially known as Agenda 2030. Horizon Europe is supporting the achievement of the Union’s key policy goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals. Each project funded by HE will support the overall SDGs implementation. The 17 SDGs are: (1) No Poverty, (2) Zero Hunger, (3) Good Health and Well-being, (4) Quality Education, (5) Gender Equality, (6) Clean Water and Sanitation, (7) Affordable and Clean Energy, (8) Decent Work and Economic Growth, (9) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, (10) Reducing Inequality, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (12) Responsible Consumption and Production, (13) Climate Action, (14) Life Below Water, (15) Life On Land, (16) Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, (17) Partnerships for the Goals.

Spin-off

new, separate and independent company created from an existing company or organisation. The creation of spin-off is also one of the technology transfer mechanisms through which knowledge and/or intellectual property are transferred and commercially exploited.

Synergies

In the context of EU programmes, it is to intend the enhanced complementarity of programming and objectives between Horizon Europe and other European funds or programmes. In short, synergies mean avoiding duplications or overlapping of resources, while boosting financial leverage through European funds and reducing administrative burden for beneficiaries and recipients. To make synergies happen, Horizon Europe provided the upgrading of the existing legislative basis (Common Provisions Regulation) and some ad hoc rules stemming from the different funds’ regulations. This type of exercise generated four types of recognized synergies between funds, which are: Alternative Financing (through the Seal of Excellence it is possible to attract structural funds for Horizon Europe projects); Combined financing (funding co-financed and institutionalised European Partnerships through national and regional funds); Cumulative financing (source of financing arising from two European programmes or funds); Transfer of resources (indirect funds shall be transferred to Horizon Europe projects – up to 5% – depending on a Member state voluntary base).

T

Technology transfer

In the terms of the Enterprise Europe Network, the successful application and/or adaptation of a technology developed in one organization to meet the needs of one or more other organisations. The transferred technology needs to be innovative for the recipient. The transfer can be made not only between organisations but also between industrial sectors. A technology transfer is deemed to have been achieved once a licensing agreement, a joint venture agreement, a manufacturing agreement, and/or a commercial agreement with technical assistance has been signed.

Technology readiness levels (TRLs)

TRLs are a method for estimating the maturity of technologies during the acquisition phase of a program, developed at NASA during the 1970s. They are adopted in EU Framework Programmes since Horizon 2020. TRLs are based on a scale from 1 to 9 with 9 being the most mature technology. In general, TRL are defined according the image below. The different level of maturity of the technology, and the consequent relative innovation risk, is normally linked to the funding instrument in Horizon Europe. Very low TRL are addressed normally by EIC Pathfinders, ERC and MSCA grants; low TRL are addressed by Research and Innovation Actions; higher TRL can be found in Innovation Actions and in the EIC Accelerator; and finally, the equity component of the EIC Accelerator is designed to support activities at the end of the TRL scale.

Topic

Part of a call addressing the same expected outcome and scope. The proposals submitted to the same topic will be evaluated together and compete against each other.

Third- country

A country which is not a member of the European Union.

Third- party

Under Horizon Europe,

Thresholds

For a proposal to be considered for funding, the evaluation scores for individual criteria must exceed certain thresholds. There is also an overall threshold for the sum of the scores.

Type of action

The funding scheme inside a programme with common features (i.e. scope, single or multi-beneficiary, purpose, reimbursement rates, etc). Under Horizon Europe, the following types of actions are used, among others: Coordination and support actions (CSA), Innovation actions (IA), Innovation and market deployment actions (IMDA), Pre-commercial procurement actions (PCP actions), Prizes, Programme co-fund actions (CoFund), Public procurement of innovative solutions actions (PPI actions) Research and innovation actions (RIA), Training and mobility actions (TMA).

U

Unitary patent

Is a single European patent with a unitary effect for the EU Member States involved in an enhanced cooperation. In order to obtain a unitary effect, patent holders need to request the unitary effect at the European Patent Office within one month of the date of publication of the grant of the patent in the European Patent Bulletin. The unitary patent will be a third option for companies or inventors seeking patent protection in Europe in addition to national patents and ‘classical’ European patents (i.e. without unitary effect).

Unregistered Community design

A form of protection for industrial designs fulfilling the conditions of protection – novelty and individual character.  The protection lasts for a period of three years and is acquired through the first disclosure or use in trade of a design within the European Union. The Unregistered Community design constitutes a right to prevent the commercial use of the design only if the use results from copying.

Utility model

One of the intellectual property rights that protects technical solutions such as an invention, with a lower level of inventiveness required than for a patent. The protection period is shorter than for patents (often 6 to 10 years).

V

(IP) Valuation

Assessment of the value of a particular IP asset. IP valuation may be quantitative or qualitative in nature. There are a variety of methods to value IP.

W

Widening countries

As defined in the HE regulation, ‘widening countries’ or ‘low R&I performing countries’ means countries where legal entities need to be established in order to be eligible as coordinators under the ‘widening participation and spreading excellence’ component of the ‘Widening Participation and Strengthening ERA’ part of the Programme; from the Member States, those countries are Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, for the whole duration of the Programme; for associated countries, it means the list of eligible countries as defined based on an indicator and published in the work programme. Legal entities from outermost regions as defined in Article 349 TFUE shall be also fully eligible as coordinators under this component.

Widening policies

For Widening policies, it is to intend a series of political and implementing activities in order to tackle fragmentation and disruptions existing across European R&I landscapes, from Eastern to Western Europe. Specifically, these policies are aimed to reduce the R&I results gap between European countries with a low R&I performing index – most known by the abbreviation EU13 – and the rest of European Union’s Member states, the latter providing more recognized results and outstanding best practices stemming from research and innovation activities. The EU13 countries are represented by Member states that joined the EU in 2004 – Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia – 2007 – Bulgaria, Romania – and 2013 – Croatia – plus Greece and Portugal.

Work package

A work package is a major sub-division of the proposed project, a series of tasks to be performed, with a verifiable end-point – normally a deliverable or a milestone.

Work Programme

A document adopted by the Commission for the implementation of the specific programme in accordance with Article 14 of Decision (EU) 2021/764 or a document equivalent in content and structure adopted by a funding body.

A Work Programme usually includes all the calls under the same programme component. The Horizon Europe main Work Programme is adopted on a two-year basis and includes all clusters under the pillar ‘Global Challenges and Competitiveness of European Industry’, MSCA, research infrastructures, support to innovation ecosystems, widening participation and spreading excellence, and reforming and enhancing the European R&I System. Separated work programmes are adopted for the European Research Council, the European Innovation Council and the JRC.