FAQs 2021
Do the cooperation partners all have to be allocated in different groups?
There can be several cooperation partners from the same group, provided that the criterion "at least three cooperation partners from three different groups of stakeholders" is met.
Are Universities for Applied Science (FHs) considered to be actors in the "education" group or in the "research and knowledge dissemination" group?
FHs are regarded as institutions for research & knowledge dissemination. Hence, they can also act as lead partners.
Can two higher education or research institutions submit a joint proposal with two lead partners?
Only one institution can submit a proposal as a lead partner.
Regarding actors in the field of economy: Are there reasons for exclusion, such as agriculture, which often cannot be funded?
Project lead partners and thus recipients of funding can only be institutions for research and knowledge dissemination. Other actors can provide third-party services to the lead partner, but are not recipients of funding.
Regarding economic actors: Do these partners have to be from Lower Austria?
No, only the lead partner needs to operate a location in Lower Austria.
Can we as a small region (group of 14 municipalities) in the legal form of an association participate as a cooperation partner of the administration?
Yes, the stakeholder groups are not limited to a specific legal type.
We would also like to involve five farmers. How could they participate as cooperation partners? Can they join forces as an ARGE and participate as actors in society?
No, but a such an entity they can appear as actors from the field of economy.
A question about the cooperation partners: Can they also be from abroad?
Yes, that is possible.
Is it possible for a national park to participate as a cooperation partner?
Yes, that is possible.
Regarding the "Intellectual Property Rights" (IPR) of the project results achieved: Are these regulated between the project partners in the consortium agreements or are there specific rules provided by the funding agency?
IPRs are regulated in the consortium agreement; there are no specific rules by the funding agency.
Regarding actors from the field of education: Do only formal educational institutions count here or do also associations with a educational focus also count as such actors?
Associations can also be included actors in the field of education, provided such an educational mandate is specified in the statutes and is presented in the proposal.
Does the project manager or the project staff also have to be young scientists?
No.
Is is correct that if the proposal is funded, at least two proposals have to be submitted during the implementation of the project?
Yes. at least 1 proposal as to be submitted at European level (e.g. HORIZON EUROPE, INTEREG, ERASMUS+, etc.) and at least 1 application has to submitted at national level (e.g. FFG, FWF etc.). Alternatively, a second proposal can also be submitted at European level.
What is the consequence if a project does not meet the required output (e.g. EU application is not submitted)?
The funding agency can reclaim funding if the objectives of the project are not met. However, the regular steering board meetings aim to ensure that the objectives and expected outputs are achieved. Cost-neutral project extensions are also possible in justified cases if the objectives are not achieved within the project period.
Is the budget allocated exclusively to the lead partner?
Yes.
How should the 10% personal contribution be proven?
Only the project sponsor needs to provide the 10% own contribution. 90% of costs are funded; 10% remain as own contribution. In practice, 100% of eligible costs are submitted and 90% of these are transfered. Volunteer hours cannot be recognised. Employment contracts and time sheets are required as a proof for the personnel costs (if a person is not funded 100% through the project).
Are the partner institutions financially involved in the project as third-party service providers?
Yes.
How should the lead partner present the costs of the partners? Do offers have to be submitted as part of the application?
The costs are entered in Part D. No offers need to be uploaded. However, the plausibility of the costs is assessed.
Does the partnership manager need to be known for the proposal?
Yes, because this is the central person in the partnership.
Does the partnership manager have to be employed by the lead partner institution?
Yes, as personnel costs can only be claimed from the lead partner.
Do the required applications (expected outputs) have to be submitted with all partners?
Basically, the fiunding agency welcomes if the applications are submitted as a partnership. However, there might be calls where not all partners are eligible for example. Therefore, the details will be discussed in the Steering Board Meetings, jointly decided and documented.
Will the sucess of the required applications be taken into account? Is there a possibility for further funding of the consortium, for example in case of a resubmission?
No, the sucess rate cannot be taken into account. Further funding for a resubmission is not planned.
What is the role of the Steering Board?
The Steering Board consists is a permanent body of the partnership for institutionalizing and ensuring regular exchange.
Are there any criteria for the sustainability concept?
There are no formal criteria, but it should be understood as a milestone for ensuring that the objectives of the poject are achieved. The concept can also be a joint agreement; ideas are to be presented in the proposal. The detailed planning however takes place in the steering board meetings.
Does the lead partner of the partnership also have to be the lead for the resulting applications?
Since the lead partners receives funding and manages the the corresponding budget, the lead partner also needs to act as a coordinator for at least 1 EU and 1 AT application.
