The different categories of costs that are eligible for Commission funding differ according to type of contract (see Boxes 6 and 7).

III.7.2. Calculation methods

A number of different methods are used to calculate the Commission funding, depending on the type of action involved and on the participant’s capacity to identify his incurred costs (see boxes 6 and 7).

For Research and Technological Development projects, Demonstration and Combined Research and Demonstration projects, three calculation methods are used: full cost actual overhead (FC), full cost flat rate (FF) and additional cost (AC).

For Accompanying Measures, one calculation method is used for all participants. The overhead may be calculated as a flat rate of the personnel costs and in some cases no overheads may be allowed.

For technology take-up measures not all cost categories may be allowable.

For Concerted Actions and Thematic Networks, all participants use the additional cost model (AC), so overheads are calculated as 20% of all direct costs (except subcontracting).

Use of permanent staff is allowed for all types of organisations if accurate time records are kept.

III.7.3. Payment of the contribution

The Community contribution is paid in Euro, in a number of regular instalments based on cost claims submitted by participants with their interim and final reports.

The Commission may make advance payments at the beginning of the project, contingent on verification of the participants’ financial standing. In certain circumstances the Commission may request financial or other guarantees to ensure the security of any advance payment made. This is particularly necessary for those shared-cost actions where the participants themselves are expected to support part of the cost.

III.8. Assistance available to proposers

The EC carries out a range of activities in support of potential proposers. These vary as appropriate according to the nature of the Call and the Specific Programme concerned. Therefore, they are detailed in the Guide Part 2.

For each programme there is a network of National Contact Points in Member and Associated States. The National Contact Points can be helpful to organisations from their country in finding partners from other countries, and in assisting in procedural or administrative matters. There are a number of other networks such as Innovation Relay Centres, Euro Info Centres etc., which potential proposers may also consult.

The European Commission maintains an Infodesk for each programme of the Fifth Framework Programme for the duration of their Calls. Any questions concerning the Call not covered in this document nor in the material available at the programme web site may be directed to the Infodesk, whose address is included in the Call specific information in the Guide Part 2. The Infodesk will post any last-minute information concerning the Call on the programme website, which potential proposers should check periodically for this reason.

The certification service provider has established an EU-wide support network for proposers in the national languages. Details are given on the web page relating to this service (http://www.fp5.csp.org).

The Commission may organise “Info-days”, to disseminate information about the Fifth Framework or a particular Call, and also to provide an occasion for proposers to meet potential consortium partners.

The Commission’s CORDIS server in Luxembourg (http://www.cordis.lu/fp5/) offers a number of services and information sources which may be useful in particular to support partner search activities. It also contains details of organisations which have already expressed an interest in participating to the different programmes under the Fifth Framework Programme.

In addition, the CORDIS website offers targeted information concerning both implementation modalities of the specific programmes as well as financial and administrative management aspects.

Box 3 - Co-operation with non-EU Countries and International Organisations

Opportunities for participation in proposal consortia

In planning a RTD proposal for submission to one of the programmes or to the key action ‘Improving the socio-economic knowledge base’, researchers should be aware that it is also open to participation by entities from non-EU countries and to international organisations. The opening falls into three categories and in all cases, the third country/international organisation participant must be included as a participant in the original proposal submitted:

(i) Countries associated to FP-5: For each of these countries, institutions may participate and be funded, with similar rights and responsibilities to EU Member State participants, once the Association Agreements come into force (see box 4).

(ii) Project by project participation: This participation will be on a self-financing basis and this option is open to all non-associated European countries, to Mediterranean partner countries, to countries with which the EU has an S&T Agreement, and to international organisations, as long as the participation is in conformity with the interest of the Community.

(iii) All other countries: For countries not covered by the above categories, participation in FP-5 projects on a self-financing basis will be possible if the participation is in conformity with the interest of the Community and is of substantial added value for implementing all or part of the specific programme. The interest of the Community and the substantial added value must be clearly indicated in the proposal.

The conformity with the interests of the Community will be assessed with particular regard to the contribution to one or more of the following (as laid down in Council Decision): the needs of other Community policies in support of which the RTD actions are carried out; providing appropriate incentives for maintaining and creating jobs in the Community; promoting sustainable development and improving the quality of life in the Community; strengthening the international competitiveness of Community industry; the existence of S&T co-operation agreements between the Community and third countries or international organisations.

Substantial added value may refer for example to cases where the third country participant is a generally recognised, top-level specialist in the field of the proposal or has access to unique resources which are of great importance to the project but which are not available in Europe, or where third country participant offers the prospect of opening new markets for the European participants.

In exceptional cases, Community financing for the third country participant or international organisation may be provided by the programme if it is essential for achieving the objectives of the project¹, i.e. if the contribution of the participant cannot be provided by any other means and the project cannot be carried out without that participant.

For country groupings, see box 4

1 Additional rules are foreseen in the Specific Programme “Energy, environment and sustainable development” which provide for financial support to those entities where their participation is beneficial and offers added value for achieving the objectives of the Programme.

Box 4 - Participation from non-EU countries in FP5 ¹

For latest information on entry into force of these agreements, please consult: www.cordis.lu/fp5/src/3rdcountries.htm or contact the Programmes' Information Desk

Participation from third States and of International Organisations must take place together with the minimum number of legal entities from the Community and any Associated States.

1 Different rules apply for the specific programme ‘Confirming the international role of Community research’ (except for Associated States) and the EURATOM Framework Programme

2 According to Swiss authorities, this association agreement could enter into force on the 1st of January 2001 at the earliest. Meanwhile, Swiss legal entities shall be considered as those of any other third European country.

3 An association agreement with Malta is foreseen to be negotiated in 2000. Should this agreement be concluded, the status of Associated State shall take precedence over any other. Meanwhile, Maltese research entities participate to the activities of FP5 as “other European”. They are also shown under Mediterranean Partnership. For latest news, www.cordis.lu/fp5/src/3rdcountries.htm.

4 Turkish research entities participate to the activities of FP5 as “other European”. They are also shown under Mediterranean Partnership. For latest news, www.cordis.lu/fp5/src/3rdcountries.htm.

5 Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City State (Holy See), Faeroe Islands (DK), Channel Islands (GB), Isle of Man (GB), Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (NO).

6 In the case of a country becoming associated to FP-5, that status takes precedence over any other

7 Community funding may also be granted if it is foreseen to use the facilities of an international organisation that are based in a third country, should this use be essential for achieving the objectives of the project.

Box 5 - Main milestones of the selection process

BOX 6 – Indicative Typology of Contracts

* FC = Full Costs/ FF= Full costs Fixed rate/AC= Additional Costs/ UF = User Fee. For more information, see Box 7.