ABOUT EURATOM R&T PROGRAMME
The Euratom Research and Training Programme is a Funding Programme complementary to Horizon Europe, which runs for 5 years, for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025 [in line with the Euratom Treaty], with a total budget of € 1,38 billion.
In continuity with the previous Programme [2014-2020], Euratom pursues nuclear research and training activities, with an emphasis on continuous improvement of nuclear safety and radiation protection.
It has the following specific objectives:
• to improve and support nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel and radioactive waste management and decommissioning, including the safe and secure use of nuclear power and of non-power applications of ionising radiation;
• to maintain and further develop expertise and competence in the nuclear field within the community;
• to foster the development of fusion energy as a potential future energy source for electricity production and contribute to the implementation of the European fusion roadmap;
• to support the policy of the EU and its members on continuous improvement of nuclear safety, safeguards and security;
• to extend research into applications of ionising radiation for purposes other than energy production, i.e. in medical, industrial and space fields.
Moreover, Euratom keeps bringing improvements in education, training and access to research infrastructures, also supporting the mobility of nuclear researchers under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions [MSCA] of Horizon Europe.
HOW TO GET FUNDING
The programme carries out direct and indirect actions.
Direct actions are activities undertaken by the Joint Research Centre, the Commission’s science and knowledge service which carries out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy.
Indirect actions are research activities undertaken by consortia, regarding
• nuclear fusion research and development: for a substantial reorganisation that will support a shift from pure, academic research to scientific questions of designing, building and operating future facilities;
• nuclear fission, safety and radiation protection: to further develop technological leadership and promote excellence in nuclear research and innovation, in particular ensuring the highest standards of safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel, radioactive waste management and decommissioning in the nuclear field.
Funding is provided in any of the forms laid down in the Financial Regulation, however, grants are the main form of support for indirect actions awarded by participating in calls for proposals.
The Euratom calls are published on the official EC portal Funding & Tenders at the link https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-search;callCode=null;freeTextSearchKeyword=euratom.
In synergy with Horizon Europe, the Euratom Research and Training Programme uses mainly the same instruments and rules for participation:
• for applying to a call, the constitution of a consortium is required, that must include at least three independent legal entities each established in a different Member State or Associated Country and with at least one of them established in a Member State, unless the Work Programme provides otherwise;
• the main types of action to be used under the Euratom Programme are set out in the Regulation, such as research and innovation actions, innovation actions, innovation and market deployment actions, training and mobility actions, programme co-fund actions, pre-commercial procurement actions, public procurement of innovative solutions actions, coordination and support actions, inducement prizes and recognition prizes;
• as a rule, proposals are evaluated by a committee composed of external independent experts, on the basis of the award criteria excellence; impact; quality and efficiency of the implementation;
• the financial contribution takes the form of the reimbursement of up to 100% of the total eligible and approved direct costs and a flat rate of 25% for indirect costs calculated on the total eligible direct costs [excluding the direct costs for subcontracting, financial support to third parties and any unit costs or lump sums which include indirect costs].
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
Any legal entity established in one of the eligible countries, i.e. the Member States of the European Atomic Energy Community [Euratom], including their outermost Regions, the Overseas Countries and Territories [OCTs] linked to the Member States, Countries associated to Euratom Research and Training Programme.