C 421/32
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
4.11.2022
Can ERDF programmes support membership of/participation fees for other EU bodies or networks (e.g.
EIT partnerships)?
An operation co-financed by the ERDF must fall within the scope of the ERDF Regulation.
Article 5(1)(f) of the ERDF Regulation allows the ERDF to support networking, cooperation and the exchange of experience and activities involving innovation clusters (including those that bring businesses, research organisations and public authorities together).
Such cooperation can be promoted through an international organisation.
Pursuant to Article 63(4) CPR, all or part of an operation may be implemented outside a Member State, including outside the EU, provided that the operation contributes to the programme’s objectives.
Membership fees of international organisations do not therefore meet the above-mentioned conditions and are not eligible for ERDF support because the objectives pursued by international organisations are generally too broad to correspond to a specific operation that pursues the funding programme’s objectives.
By contrast, participation fees usually correspond to more specific and concrete activities and may therefore be eligible for ERDF support – if they correspond to a concrete action carried out by an international organisation that falls within the scope of the ERDF Regulation and contributes to the funding programme objective(s).
5.
Combined funding (Teaming)
It is important to optimise and maximise the benefits that R&I can provide to society, the environment and the wider economy, together with its contribution to the achievement of EU goals.
EU funding must therefore be coherent and exploit potential synergies.
This is particularly the case for a Teaming action that supports the creation or modernisation of a centre of excellence in a widening country by teaming it up with a leading research institution (advanced partner) in a different country.
This requires complementary funding from a national, regional, EU or private source.
Such an action is therefore designated as a ‘synergy’ action in the HE work programme.
Teaming actions are expected to become an influential and meaningful bridge particularly between S3 and excellence in R&I, thereby strengthening the ERA.
Related legislation
GBER Article 25d (State aid)
Main steps in the process
Preparation / programming
The HE work programme designates Teaming actions as ‘synergy’ actions.
Cohesion policy programmes may provide complementary funding to a Teaming project for a set of eligible costs that are separate from the costs covered by HE, provided the requirements of Article 73(4) CPR are met.
Allocation of support
Two separate calls are opened (the ERDF and HE).
The HE proposal must include a clear description of the complementary project supported by the ERDF or other funding sources.
If relevant, the description should include the cost categories, technical infrastructure specifications, preliminary planning for building and installations, costbenefit analysis, etc. This description will also be subject to the evaluation undertaken by independent experts according to HE rules and selection criteria.