European Commission: lump sum grants as a simplification measure
The European Commission is actively promoting lump sum grants as a simplification measure. Consequently, there is a clear and increasing tendency to use lump sum funding in Horizon Europe projects, although this shift remains progressive and targeted. This approach replaces the reimbursement of actual costs with fixed amounts paid upon completion of predefined work packages.
It is expected to reduce the financial error rate and to allow researchers to focus more on outputs and deliverables rather than on detailed financial reporting. The main challenges of lump sum funding include the greater effort required to prepare detailed budgets upfront and the need to manage financial risk if work packages are not completed on time.
If you wish to learn more on this subject, this webinar covers the specificities of lump sum funding: Lump Sum Funding in Horizon Europe: How does it work? How to write a proposal? (4 Juin 2026)
This reference document will guide you through the management of lump sum grants in EU programmes: how-to-manage-your-lump-sum-grants_en.pdf
Please contact us at submission stage for tailored advice.