1. We are an organization that is 100% owned by a Croatian public higher education institution. Although we are legally registered as a limited liability company (d.o.o.), we operate as a non-profit entity according to our statute and are registered for research activities. Are we eligible to apply under the “Routes to Synergies” Call?
In the interest of equal treatment of applicants, the MSEY cannot provide prior eligibility opinions regarding individual applicants. Eligibility requirements are clearly defined in Sections 5 and 6 of the Guidelines for Applicants. Applicants are advised to carefully assess their compliance with all eligibility conditions and submit the required supporting documentation.
2. We are currently involved in a Horizon Europe project for which the Grant Agreement has been signed. A complementary national co-funding component (under PCC 2021–2027) is foreseen, and the Grant Agreement for this part is in its final stages. Can this be considered a sufficient basis for eligibility under the requirement to build on an ongoing ERDF project?
As specified in Section 11 of the Guidelines for Applicants, applicants must provide appropriate documentation, such as a Grant Agreement and, if applicable, an approved final report, to demonstrate the link between the project proposal and the earlier or ongoing ERDF/RRF-funded project during the application process.
3. We intend to hire one new person, but our existing staff will also be working on the project. Since we are a public research organization and our existing staff already receive salaries from the state budget, are the personnel costs of our existing staff eligible? If we are not claiming funds for existing eligible staff, do we need to list them under ineligible costs?
The applicant is responsible for the financial and accounting management of eligible personnel costs funded through the project. The same working hour of one staff member cannot be funded from two public sources simultaneously (e.g., project funds and the state budget), in line with the principle of avoiding double funding.
We also refer you to the Labour Act (OG 93/14, 127/17, 98/19, 151/22, 46/23, 64/23) and the collective agreement applicable to your organization. The MSEY is not responsible for interpreting this legislation or your organization’s internal procedures.
If no grant funds are planned for existing staff, it is not necessary to list these costs as ineligible, but their roles must still be described in the Application form.
4. In the case where the official beneficiary of the previous ERDF-funded project (RCOP 2007–2013 or OPCC 2014–2020) was the University, but the principal investigator is currently employed at a Faculty (of the same University) that is a separate legal entity, is it possible to apply to the Call with the Faculty as the applicant? In other words, is it possible that the applicant is not the same legal entity as the one listed as the official beneficiary in the ERDF Grant Agreement and final report?
As defined in the Call, the applicant must be (or must have been) the official beneficiary of ERDF funding (RCOP/OPCC/PCC) or RRF funding (NRRP). This means that the legal entity applying must match the legal entity listed as the beneficiary in the ERDF or RRF Grant Agreement and final report (if any). Applicants whose legal status or structure has changed must clearly demonstrate continuity of responsibility and link to the ERDF/RRF-funded project.