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.
5. Is the Call intended to co-finance projects that have already been or will be funded under the Horizon Europe program?
The Call does not support the co-financing of projects that have already been funded or will be funded under the Horizon Europe program. It supports activities for developing project proposals that will be submitted to Horizon Europe calls in the future.
6. Can a staff member be involved in the project without claiming any salary under the DIGIT Call, and still participate in project-funded travel or consortium-building activities?
Staff members who are involved in the project but for whom no personnel costs are planned (i.e. no salary will be claimed from the project budget), may still participate in other eligible activities, provided that their roles are clearly described in the Application form.
All planned project staff costs must be in line with Section 9.3 of the Guidelines for Applicants, and applicants are required to submit a detailed and justified budget within the Application form that adheres to all eligibility rules.
7. When calculating the staff cost daily rate, should we: a) calculate a separate daily rate for each individual working on the project, b) use the total staff cost of the entire organization, or c) sum only the employer costs for the personnel involved in the project?
Each applicant or partner claiming staff costs must apply the same daily rate for every individual from their organization or enterprise involved in the project for whom such costs are claimed. When budgeting eligible staff costs, it is recommended to calculate and present the costs separately for each individual participating in the project (daily rate × number of workdays on the project = individual staff costs). This approach ensures greater traceability and clarity of the costs associated with each team member.
8. Could you clarify whether the term “beneficiary” refers exclusively to the lead applicant or coordinator of the project, or if it also includes project partners as co-beneficiaries within the project consortium, particularly in relation to previously funded or ongoing projects financed through ERDF or RRF?
In the context of previously funded or ongoing projects financed through the ERDF (RCOP/OPCC/PCC) or RRF (NRRP), the applicant to this Call must be (or must have been) the official beneficiary of ERDF or RRF funding. This means that the legal entity applying must match the entity listed as the beneficiary in the respective ERDF or RRF Grant Agreement and final report (if any).
Applicants who were, or currently are, project partners in ERDF- or RRF-funded projects are not considered official beneficiaries under this Call and cannot substitute for the official beneficiary in justifying the utilization of previously developed research infrastructure or capacities related to the ERDF- or RRF-funded project.