Horizon 2020 research to receive additional funding through SEO provision
In August, NWO announced that publicly funded knowledge institutions are now eligible for additional funding under the new 'Encouraging European Research' (Stimulering Europees Onderzoek: SEO) provision. This regulation, introduced by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), awards a 'bonus' of 9% over and above the European funding received in respect of research projects conducted as part of the Horizon 2020 programme. The regulation is promoting active participation in European research and innovation on the part of national public-funded knowledge institutions.
Horizon 2020 is the European Commission's research and innovation programme. Various FOM institutes (and their researchers) received Horizon 2020 funding in the form of direct grants provided by the European Research Council (ERC) or by virtue of their participation in various public-private partnerships. FOM is among the publicly funded knowledge institutions which qualify for the SEO bonus.
The SEO bonus payments are administered by NWO. Research institutions do not have to apply. Beginning in 2015, the bonus will be paid automatically (in November or December) to institutions which were awarded Horizon 2020 funding during the preceding calendar year. The amount of the first payment will therefore be based on that of the Horizon 2020 funding received in 2014. The SEO regulation has an annual budget of 50 million euros.
Notes for FOM researchers
Knowledge institutions which have been assigned a Participant Identification Code (PIC) by the European Union, such as FOM, will receive the 9% bonus over and above the funding awarded to their researchers under the Horizon 2020 programme. The bonus is restricted to research conducted as part of Horizon 2020. This includes fusion research on behalf of Euratom but specifically excludes Article 185 and 187 initiatives. In principle, the bonus is paid to the knowledge institutions rather than to the individual researchers. The institution is then free to allocate the additional funding as it sees fit. FOM has decided that the entire bonus flows back to the FOM institutes which have generated funding revenue through their successful contributions to Horizon 2020. Note that FOM will not receive any bonus in respect of its university workgroup leaders, who should direct any enquiries to the relevant university authorities.
Further information
For further information about the allocation of the bonus and the applicable conditions, please refer to the FOM website.