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What is a subsidy contract?

The subsidy contract is a document that establishes the rights and responsibilities of the lead partner and the managing authority.

It is concluded between the programme's managing authority and the lead partner of the project once a project has been selected for funding and has fulfilled the conditions laid down by the monitoring committee.

The subsidy contract covers both phases of a project (core phase and follow-up phase). A model of the subsidy contract is available below.

When should the subsidy contract be signed?

The subsidy contract is signed between the programme's managing authority and the lead partner of the project once the project has been selected for funding and has fulfilled all the conditions laid down by the monitoring committee.

What is a partnership agreement?

It is an important internal document that must be signed as soon as possible between the lead partner and its partners, in line with Article 26 (1) (a) of the ETC Regulation (EU) 2021/1059 and in order to ensure the quality of project implementation, the achievement of objectives, and sound financial management.

It is the key document between a lead partner and the other project partners, extending the arrangements of the subsidy contract to the level of each partner.

The lead partner assumes the overall responsibility for the project towards the managing authority by signing the subsidy contract.

Through the project partnership agreement, project partners are responsible and assume liability for their part in implementing the project towards the lead partner.

Only partners who have signed the project partnership agreement are allowed to report expenditure. A template is available below

Are electronic signatures valid for partnership agreements?

The project partnership agreement is an internal project's document. It is up to the lead partner and the partners to decide if valid electronic signatures can be accepted.

When should the partnership agreement be signed?

The partnership agreement should be signed as soon as possible.

Early agreement on partnership working will help to shorten the project’s start-up phase following approval and will ensure that partners have a common understanding of the practical and financial implications of participating in the project.

To facilitate this, and where useful, certain decisions, relating to decision making processes or communication within the partnership, for example, may be left until the first project meeting and agreed in a separate document (e.g., the project steering committee’s rules of procedure).

Only partners that have signed the partnership agreement can report costs.

Are annexes to the partnership agreement mandatory?

The project partnership agreement is an internal project's document. The programme strongly recommends to attach the following annexes:

  1. Detailed allocation of tasks and activities including detailed budget by categories and spending plan, by PP (indicative)
  2. Preparation cost division

This is a strong recommendation, not an obligation. It is up to the partners to decide on this.

Are electronic signatures valid for partner declarations?

Both wet-ink and electronic signatures are valid.

The most important is that the declaration is actually signed: “Declarations must be signed.

Electronic signatures will be accepted if evidence of this electronic signature is provided This evidence usually takes the form of an electronic certificate included in the pdf document.

If is not possible to supply this certificate, then the lead applicant must provide evidence that the document has been electronically signed (e.g., certificate to be scanned together with the declaration and submitted as one pdf document in the Portal).”

When do approved projects start?

Project partners should be ready to start their project as soon as possible after the monitoring committee’s decision, approximately within two months from the date of this decision.

The actual start date is determined for each call for proposals individually and communicated to the projects at the time of their approval.

Can I create my own project logo?

No, please do not create your own project logo.

We will give you your main visual at the start of your project. It will consist of the programme’s logo and your project’s acronym, and will comply with the Regulations and the programme requirements.

You must use your project’s main visual on all your communication materials intended for the public and for participants in your activities.