National Information Centre for European Research
An article published by Science|Business on 15 September 2026 examines efforts to simplify European research funding. It brings together perspectives from universities, research organisations and project managers on whether changes to Horizon Europe are delivering a real reduction in administrative workload. Lenka Chvojková of Technology Centre Prague, the Czech National Contact Point for Horizon Europe’s legal and financial aspects, was among those interviewed.
The article focuses primarily on personnel costs, which remain complex to calculate and report. Lenka Chvojková highlights the mismatch between institutions’ usual practices and programme requirements: recording working time in hours and planning resources in person-months require additional conversions to report day equivalents. Other contributors point to frequent changes in rules, templates and systems, which create an ongoing need for institutions to adapt.
Lump sum funding is another key topic. The article explores both its benefits for simpler financial reporting and the additional effort required to prepare detailed budgets and work packages. Lenka Chvojková sees it as an effective tool for reducing administrative burden, while recognising the need for further improvements. Developing this approach further could also help address persistent difficulties with personnel costs.
Experiences across the institutions interviewed vary. While some have yet to see a substantial reduction in workload, others also describe Horizon Europe as less administratively demanding and better supported by guidance than national funding programmes.
The article also draws on the report on the practical use of Horizon Europe’s rules, prepared by Technology Centre Prague and the European network of Legal & Financial NCPs within the Horizon Academy project. Detailed findings and recommendations are available in the full report and its accompanying interactive dashboard.
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