What does “RIA”, “IA” stand alone mean when you use them? Or how about “CSA” – what’s that really refer to?

These are kinds of Horizon Europe projects. Research plus Innovation Actions pay for early-stage science – testing ideas, creating tools, gathering data, or making first models. Instead of pure research, Innovation Actions help bring solutions closer to real use by combining tech, testing it, trying it out with people, and preparing launch steps.

GA versus CA – how do they differ?

The Grant Agreement (GA) is your official deal with the funding side – it locks in what you’ll do, how much money’s involved, when reports are due, who owns new ideas, plus check-up rights. Meanwhile, the Consortium Agreement (CA) ties together just the team members – no funders – and fills gaps the GA skips over: like who brought which old tech, how data moves around, how long before publishing, who covers losses, and how choices get made inside. When the CA doesn’t say anything about a topic, whatever the GA says goes.

TRL keeps popping up. How do I use it without getting lost?

Technology Readiness Levels show how developed something is. Usually, TRL 1-3 means early ideas tested in labs; from TRL 4-5, tests happen in real-world settings; at TRL 6-7, working models are built and linked into systems; TRL 8-9 stands for fully approved tech ready for use. RIA projects usually aim for TRL 3-5 upon completion; IA efforts generally reach TRL 6-7 through trial runs.

MSCA jargon: what’s different now – also, who qualifies as an ESR or ER?

MSCA focuses on hands-on learning within Horizon Europe. Back in Horizon 2020, MSCA-IF was meant for seasoned researchers – those with a PhD or four+ years of full-time research work. Meanwhile, MSCA-ITN brought in early-career researchers, meaning people without a doctorate and with fewer than 4 years of research experience when they joined. Now, under Horizon Europe, IF shifted to Postdoctoral Fellowships, while ITN became Doctoral Networks, yet the core idea remains: move around, learn by doing.

What are a “work package”, a “task”, a “deliverable”, and a “milestone”?

A Work Package bundles related activities, comes with a lead person, a schedule, plus clear results. Inside each WP, tasks form the basic pieces that make things happen. What you hand in gets called a deliverable – it’s something written or built, like a report, data file, working model, tool, or step-by-step guide. Think of a milestone as a key moment where progress is checked – “the first version works nonstop for 200 hours without issues” or “data shared complete with descriptions” – so the team knows whether to keep going based on real proof.

What’s the role of “PM”, “KPI”, or even “FAIR data”?

One person working a month counts as one person-month. That’s how we measure effort. If two folks each spend a third of their time over half a year, it adds up to four PM. Metrics called KPIs track real movement forward – not just goals or hopes. Examples? A spread under five percent in results, three tests done across labs, and two solid datasets shared properly. For data to be FAIR, others need to find it easily, access it without hassle, combine it smoothly with other data, and reuse it freely. Use lasting IDs, common labels everyone understands, and reliable storage spots when sharing.

Who’s the REA, who’s the PO, or rather, the LEAR?

REA stands for Research Executive Agency – it handles a bunch of higher education initiatives. Your main contact there is the Project Officer; they keep an eye on how things are going and step in if any problems arise. Instead of “and”, think of them as someone who checks progress while offering guidance when needed. LEAR refers to your institute’s legal representative, the one responsible for updating institutional info across EU systems. This person handles profiles, access rights, and paperwork related to funding platforms.

Secondments or staff swaps – what’s it really about?

A secondment means working temporarily in another team’s lab – anywhere from a few weeks to several months – with clear goals and expected results. Staff swaps, once called RISE, focus on moving people around; funding covers travel and stay, not the main research work – it boosts teamwork skills while sharing know-how between countries and industries.

Being a small business – why’s it important, and what number counts?

Because it’s seen as a small business, access to funding opportunities changes. EU rules say such firms must have fewer than 250 staff, annual sales below €50M, and financial statements totaling no more than € 43 M. This lab fits the category, so it frequently joins projects – handling early models, test runs, while pushing real-world use.

What’s inside the “Model Grant Agreement” and “Description of Action”?

The MGA lays out shared guidelines on expenses, intellectual property, checks, conduct, sharing research openly, spreading results, and using them practically. Your project’s specific plan sits in Part A, which includes forms, funding breakdowns, and team members, and in Part B, which explains the technical side. Check both parts at once: Part B shows what you’ll do; the MGA reveals how they’ll check it and release funds – key for fixed-payment setups where finishing tasks brings payouts.

What happens to daily project handling when lump-sum rules are applied instead?

You get paid when you finish work packages – no completion, no payout. Forget arguing over hours logged or equipment wear; what counts is passing tests and hitting deadlines. Split shaky tasks into bite-sized pieces that show clear results – like a first-draft model, raw data with labels, or test runs between labs. Write down exactly what “done” means before the first month ends.

Where does the Microfluidics Innovation Center fit in a HE consortium?

MIC’s a small team making full systems – from chips to sensors, plus automated controls. Their edge? Real gear ready to run: blueprints, step-by-step guides, clean data sets, working models up front. Across many EU project groups, this do-it-first approach boosts win rates way above average. Why? Because plans feel actionable, outcomes can be checked right away.