OFFERR Call

The OFFERR project, financed by EURATOM under the Horizon Europe program, is inviting proposals to enhance international cooperation in nuclear research by providing financial support for access to fundamental nuclear research infrastructures across Europe. The initiative aims to involve research organizations, universities, companies, and their partners from EU member states and EURATOM associated countries. Applicants from non-associated countries can participate but must secure national funding.

Eligible applicants include universities, research institutes, and companies of varying sizes involved in nuclear research. The project categorizes funding into two types: fast-track projects, which can receive up to €50,000 for limited scope research to be completed in six months, and complex projects, eligible for up to €1 million for broader studies lasting up to 18 months. Projects exceeding €300,000 require the involvement of the infrastructure owner in the OFFERR consortium.

The grant is specifically designed for nuclear research that aligns with the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform's strategic research and innovation agenda. The projects are focused on research and development stages and can cover costs associated with accessing nuclear research infrastructures. The overall budget for this call totals €7 million, with multiple rolling deadlines for application submissions announced from late September 2023 until September 2025.

The application process involves an eligibility check based on European Commission criteria, followed by an evaluation stage. While specific success rates for this call are not provided, it is acknowledged that EU funding opportunities generally exhibit lower success rates due to competition. Co-funding is necessary for non-EU participants and for projects that exceed specific budgetary thresholds.

This call for proposals provides a crucial opportunity for fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and research facilities within the nuclear sector in Europe. Detailed requirements, terms of reference, and evaluation criteria are accessible on the OFFERR Call platform.

The OFFERR project, funded by EURATOM under the Horizon Europe program (grant agreement n°101060008), has announced a call for proposals to facilitate international cooperation in nuclear research. This initiative aims to connect research organizations, universities, companies, and their partners within the European Union (and EURATOM associated members) by providing financial support for transnational access to key nuclear research infrastructures. The call welcomes project proposals from all disciplines and research areas aligned with the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP). Projects supported by other European associations and organizations within the EURATOM framework will also be considered.

The beneficiaries of this call are the organizations that offer access to their experimental infrastructures to selected projects, as well as the research teams that are granted access to use these infrastructures for their proposed work. Applicants are required to agree on the terms of reference upon submitting their proposals. Researchers seeking access to these facilities should liaise with the organizations that own or operate the infrastructure, choosing from those listed in the OFFERR user facility database, to agree on all logistical and technical aspects of the proposed research. Proposals should be jointly prepared by the visiting research team and the visited facility or facilities.

There are two types of projects that can be submitted:

1. Fast-track projects: These are studies of limited scope that can be completed within six months of access to the infrastructure. These projects can receive financial support of up to 50,000 EUR. Applicants should consult the catalogue of fast-track activities for more information.

2. Complex projects: These are studies with a broader scope that can be completed within 18 months. These projects can receive financial support of up to 1,000,000 EUR. However, if the cost exceeds 300,000 EUR, the application cannot be funded through the Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) process, and the infrastructure owner will need to join the OFFERR project consortium.

The submission and evaluation process involves an eligibility check based on European Commission rules, followed by an evaluation procedure. The selected projects will receive financial support from the OFFERR project coordinator, based on the consortium's decision, which includes input from SNETP.

The OFFERR project operates under Horizon Europe/Euratom rules and regulations. Participating countries must comply with EU rules and be listed as participating countries in Horizon Europe. Countries not listed as members of HE or third countries associated with HE can still participate but will not receive funding. In such cases, the proposal must explain how the research team or facility will be supported by national funds.

Key dates and information:

Opening date: 31 August 2023

Deadline model: Multiple cut-off dates

Deadline dates:

30 September 2023, 17:00 (Brussels time)

31 March 2024, 17:00 (Brussels time)

30 September 2024, 17:00 (Brussels time)

31 March 2025, 17:00 (Brussels time)

30 September 2025, 17:00 (Brussels time)

Expected duration of participation: 6 to 18 months, depending on the chosen scheme

Total funding available: 7,000,000.00 EUR

Project acronym: OFFERR

Full name: eurOpean platForm For accEssing nucleaR R&d facilities

Grant agreement number: 101060008

Topic: HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-12 - European facility for nuclear research

Applicants must log in to the OFFERR Call platform and comply with all OFFERR requirements, submission, and evaluation processes, accessible at https://snetp.eu/offerr/.

Detailed information on proposal requirements, evaluation criteria, and reporting can be found in the following documents:

Terms of reference

Eligibility criteria

Evaluation criteria

User facility database (including clusters of facilities and the fast-track catalogue)

Guidelines for applicants

Application template

User report template

Infrastructure report template

In summary, the OFFERR call is a funding opportunity within the Horizon Europe/Euratom framework designed to promote collaboration and access to nuclear research infrastructures across Europe. It offers financial support for both smaller, fast-track projects and larger, more complex research endeavors. The call is open to a wide range of disciplines within nuclear research, development, and innovation, provided they align with the SNETP's strategic goals. Researchers and organizations interested in accessing or providing access to nuclear research facilities should carefully review the provided documentation and submit their proposals through the OFFERR Call platform, keeping in mind the eligibility criteria, evaluation process, and multiple cut-off dates.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include research organizations, universities, companies, and their partners. Both the organizations offering access to experimental infrastructures and the research teams using the infrastructures are considered beneficiaries.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically cascade funding, to finance trans-national access to key nuclear research infrastructures. This is implemented through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires collaboration between a visiting research team and the visited facility. For projects with costs exceeding 300 kEUR, the infrastructure owner needs to join the OFFERR project consortium. Therefore, both single applicants and consortia are possible depending on the funding amount requested.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes European Union member states and EURATOM associated members. Candidates must comply with EU rules and be included in the list of participating countries in Horizon Europe. Countries not listed as members of Horizon Europe or third countries associated with Horizon Europe can participate but will not receive funds unless they secure national funding.

Target Sector: The target sector is nuclear research, development, and innovation, specifically aligned with the strategic research and innovation Agenda (SRIA) of the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP).

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is open to European Union member states and EURATOM associated members, as well as countries participating in Horizon Europe.

Project Stage: The project stage ranges from studies of limited scope ("fast-track project") to studies with extended scope ("complex project"), implying that the projects can be in the research, development, or validation stages.

Funding Amount: The funding ranges from up to 50 kEUR for "fast-track projects" to up to 1 MEUR for "complex projects." Projects exceeding 300 kEUR have specific requirements regarding the infrastructure owner joining the OFFERR project consortium. The total funding available is 7,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their research activities and access to nuclear research infrastructures.

Application Stages: The application process involves an eligibility check according to European Commission rules, followed by an evaluation procedure. The selected projects then receive financial support. This suggests at least a 2-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is required for applicants from countries not listed as members of Horizon Europe or third countries associated with Horizon Europe, as they need to secure national funding to support their research team/facility.

Summary:

The OFFERR project, funded by EURATOM under the Horizon Europe program, is offering grants to facilitate international cooperation in nuclear research. This initiative aims to provide researchers with access to key nuclear research infrastructures across Europe. The call is open to research organizations, universities, companies, and their partners from EU member states, EURATOM associated members, and countries participating in Horizon Europe. The program supports projects aligned with the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP)'s strategic research and innovation agenda.

There are two types of projects that can be funded: "fast-track projects" with a limited scope, eligible for up to 50 kEUR, and "complex projects" with an extended scope, eligible for up to 1 MEUR. The duration of the projects can range from 6 to 18 months. The application process involves an eligibility check and an evaluation procedure. Successful applicants will receive financial support to cover their research and access costs. The total funding available for this call is 7 million EUR. There are multiple cut-off dates for submissions, occurring every six months. The application requires collaboration between the visiting research team and the visited facility. If the requested funding exceeds 300 kEUR, the infrastructure owner must join the OFFERR project consortium. Applicants from countries not fully participating in Horizon Europe must demonstrate how their research team/facility will be supported by national funds. Detailed information, including terms of reference, eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and application templates, are available on the OFFERR call platform.