# GetGrant – full knowledge base and grant catalogue for language models Source: https://getgrant.ua. Built on 2026-10-12. 2,200+ grants in the database; the catalogue of open calls is below. Short site map: https://getgrant.ua/en/llms.txt. Languages: Ukrainian (canonical) and English under /en/. Ukrainian version of this file: https://getgrant.ua/llms-full.txt Citation rule: page title, URL, updated date. The primary source for every grant is the funder's portal; the link is in each entry. ## Map of grant donors (https://getgrant.ua/en/donors-map/) Countries with grants and funds in the GetGrant database: 15. Total programmes 1998, funds 614. Snapshot of 2026-10-12. A country is assigned by the donor, not by where the call was announced: GIZ, DAAD or British Council programmes count for their own countries. Joint EU programmes (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, EDF) are attributed to Brussels. Donor groups in the database: EU-wide programmes (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, LIFE, Digital Europe, EU4Health); national agencies (the US State Department, NED, GIZ, DAAD, KfW, the British Council, PARP, the Polish National Science Centre); international organisations and development banks (UN bodies, the World Bank, the EBRD); private, corporate and family foundations; Ukrainian donors (the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, the National Research Foundation, the International Renaissance Foundation, the Ukrainian Startup Fund). - Belgium: 795 programmes, 170 funds — largest: Horizon Europe (HORIZON); European Union; European Commission - USA: 391 programmes, 169 funds — largest: National Institutes of Health; U.S. National Science Foundation; Administration for Community Living - United Kingdom: 286 programmes, 104 funds — largest: UK Government; Innovate UK; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - Ukraine: 186 programmes, 138 funds — largest: International Renaissance Foundation; ІСАР Єднання; Міністерство економіки, довкілля та сільського господарства України - Germany: 29 programmes, 11 funds — largest: Constructor University; Akademie Schloss Solitude; DAAD - Finland: 13 programmes, 2 funds — largest: Research Council of Finland; Academy of Finland - Switzerland: 8 programmes, 8 funds — largest: ETH Zurich; EPFL and the Cyber-Defence (CYD) Campus; Journal of Clinical Medicine Travel Award - Canada: 8 programmes, 7 funds — largest: Department of National Defence; Carleton University; Cowater International - Norway: 3 programmes, 2 funds — largest: Norad; Nansen Ukraine Support Programme - Sweden: 3 programmes, 3 funds — largest: Swedish Research Council; SIDA; Swedish International DevelopmentCooperationAgency - Denmark: 3 programmes, 3 funds — largest: Danish Refugee Council; Lundbeckfonden; Nordic Culture Fund - Japan: 3 programmes, 2 funds — largest: Japan Foundation; The Sumitomo Foundation’s official website - Saudi Arabia: 2 programmes, 1 funds — largest: KAUST - Netherlands: 2 programmes, 2 funds — largest: European Cultural Foundation; Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) - India: 1 programmes, 1 funds — largest: International Fund for Agr - No donor country: 265 programmes (international organisations and consortia). ## Funding Atlas (paid PDF edition) (https://getgrant.ua/en/atlas/) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/atlas/. 2026/2027 edition, data as of 26 September 2026. Language: English. Format: PDF, A4, 106 pages. What it is: a directory of 182 funders, grant programmes and portals open to applicants from Ukraine, compiled by the GetGrant team from open sources (official funder websites, government portals, public databases) and described in English. Sections and number of sources: European Union – 33; Ukraine – 22; Poland – 22; Germany – 35; United Kingdom – 6; USA – 16; international donors – 48. Audience: universities and research institutions (61 sources), NGOs (94), business and start-ups (56), communities and the public sector (62); one source can suit several applicant types. Each funder card: donor type and country, short description, funding size, eligible applicants, topics and a direct link to the official page. Navigation: table of contents by country, a Quick Finder table by organisation type, bookmarks and an alphabetical index. Price and delivery: €17 one-off via LiqPay (card, Apple Pay, Google Pay); organisations can request an invoice at support@getgrant.ua. A personalised PDF with the buyer's name or organisation is emailed right after payment; the backup download link is valid for 14 days. Not included: specific open calls with deadlines – the GetGrant catalogue updates those daily. The free donor map shows only the best-known funders of each region. Full description: https://getgrant.ua/en/atlas.md ## Business Funding Map for Ukraine (paid PDF edition) (https://getgrant.ua/en/business-map/) Address: https://getgrant.ua/en/business-map/. 2026/2027 edition, data as of 26.09.2026. Language: English (a Ukrainian edition is also available). Format: PDF, A4, 44 pages. What it is: a directory of 52 active funding programmes for sole traders, SMEs, agriculture, start-ups, defence tech developers and exporters in Ukraine, in 6 sections by business type (start-up and micro business – 8; growth, manufacturing and equipment – 14; agriculture – 9; IT, start-ups and deep tech – 9; defence tech – 6; export and the EU market – 6). Each programme card: amount, eligibility, co-funding, application window, eligible costs, documents, bonuses and the typical competition and most common reason for rejection, with a link to the operator. Plus a Quick Finder table, a calendar of 9 programmes with confirmed dates and 6 annual cycles, and an index of statuses (veterans, women, IDPs, frontline territories, youth). Price and delivery: €11 one-off via LiqPay; a bundle with the Funding Atlas costs €24. A personalised PDF is emailed right after payment; backup link valid for 14 days; two free updates within a year. Full description: https://getgrant.ua/en/business-map.md # Programmes and funders ## Creative Europe URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/creative-europe/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Creative Europe is the EU programme for culture, the audiovisual sector and media for 2021–2027, with a budget of about €2.44 billion. Ukraine takes part in the Culture and Cross-sectoral strands and, since December 2024, has full access to MEDIA as well. A Ukrainian organisation can be a partner or a coordinator, but the grant covers only part of the budget, so an own contribution is needed. Key facts: - Budget: €2.44bn - Period: 2021–2027 - Ukraine: Culture, Cross-sectoral and MEDIA - Rate: 80% small / 70% medium projects Creative Europe is the only EU programme designed specifically for the cultural and creative sectors. Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2021/818 sets an envelope of €1.842 billion in current prices and an additional €600 million in 2018 prices, which is why the European Commission quotes a total of €2.44 billion. The programme funds not single events but cooperation between organisations from different countries and the circulation of works across borders. ### Three strands Culture (at least 33% of the budget) covers all cultural sectors except the audiovisual one: music, performing arts, literature, heritage, architecture, design. MEDIA (at least 58%) covers film, television and video games: development, distribution, festivals, training. Cross-sectoral (up to 9%) covers actions across sectors, including news media and media literacy. ### Ukraine’s status The agreement on Ukraine’s participation in the 2021–2027 programme was signed on 15 December 2021. It opened the Culture and Cross-sectoral calls, while participation in MEDIA stayed limited until Ukraine aligned its audiovisual legislation with EU law. On 11 December 2024 the European Commission and Ukraine signed an amendment to the agreement allowing full participation in MEDIA. A Ukrainian organisation can be both a partner and a project coordinator. ### Main calls of the Culture strand European Cooperation Projects are the main entry point. The 2026 call had two categories: small-scale projects (at least 3 organisations from 3 countries, a grant of up to €200,000, a rate of up to 80%) and medium-scale projects (at least 5 organisations from 5 countries, up to €1,000,000, up to 70%). Large-scale projects, with at least 10 organisations from 10 countries, are not announced every year: there were none in 2026, so their conditions should be checked in the call document of the year they appear. A project lasts up to 48 months, and one organisation can be coordinator in only one application per call. Circulation of European literary works is a call for publishers to translate, publish and promote fiction: a package of at least 5 works, a rate of up to 60%, and a grant from €100,000 to €300,000 depending on the number of books. European Networks and European Platforms are multi-year grants for Europe-wide structures; for Ukrainian organisations it is more realistic to become their members than to apply. Culture Moves Europe offers individual mobility grants for artists and residencies; the scheme is implemented by the Goethe-Institut and applications do not go through the EU portal. ### Lump sum and the own contribution The grant in cooperation projects is a lump sum: a fixed amount set by the agency on the basis of the estimated budget in the proposal and the funding rate. Receipts are not checked at reporting, but payment is tied to the completion of work packages: an unfinished package is not paid. After the agreement is signed a pre-financing payment normally arrives, there are no interim payments, and the balance is paid after completion. A rate of 80% or 70% means that the consortium covers the rest of the budget itself. For a small organisation this co-financing is the main risk, so the source of the own contribution should be identified before applying. ### Who runs it and where to start The calls are run by the executive agency EACEA and published on the Funding & Tenders Portal. To apply, each participant needs a PIC. Ukraine has a national office of the programme, Creative Europe Desk Ukraine, which advises applicants free of charge and helps with partner search. A typical mistake is to submit a national project with nominal foreign partners. What is assessed is the European dimension: what each member of the consortium does and why the result would not exist without cooperation. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a Ukrainian organisation be the coordinator? Answer: Yes. Ukraine is a country associated to the programme, so a Ukrainian organisation can apply both as a partner and as the coordinator. The list of eligible countries for a specific call is given in its documents. - Question: Do we have to report with receipts? Answer: Not in cooperation projects: the grant is a fixed lump sum, and what is checked is the completion of work packages, not individual costs. The budget in the proposal still has to be realistic, because the agency uses it to set the grant amount. - Question: Does the programme fund a single festival or performance? Answer: The Culture strand does not fund stand-alone national events. Support goes to transnational cooperation projects in which an event is part of joint work by organisations from several countries. - Question: Can film producers from Ukraine apply? Answer: Yes, since the amendment to the agreement was signed on 11 December 2024 Ukrainian organisations have full access to MEDIA calls. Check the conditions of each call, including requirements for the company and its previous works, in the call documents. Sources: - Регламент (ЄС) 2021/818 про програму Creative Europe (2021–2027) (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/818/oj/eng) - European Commission: About the Creative Europe programme (https://culture.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe/about-the-creative-europe-programme) - European Commission: Ukraine joins the MEDIA strand of the Creative Europe programme (https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/ukraine-joins-media-strand-creative-europe-programme) - Call document CREA-CULT-2026-COOP: European Cooperation Projects (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/crea/wp-call/2026/call-fiche_crea-cult-2026-coop_en.pdf) - Call document CREA-CULT-2026-LIT: Circulation of European literary works (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/crea/wp-call/2026/call-fiche_crea-cult-2026-lit_en.pdf) ## Digital Europe URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/digital-europe/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Digital Europe (DIGITAL) is the EU programme for 2021–2027 with a budget of over €8.1 billion that funds the deployment of digital technologies: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital skills and their uptake in business and the public sector. Ukraine has been associated since 2022, but only to four objectives. The typical rate is 50%, so applicants fund the other half. Key facts: - Budget: over €8.1bn - Period: 2021–2027 - Ukraine: Objectives 1, 2, 4 and 5 - Rate: 50%, 75% for SMEs in some actions Digital Europe funds not research but deployment: the programme pays for a digital technology that is already mature to start working in companies, hospitals, universities and public authorities. This is the main difference from Horizon Europe, which funds development. If a solution is still at a low TRL, it does not belong here. Regulation (EU) 2021/694 set an envelope of €7.588 billion in current prices; following amendments the European Commission quotes an overall budget of over €8.1 billion. ### Six pillars of the programme The Regulation defined five specific objectives: supercomputing (objective 1), artificial intelligence, cloud and data (objective 2), cybersecurity (objective 3), advanced digital skills (objective 4) and deployment and best use of digital capacity, including the network of digital innovation hubs and the interoperability of public services (objective 5). In September 2023 a sixth area was added: semiconductors. ### Ukraine’s status The agreement associating Ukraine to the programme was signed in September 2022 and applies from 1 January 2021. The association is partial: under the current list of participating countries Ukraine takes part in objectives 1, 2, 4 and 5. Cybersecurity and semiconductors are not on that list. Even within the open objectives a work programme may restrict the participation of entities from associated countries for security reasons, so eligibility is checked in the document of each call. ### Types of action and rates Unlike Horizon Europe, where research actions are covered at 100%, here co-financing is almost always required. In the 2026 call documents: - Simple Grants – the most common type, at a rate of 50%; - SME Support Actions – 50%, and 75% for small and medium-sized enterprises; - Coordination and Support Actions – up to 100%, but these are small coordination and support actions with no investment. The type of action is stated in each topic and determines how much own funding will be needed. A business should check its SME status in advance: it decides the difference between 50% and 75%. ### Digital innovation hubs in Ukraine European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) are regional centres where businesses and public bodies can test a technology before investing, train staff and find financing. In the call for associated countries six Ukrainian hubs were selected with a budget of €4.5 million, and they joined the network on 1 January 2025. The programme covers 50% of a hub’s costs, the rest comes from national, regional or private sources. For a small business or a municipality, turning to a hub is far simpler than applying to a call on their own. ### Who runs it and how to apply Programme policy is set by the European Commission’s Directorate-General CNECT. Calls on skills, artificial intelligence, cloud, data and the use of technologies are run by the executive agency HaDEA, supercomputing by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, and cybersecurity by the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre. All calls are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal, and each participant needs a PIC. Most topics require a consortium from several countries, so it makes sense to start with partner search and with the budget: explain where the other half of the money will come from, and check the eligibility of costs. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How does Digital Europe differ from Horizon Europe? Answer: Horizon Europe funds research and development; Digital Europe funds the deployment of mature technologies and the build-up of capacities. Hence the different rate: mostly 50% here rather than 100%. - Question: Can a Ukrainian company apply to cybersecurity calls? Answer: Not to grant calls under Specific Objective 3: Ukraine takes part only in objectives 1, 2, 4 and 5. Eligibility for a specific topic is always stated in the call document. - Question: How much own funding is needed? Answer: Under Simple Grants, half of the budget. Under SME Support Actions a small or medium-sized enterprise contributes 25% and other participants 50%. Coordination and support actions can be covered in full. The exact rate is set by the call topic. - Question: What should a small business do if a consortium is beyond its reach? Answer: Turn to one of the Ukrainian digital innovation hubs. They provide technology testing, training and help with finding investment, and there is no need to win a programme call yourself. Sources: - Регламент (ЄС) 2021/694 про програму Digital Europe (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/694/oj/eng) - European Commission: The Digital Europe Programme (https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/digital-programme) - List of Participating Countries in the Digital Europe Programme, V7.0, 01.12.2025 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/digital/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_digital_en.pdf) - Call document DIGITAL-2026-AI-09: типи дій і ставки (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/digital/wp-call/2026/call-fiche_digital-2026-ai-09_en.pdf) - European Commission: New European Digital Innovation Hubs set across Western Balkans, Ukraine and Türkiye (https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/new-european-digital-innovation-hubs-set-across-western-balkans-ukraine-and-turkiye-2025-01-30_en) ## Erasmus+ URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/erasmus-plus/ Updated: 2026-08-29 Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport for 2021–2027, with a budget of €26.2 billion. It funds the mobility of people, partnerships between organisations and capacity building in higher education. Ukraine takes part as a third country not associated to the Programme, so what is open is the international dimension rather than the whole programme. Key facts: - Budget: €26.2bn (+€2.2bn external) - Period: 2021–2027 - Ukraine: Third country, not associated - Model: Lump sums Erasmus+ is the EU's second largest programme after Horizon Europe and by far its best known. It is often reduced to a semester abroad, but mobility is only one action, and not the one where the money for institutions sits. The 2021–2027 budget is €26.2 billion, roughly double the previous period, plus around €2.2 billion from the EU's external instruments. That second envelope is what pays for the international dimension, meaning cooperation with countries outside the EU. ### Three key actions plus two separate strands Key Action 1 – learning mobility. Movement of students, teachers, pupils, staff and young people. Inside the EU this is KA131; mobility with third countries is KA171, and that is the one relevant to Ukraine. Key Action 2 – cooperation among organisations. This holds partnerships for exchanging practice and innovation, plus capacity building in higher education outside the EU. Key Action 3 – support to policy: analysis, networks, expert structures. A single institution rarely enters here. Outside the key actions sit Jean Monnet Actions, on teaching and research in European integration, and the Sport strand. ### How much is granted Erasmus+ has moved almost entirely to lump sum funding: you do not report receipts, you receive a predetermined amount for work delivered. The budget in the application therefore justifies the volume of activity, not the costs. Cooperation Partnerships come in three fixed lump sums per project: €120,000, €250,000 or €400,000. Small-scale Partnerships: €30,000 or €60,000. CBHE: Strand 1 from €200,000 to €400,000, Strand 2 from €400,000 to €800,000, Strand 3 from €600,000 to €1,000,000. Jean Monnet: Module up to €35,000, Chair up to €60,000, Centre of Excellence up to €100,000. ### OID or PIC: the programme uses two different codes This is where nearly everyone trips. In decentralised actions an organisation registers in the Erasmus+ system and receives an OID, a code shaped like E10000001. In centralised actions run by the EACEA the application goes through the Funding & Tenders Portal and the organisation is identified by a PIC, the same code used in Horizon Europe. A Ukrainian institution applying to CBHE or Jean Monnet needs a PIC, not an OID. ### What is open to a Ukrainian institution In programme terminology Ukraine is a third country not associated to the Programme, region 2 "Neighbourhood East". This is not the status Ukraine holds in Horizon Europe, where it is associated and has full access. In practice a Ukrainian organisation can be a full partner and in many cases an applicant in CBHE, Jean Monnet, Erasmus Mundus and KA171, but has no access to actions that operate only inside the circle of participating countries. See the article on Ukraine's participation. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a Ukrainian university coordinate an Erasmus+ project? Answer: Yes, though not in every action. In CBHE the coordinator may be an institution from a participating country or from a third country in the region, depending on the strand and the conditions of the given year. In Jean Monnet a Ukrainian institution may apply in its own right. In decentralised actions run by a National Agency, a Ukrainian institution joins as a partner. - Question: How does Erasmus+ differ from Horizon Europe for a university? Answer: In subject matter. Horizon Europe funds research, and its output is new knowledge or technology. Erasmus+ funds education: curricula, teacher qualification, institutional modernisation. A project about a new degree programme is Erasmus+; a project about a new research method is Horizon Europe. - Question: What is a lump sum and is it advantageous? Answer: A lump sum means the grant is paid for work delivered, not against receipts. Reporting is simpler because individual costs need not be proven. The risk sits elsewhere: if a work package is judged not completed, nothing is paid for it at all, even where the money was genuinely spent. Sources: - Erasmus+ Programme Guide (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/introduction) - Erasmus+ 2021-2027: €26.2 billion (https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/news/erasmus-2021-2027-programme_en) - Programme Guide: Cooperation partnerships (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-b/key-action-2/cooperation-partnerships) - Національний Еразмус+ офіс в Україні (https://erasmusplus.org.ua/en/) ## Horizon Europe URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Horizon Europe is the EU framework programme for research and innovation for 2021–2027, with a budget of roughly €93.5 billion – the largest such programme in the world. It funds fundamental science, applied research against societal challenges and breakthrough innovation, and Ukraine takes part in full as an associated country. Key facts: - Budget: €95.5 bn - Period: 2021–2027 - Ukraine: associated since 12.10.2022 - Funding rate: 100% (RIA) / 70% (IA) Horizon Europe is the EU's ninth framework programme for research and innovation, running from 2021 to 2027. Most competitive European research funding flows through it, from grants to a single researcher to multi-million consortium projects. ### The budget is €93.5bn, not €95.5bn €95.5bn is the figure you will find in most sources – it was the starting budget. In the February 2024 revision of the multiannual financial framework €2.1bn was moved out of the programme, with €100m of previously decommitted funds returned. The current figure is about €93.5bn, plus €5.4bn from NextGenerationEU. ### Three pillars Pillar I – Excellent Science (~€23.5bn): the ERC for frontier research (€15bn), MSCA for mobility and training (€6.3bn), research infrastructures (€2.2bn). Pillar II – Global Challenges (~€47.4bn), the largest: applied research against societal challenges across six clusters. This is where most consortium calls sit. Pillar III – Innovative Europe (~€11.9bn): the EIC (€8.8bn), innovation ecosystems and the EIT. Alongside them sits Widening and the European Research Area (~€3.2bn) – the part most relevant to Ukrainian institutions. ### Types of action and funding rates 100% of eligible costs: research and innovation actions, coordination and support actions, training and mobility actions, pre-commercial procurement. 70%: innovation actions and innovation-and-market-deployment actions. The exception people forget: non-profit legal entities may receive up to 100% even in an innovation action. 50%: public procurement of innovative solutions. 30–70%: programme co-fund actions. Indirect costs are charged at a flat 25% of direct eligible costs, excluding subcontracting, financial support to third parties and amounts that already include indirect costs. ### Minimum consortium Research and innovation actions require three independent legal entities from three different countries, at least one established in an EU Member State and two others in different Member States or associated countries. Affiliated entities do not count towards the minimum. But not everything needs a consortium: coordination and support actions, training and mobility actions, programme co-fund actions, every ERC scheme except Synergy, MSCA postdoctoral fellowships, and EIC Accelerator, Transition and Pathfinder Challenges are all single-applicant. The Hop-on Facility takes exactly two. ### What changed in 2026–2027 This is the last work programme of the period, adopted on 11 December 2025 with a €14bn budget. Simplification is measurable: the programme is 33% shorter, topics are down 35%, and single-project topics halved. Half the call budget runs through lump sums, mainly where grants stay below €10m. Page limits fell: 40 pages for a full proposal, 25 for a coordination action, 10 for stage one. Some short proposals are now assessed anonymously. New: horizontal calls belonging to no cluster – R&I for the Clean Industrial Deal (~€540m) and AI in Science (~€90m, with at least €775m more for AI across the programme); the Choose Europe for Science initiative; the ERC Plus scheme; and a New European Bauhaus Facility of over €210m. ### Competition and calendar The programme-wide success rate is 16.4%, up from 12% in the predecessor. But the number worth remembering is different: 70% of proposals judged good enough go unfunded for lack of budget. The average grant is €2.9m. Deadlines are always 17:00 Brussels time. Calls cluster in two seasons – spring (mid-March to mid-April) and autumn (September–October). Opening dates can shift by a month either way and deadlines by up to two, so check the call page rather than a guide. Eight months are allowed from deadline to grant signature (245 days). The ERC is exempt. ### Ukraine Ukraine is an associated country with full access to every part of the programme. The agreement was signed on 12 October 2021, entered into force on 9 June 2022 and applies retroactively from 1 January 2021. In the official list of participating countries Ukraine appears without any reservation on the scope of participation – unlike Canada, Korea or the UK, which carry restrictions. Ukraine's financial contribution for 2021–2022 was waived, and since 2024 a general suspension of Ukraine's payment obligations across all Union programmes has applied. Beyond general calls, the 2026–2027 programme carries five Ukraine-specific topics. See Ukrainian participants. Be careful with participation statistics: the only officially published static figures are from a Commission factsheet of November 2024 – 289 organisations and €58.64m in EU contribution. Newer numbers exist only in an interactive dashboard, so any "current" figure without a date and source is worth checking. ### After 2027 The next programme starts 1 January 2028 and keeps the same name. "FP10" is journalistic shorthand; the official proposal calls it the tenth framework programme under the existing brand. As of July 2026 this is a proposal, not adopted law. The Commission proposed €175bn in current prices (about €154.9bn in 2025 prices – the same number, different price base). The Council adopted partial approaches in June 2026 with all budget provisions bracketed; Parliament has no position yet, and its rapporteur proposes €220bn. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How many organisations are needed to apply? Answer: For a research or innovation action, three independent legal entities from three different countries: at least one from an EU Member State, the other two from different Member States or associated countries. But coordination actions, training actions, all ERC schemes except Synergy, MSCA postdoctoral fellowships and most EIC instruments are submitted by a single applicant. - Question: Does Ukraine pay a contribution to take part? Answer: In practice, no. The contribution for 2021–2022 was cancelled, and since 2024 a general suspension of Ukraine's payment obligations applies across all Union programmes. Access to the programme is nevertheless full, with no restrictions by pillar. - Question: Why does the budget figure differ between sources? Answer: €95.5 billion was the starting budget in 2021. In February 2024, €2.1 billion was reallocated away from the programme, so the current figure is around €93.5 billion. The old one can still be found even on official pages that have not been updated for a long time. - Question: What is FP10 and when does it start? Answer: It is the informal name of the next programme, which starts on 1 January 2028. Officially it keeps the name Horizon Europe. As of July 2026 the budget and structure are still being agreed: the Commission proposed €175 billion, the European Parliament rapporteur €220 billion, and Parliament has no position yet. Sources: - HE Work Programme 2026-2027, General Introduction (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-1-general-introduction_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - HE Work Programme 2026-2027, General Annexes (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - Regulation (EU) 2021/695 (consolidated) (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02021R0695-20240301) - Mid-term evaluation of Horizon Europe, SWD(2025) 110 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52025SC0110) - List of Participating Countries V3.9 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) ## Interreg URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/interreg/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Interreg is the EU’s European territorial cooperation for 2021–2027: dozens of separate programmes, each with its own territory, calls and rules. Ukrainian municipalities, public institutions, NGOs and universities take part in several of them, but only together with partners from EU countries. The rate, the advance and Ukraine’s status depend on the programme, so check them on its website. Key facts: - ERDF budget: €8.05bn in 2018 prices - Period: 2021–2027 - Ukraine: Partner in several programmes - Rate: up to 80%, up to 90% in NEXT programmes Interreg is not one programme but several dozen separate European territorial cooperation programmes, each with its own territory, secretariat, calls and manual. The common framework is Regulation (EU) 2021/1059: for 2021–2027 the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) provides €8.05 billion in 2018 prices, and programmes with the EU’s neighbours are additionally funded from the NDICI instrument. For a Ukrainian applicant the main consequence is this: the question "can Ukraine take part in Interreg" has no single answer. It has to be answered for a specific programme and a specific oblast. ### Three strands relevant to Ukraine Article 3 of the Regulation divides Interreg into strands. Cross-border cooperation (Interreg A) covers projects of adjacent border regions and takes 72.2% of the ERDF resources. Transnational cooperation (Interreg B) covers larger territories such as the Danube region, 18.2%. Interregional cooperation (Interreg C) is the exchange of experience between public authorities and cities; Interreg Europe and URBACT belong here, 6.1%. The fourth strand concerns the EU’s outermost regions and does not cover Ukraine. ### Which programmes Ukrainian partners take part in - Interreg NEXT Poland–Ukraine: Lviv, Volyn, Zakarpattia, Rivne, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts; the EU contribution to the programme is €235.9 million. - Interreg VI-A NEXT Hungary–Slovakia–Romania–Ukraine: Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi oblasts. - Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Ukraine and Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin: the oblasts bordering Romania and those on the Black Sea; check the exact list in the programme document. - Danube Region Programme: partners from the entire territory of Ukraine. - Interreg Europe: Ukraine joined in July 2024 together with six other candidate countries; only territories under the control of the Government of Ukraine are eligible. - URBACT IV: Ukrainian cities have been eligible since early 2024, with €2 million from NDICI set aside for cities from Ukraine and Moldova. ### The rate and the own contribution Under Article 13 of the Regulation the rate at programme level is no higher than 80%, and it may be higher for programmes where NDICI provides most of the money. In practice Poland–Ukraine and Hungary–Slovakia–Romania–Ukraine cover up to 90% of eligible expenditure, and the Danube Region Programme 80%; for other programmes check the rate in the call documents. The rest is the partner’s co-financing: 10–30% of its share of the budget. ### The lead partner and money up front Cross-border and transnational projects must involve partners from at least two participating countries, at least one of them from an EU Member State. The partners designate a lead partner, who concludes a partnership agreement with the others, is responsible for the whole project and passes on to the partners their share of the funds without deductions. The Regulation allows a partner from any participating country to lead, but a programme may narrow this: in the first two calls of the Danube Region Programme Ukrainian organisations could only be partners. For a municipality the most important question is when the money arrives. The Danube Region Programme works on the reimbursement principle: there is no pre-financing, so a partner first spends its own funds and then reports. Poland–Ukraine funds projects through advance payments, and in the first call of Hungary–Slovakia–Romania–Ukraine the advance was up to 25% of the EU contribution. Where a programme pays no advance, working capital for several months has to be planned in the municipal budget before applying. ### Project types and where to find calls Besides regular projects, programmes run small projects with simpler rules. The Regulation allows up to 20% of a programme’s allocation to go to small project funds. Each programme sets the amounts and duration of such projects in its own call. There is no single submission portal: a call is announced by the programme itself on its own website, and proposals go through its electronic system, not through the Funding & Tenders Portal. As of October 2026 the main calls of most programmes have already taken place, so the realistic entry points are small project funds, joining a partnership that is looking for a Ukrainian participant, and preparing for the 2028–2034 period. On finding a partner, see the article on partner search; for other opportunities, the overview of grants for communities; and for cost rules, the article on eligible costs. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a Ukrainian municipality submit an Interreg project on its own? Answer: No. Cross-border and transnational projects need partners from at least two participating countries, one of them from an EU Member State. Interreg Europe and URBACT need partners from at least three countries, two of them from EU Member States. - Question: How much own funding is required? Answer: It depends on the programme. In Poland–Ukraine and Hungary–Slovakia–Romania–Ukraine the partner contributes at least 10% of its budget, in the Danube Region Programme 20%, and in Interreg Europe 20% for public bodies and 30% for private non-profit bodies. - Question: Does Interreg pay money up front? Answer: Not always. Some programmes pay an advance after the contract is signed, others only reimburse expenditure already incurred and verified. This is set out in the programme manual, which should be read before applying, because it decides whether the institution’s budget can carry the project. - Question: Where are open calls published? Answer: On each programme’s own website. The common site interreg.eu helps to find a programme by territory, but conditions, dates and application forms are published only by the programme itself. Sources: - Регламент (ЄС) 2021/1059 про спеціальні положення щодо Interreg (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1059/oj/eng) - Interreg NEXT Poland–Ukraine 2021–2027: About the Programme (https://pl-ua.eu/en/programme/about-the-programme/) - Interreg VI-A NEXT Hungary–Slovakia–Romania–Ukraine: 1st Call for Proposals (https://next.huskroua-cbc.eu/calls/1st-call-for-proposals) - Danube Region Programme: Frequently asked questions (https://interreg-danube.eu/frequently-asked-questions) - Interreg Europe: EU candidate countries well integrated in Interreg Europe (https://www.interregeurope.eu/news-events/news/eu-candidate-countries-well-integrated-in-interreg-europe) ## LIFE URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/life/ Updated: 2026-08-29 LIFE is the only EU programme devoted entirely to the environment and climate action, with a budget of €5.432 billion for 2021–2027. It runs through four sub-programmes: nature and biodiversity, circular economy, climate action, and the clean energy transition. Ukraine has been associated to LIFE since 2022, so a Ukrainian organisation can be a full beneficiary. Key facts: - Budget: €5.432bn - Period: 2021–2027 - Ukraine: Associated since 24.06.2022 - Rate: 60% / 75% nature / 95% energy LIFE is the oldest running EU programme of its kind: it has operated since 1992 and remains the only instrument devoted entirely to the environment and climate. Against Horizon Europe its budget is small, but the competition is of a different kind, and so is the subject: LIFE funds not research but the implementation of solutions that already work. That is the main thing to grasp before applying. A project proposing to study a problem does not get through LIFE. What gets through is a project showing how a specific solution applies to a specific territory, and what happens to it once the funding ends. ### Four sub-programmes and the exact budgets Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2021/783 sets a total envelope of €5,432,000,000 in current prices and its indicative distribution across two fields. The field "Environment" – €3,488,000,000, of which nature and biodiversity takes €2,143,000,000 and the circular economy and quality of life €1,345,000,000. The field "Climate Action" – €1,944,000,000, of which climate change mitigation and adaptation takes €947,000,000 and the clean energy transition €997,000,000. Separately, the Regulation requires at least 60% of the resources for action grants in the field "Environment" to go to nature and biodiversity. That is a budget allocation rule, not a co-financing rate, and the two are regularly confused. ### Co-financing rates LIFE does not cover costs in full: the beneficiary contributes a share. The general rate is 60% of eligible costs. Nature and biodiversity projects receive up to 75%. The clean energy transition stands apart at up to 95%, because what it funds is mostly coordination and support actions rather than capital investment. The applicable rate is confirmed each year by the call conditions, so check it on the call page rather than in last year's guide. ### Project types Standard action projects (SAP) – the bulk of the calls and the usual entry point for an organisation. Strategic nature projects (SNaP) and strategic integrated projects (SIP) – large multi-year projects implementing national or regional plans, requiring the involvement of public authorities and the mobilisation of other funding sources. Technical assistance projects – preparation for taking part in the large project types. Operating grants – support for the running of non-governmental organisations working on the environment and climate, rather than for a single project. ### Who runs it and where the calls are The programme is managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Calls are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal and submitted there, so the organisation needs a PIC. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a Ukrainian organisation coordinate a LIFE project? Answer: Yes. Ukraine has been associated to the programme since 24 June 2022, so Ukrainian organisations take part in any capacity, including as coordinator and beneficiary. This is where LIFE differs from Erasmus+, where Ukraine’s status is different. - Question: Does LIFE fund research? Answer: No. Research is funded by Horizon Europe. LIFE funds the implementation and demonstration of solutions that are already proven, and their replication in new territories. - Question: How much own funding is required? Answer: Usually 40% of eligible costs at the 60% rate, or 25% for nature and biodiversity projects at 75%. In the clean energy transition the contribution can be 5%. The exact rate is set by the call. Sources: - Regulation (EU) 2021/783 establishing the LIFE Programme (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/783/oj/eng) - List of Participating Countries in the LIFE Programme (V10.0) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/life/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_life_en.pdf) - LIFE Programme – CINEA (https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en) # Programme sections ## CBHE: capacity building in higher education URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/erasmus-plus/erasmus-cbhe/ Updated: 2026-08-29 Capacity Building in Higher Education is the Erasmus+ action built around universities outside the EU, which makes it the most important one in the programme for Ukrainian institutions. It has three strands, with grants from €200,000 to €1,000,000 and durations from 24 to 48 months. Key facts: - Strand 1: €200,000 – €400,000 - Strand 2: €400,000 – €800,000 - Strand 3: €600,000 – €1,000,000 - Managed by: EACEA, PIC required CBHE is the one large Erasmus+ action designed around institutions outside the EU rather than inside it. For a Ukrainian university it is the main entry point into the programme: here it is not an appendix to a European application but its subject. The action is centralised, so the application goes to the EACEA through the Funding & Tenders Portal, and the organisation needs a PIC rather than an OID. ### Three strands for different levels of maturity Strand 1 – fostering access to cooperation. For institutions with little international project experience and for newcomers. Grant from €200,000 to €400,000, duration 24 or 36 months. Strand 2 – partnerships for transformation. Innovation in education and institutional modernisation. Grant from €400,000 to €800,000, duration 24 or 36 months. Strand 3 – structural reform projects. Systemic change in higher education with national authorities involved. Grant from €600,000 to €1,000,000, duration 36 or 48 months. ### Minimum consortium For Strands 1 and 2 a national project requires at least two programme countries (one institution each) and one third country represented by at least two institutions. A multi-country project takes the same two programme countries plus two third countries, with two institutions from each. Strand 3 adds the mandatory involvement of the national competent authority, meaning the ministry or agency responsible for higher education. ### What is actually assessed CBHE is not about scientific novelty but about the change that stays in the institution after the project ends. An application describing a series of conferences and visits loses to one describing an accredited programme, a retrained department or a quality assurance system put in place. The second common weakness is cooperation in which the Ukrainian partners are recipients rather than co-authors. The logic of the action assumes that institutions in the third country define the need and European partners bring the experience of meeting it. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a Ukrainian university coordinate a CBHE project? Answer: It depends on the strand and the conditions of the given year. Historically coordination in CBHE has more often stayed with an institution from a programme country, so check the conditions of the specific call on the Portal rather than relying on a general rule. - Question: How many Ukrainian institutions must be in the project? Answer: At least two from the country if the project is national, that is, focused on a single third country. In a multi-country project, two institutions from each third country involved. - Question: Is a PIC needed if the institution already has an OID? Answer: Yes. The OID works in decentralised actions, whereas CBHE is run by the EACEA through the Funding & Tenders Portal, where the identifier is the PIC. Sources: - Programme Guide: Capacity building in higher education (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-b/key-action-2/capacity-building-higher-education) - Erasmus+ Programme Guide (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/introduction) ## Circular Economy and Quality of Life URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/life/life-circular/ Updated: 2026-08-29 The circular economy and quality of life sub-programme holds €1.345 billion for 2021–2027. It funds waste management, resource efficiency, water and air quality, noise reduction and chemical safety, and the co-financing rate here is 60%. Key facts: - Budget: €1.345bn - Rate: 60% - Field: Environment - Applicant: Often a municipality or utility This sub-programme covers the part of EU environmental policy that touches people and the economy: waste, resources, water, air, noise, chemicals. By the profile of its applicants it is the closest to municipalities and utilities. The typical funded project is not a scientific development but the switch of a specific town or plant to a different technology with a measurable result. ### Main areas Circular economy and waste: waste prevention, separate collection, re-use, material recovery. Water: water quality, reuse of treated water, implementation of the Water Framework Directive. Air: cutting the emissions with the greatest health impact, particulate matter in particular. Chemicals and noise: substitution of hazardous substances, reduction of urban noise exposure. ### What makes an application strong Two things. First, a measurable effect: how many tonnes of waste will be kept out of landfill, by how much a pollutant concentration will fall, for how many people. Second, replicability: LIFE funds a model others can repeat, so a project with no plan for spreading the result reads as a one-off equipment purchase. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a municipal utility apply? Answer: Yes. Eligible LIFE beneficiaries are legal entities of any form, including public authorities, municipal utilities, non-governmental organisations and businesses. - Question: Is equipment purchase funded? Answer: Yes, where the equipment is needed to demonstrate the solution. But a project that amounts to a purchase does not pass: LIFE pays for a model and its spread, not for fitting out. Sources: - Regulation (EU) 2021/783 establishing the LIFE Programme (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/783/oj/eng) - LIFE Programme – CINEA (https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en) ## Clean Energy Transition: a rate of up to 95% URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/life/life-clean-energy/ Updated: 2026-08-29 The clean energy transition sub-programme holds €997 million for 2021–2027 and carries the highest co-financing rate in LIFE, up to 95%. It funds not equipment but the removal of non-technological barriers: policies, skills, financing schemes and the preparation of investment projects. Key facts: - Budget: €997m - Rate: up to 95% - Action type: Mostly CSA - Subject: Barriers, not equipment This is the most unusual LIFE sub-programme, and the one people turn to most often when the other three do not fit. The co-financing rate reaches 95%, so the own contribution is minimal. The reason for the high rate is simple, and it is also the main constraint: what is funded here are mostly coordination and support actions, not capital investment. You cannot buy a boiler house or a solar plant with this money. ### What exactly is funded Removing the non-technological barriers to the clean energy transition: local and regional energy policies, bringing investment projects to bankable stage, energy efficiency financing schemes, training of professionals, work with communities and energy cooperatives, action against energy poverty. In other words, LIFE here pays for making an investment possible, not for the investment itself. ### How that looks in the project budget The main cost line is staff, then expertise, communication and events. Equipment is either absent or ancillary. An application in which capital expenditure is the larger share of the budget is ineligible in this sub-programme by definition. ### Who this suits in Ukraine Municipalities, energy agencies and organisations working on energy efficiency at the level of policy and project preparation. Given the need to rebuild energy infrastructure, bringing projects to investment readiness is precisely what this sub-programme funds directly. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Why is the rate as high as 95%? Answer: Because what is funded are coordination and support actions, which create no asset and generate no revenue. Where LIFE funds capital investment, the rate is considerably lower. - Question: Can solar panels be bought with this sub-programme? Answer: No, that is not its subject. It funds the preparation of such an investment: the audit, the design, the financing scheme, the training, the work with the community. Sources: - Regulation (EU) 2021/783 establishing the LIFE Programme (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/783/oj/eng) - LIFE Programme – CINEA (https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en) ## Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/life/life-climate/ Updated: 2026-08-29 The climate change mitigation and adaptation sub-programme holds €947 million for 2021–2027. It funds cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the adaptation of territories to the effects of climate change and climate governance, at a co-financing rate of 60%. Key facts: - Budget: €947m - Rate: 60% - Field: Climate Action - Strands: Mitigation, adaptation, governance The smallest of the four sub-programmes by budget, and at the same time the one most tightly bound to plans and policies rather than to individual assets. ### Three strands Mitigation – cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the sectors outside the emissions trading system: buildings, transport, agriculture, waste management. Adaptation – reducing the vulnerability of territories to the effects of climate change: urban heat, drought, flooding, coastal erosion. Governance and information – the capacity of public authorities to plan climate policy and carry it through to delivery. ### Why municipal projects win here Adaptation is by definition tied to a territory, so the strongest applications come from cities and regions that already have a sustainable energy and climate action plan and can point to the specific commitment in it that the project delivers. An application that opens with a global problem and never reaches a particular street, district or catchment is not competitive in this sub-programme. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How does this differ from the climate topics in Horizon Europe? Answer: In subject. Horizon Europe funds research and the development of a solution; LIFE funds its implementation in a specific territory and its replication. - Question: Is a local climate plan required? Answer: Formally not always, but in practice an adopted plan strengthens the application sharply: it shows the project delivers a commitment already made rather than one invented for the call. Sources: - Regulation (EU) 2021/783 establishing the LIFE Programme (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/783/oj/eng) - LIFE Programme – CINEA (https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en) ## EIC Accelerator: a grant plus an equity investment URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/eic-accelerator/ Updated: 2026-08-29 The EIC Accelerator is the largest EIC instrument, with a 2026 budget of around €634 million. It combines a grant of up to €2.5 million with a direct investment of €1 to €10 million in exchange for a stake taken by the EIC Fund. A single company applies, and selection runs through a short application, a full application and a jury interview. Key facts: - Budget 2026: ~€634m - Grant: up to €2.5m - Investment: €1–10m - Applicant: A single company The Accelerator is the only Horizon Europe instrument where the EU does not merely give a grant but buys a stake in the company. That is why it runs on different rules from the rest of the programme, and why what is assessed here is neither a consortium nor scientific novelty but the company and its capacity to grow. ### Blended finance: two different things in one application The grant component – a lump sum of up to €2.5 million for innovation activities. The investment component – a direct investment of €1 to €10 million through the EIC Fund in exchange for a stake in the company. You may apply for the grant component alone. You cannot obtain the investment without going through the grant selection. ### Who may apply A start-up or SME, including spin-outs; a small mid-cap of up to 499 employees, but for the investment component only; and a natural or legal person planning to establish such a company. No consortium is required or foreseen: there is a single applicant. ### Selection: three steps and an interview Step 1 – a short 12-page application, a deck of up to 10 slides and a three-minute video. Remote assessment by four experts. Step 2 – a full application of around 20 pages with an implementation plan and financial information. Step 3 – an interview with the EIC jury. From 2026 the procedure has been simplified: the forms are shorter and full applications are assessed in batches roughly every two months instead of a six-month cycle. Short applications are accepted continuously, so you choose when to submit. ### Why the success rate is so low Because at the final step it is companies, not applications, that compete. A technically flawless project is dropped if the jury does not see a team able to bring the product out, or a market that justifies the investment. That is not a flaw in the procedure but its design: the investment component means the EU becomes a co-owner, and it behaves accordingly. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can I take the grant only, without the investment? Answer: Yes. An applicant may go for the grant component alone. The reverse is not possible: no investment is made without passing the grant selection. - Question: Are partners required? Answer: No. A single company applies to the Accelerator. This sets it apart from most Horizon Europe instruments, which require a consortium from three countries. - Question: When should I apply? Answer: Short applications are accepted continuously. Full ones are assessed in batches roughly every two months. The investment component works first come, first served, so the last batch of the year may not happen if the budget runs out earlier. Sources: - EIC Accelerator (https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-accelerator_en) - EIC Work Programme 2026 (https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-2026-work-programme_en) ## EIC Pathfinder: the earliest stage of a breakthrough technology URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/eic-pathfinder/ Updated: 2026-08-29 EIC Pathfinder funds research into a breakthrough technology at the earliest stage, when no market prospect is yet visible. The 2026 budget for the strand is around €262 million, grants reach €4 million, the funding rate is 100% and the model is a lump sum. Key facts: - Budget 2026: ~€262m - Grant: up to €4m - Rate: 100%, lump sum - Maturity: Early, before prototypes Pathfinder is the rung of the EIC furthest from the market. What is funded here is the idea of a technology rather than a product: something with no prototype yet, whose odds of success are deliberately low. That matters for expectations. A Pathfinder evaluator does not ask about the business model and does not expect a letter from an investor. The question is how genuinely new the underlying principle is, and what happens if it works. ### Two parts of the strand Pathfinder Open – no set topic: you propose your own direction. A consortium applies. Pathfinder Challenges – against specific challenges defined by the annual work programme. Here a single applicant may apply. This often surprises people: the open part requires a consortium, the thematic part does not. ### Money and model The strand's 2026 budget is around €262 million and the grant is up to €4 million. It is a research action, so the rate is 100% of eligible costs, and payment follows the lump sum model: the money is tied to completed work packages rather than to receipts. ### What comes after Pathfinder The logical continuation is EIC Transition, which is entered precisely with Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept results. The sequence is by design: the EIC was built as a staircase from idea to market, and each step has its own entry ticket. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Is a consortium required? Answer: In Pathfinder Open, yes. In Pathfinder Challenges a single applicant may apply, because the topic is already set by the work programme. - Question: Can I apply with a technology that already has a prototype? Answer: Then it is probably not Pathfinder. EIC Transition exists to take an existing result to market readiness, and EIC Accelerator to take it to market. - Question: Does Ukraine take part? Answer: Yes, on the same terms as everyone else: Ukraine is associated to Horizon Europe, and the EIC is its Pillar III. Sources: - EIC Work Programme 2026 (https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-2026-work-programme_en) ## EIC Transition: from a result to market readiness URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/eic-transition/ Updated: 2026-08-29 EIC Transition funds taking an existing scientific result to a state fit for market entry. The 2026 budget for the strand is around €100 million, grants reach €2.5 million, and the entry ticket is a result from Pathfinder, ERC Proof of Concept or another eligible project. Key facts: - Budget 2026: ~€100m - Grant: up to €2.5m - Entry ticket: A result from an eligible project - Applicant: Single entity or small consortium Transition closes the gap in which most scientific results die: the technology is proven in the laboratory but has not yet been shown in real conditions, and so for an investor it does not exist. ### How it differs from its neighbours Pathfinder tests whether the principle works at all. Transition takes an already tested principle and carries it to application: validation in a relevant environment, first trials with users, development of the business case. Accelerator starts where a company already has something to scale. ### The entry ticket This is the strand's defining feature: you cannot apply with just any idea, only with a result from an eligible earlier project. The classic sources are EIC Pathfinder and ERC Proof of Concept, but the list of eligible sources is set by the work programme of the year and must be checked before applying. ### Money The strand's 2026 budget is around €100 million and the grant is up to €2.5 million. A single entity or a small consortium applies, depending on whether proving the technology needs a partner with manufacturing or clinical facilities. ### What is assessed The key difference from the rest of Horizon Europe: here the market is already a question. The application must show who exactly the user will be, why they would switch from the existing solution, and what happens to the technology once the grant ends. A project describing only technical work looks unfinished in Transition. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can I apply without a previous EU grant? Answer: No. Transition requires a result from an eligible earlier project. What counts as an eligible source is set by the work programme of the year. - Question: Must I have a company? Answer: No, a research organisation can be the applicant. But a plan for taking the technology to market has to be in the application regardless of who applies. Sources: - EIC Work Programme 2026 (https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-2026-work-programme_en) ## ERC: six frontier research schemes URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/erc/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The European Research Council funds frontier research on a single criterion, scientific excellence, with no set topics, no consortium and no requirement of practical application. Six schemes: Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, ERC Plus, Synergy and Proof of Concept, from €150,000 to €10 million. Success rates in the 2025 calls were around 10–12%. Key facts: - Schemes: 6 (incl. ERC Plus) - WP2027 budget: €2.81bn - Success rate: ~10–12% (2025) - Consortium: Not required The ERC funds research defined by the researcher. There are no thematic topics, no consortium and no requirement of practical application: you propose a scientific question and a panel judges whether it can move the frontier of knowledge. That makes the ERC the most prestigious and most competitive part of Horizon Europe – the 2025 calls funded roughly 10–12% of proposals. ### Six schemes, not four Until 2026 there were genuinely five (four main schemes plus Proof of Concept). Work Programme 2026 added a sixth, the ERC Plus Grant, under the Choose Europe initiative. Starting Grant – up to €1.5m over 5 years, for researchers starting an independent career; the post-PhD window differs between the two work programmes now in force. At least 50% of working time on the project. Consolidator Grant – up to €2m over 5 years, for those already running a group. At least 40% of time. Advanced Grant – up to €2.5m over 5 years, for established leaders; no formal post-PhD window. At least 30% of time. Funded as a lump sum rather than on actual costs. ERC Plus Grant – up to €7m over 4–7 years, for projects that cannot be done within a normal ERC grant. Open at any career stage, assessed against peers at the same stage. Requires a separate Statement of Vision (0.5–2 pages) and may be held once in a lifetime. The work programme warns about the odds: around 30 grants a year against roughly a thousand under the three main schemes. Synergy Grant – up to €10m over 6 years for a team of 2–4 principal investigators whose combined expertise achieves what none could alone. Proof of Concept – €150,000 over 18 months, open only to current and former ERC grant holders, to test the commercial or societal potential of results already obtained. The most accessible ERC scheme: about a third of proposals were funded in 2025. One condition applies across all schemes: at least half the project working time must be spent in an EU member state or associated country. ### The 2026 trap: two work programmes at once As of July 2026 two ERC work programmes are in force: WP2026 (amended) and WP2027, adopted on 20 July 2026. The differences are substantive, not cosmetic – and this is exactly where applicants working from last year's guide go wrong. The post-PhD window. Under WP2026 a Starting Grant required 2–7 years since the PhD and a Consolidator 7–12. WP2027 widens both sharply: Starting up to 10 years post-PhD (effectively no lower bound), Consolidator 5 to 15 years. How many proposals. WP2026 allowed applying to several calls but evaluated only the first eligible proposal. WP2027 is stricter: one proposal under evaluation at a time, and only one eligible proposal per work programme. Anyone who applied to Advanced or ERC Plus 2026 may not apply to Synergy 2027. Once per career. WP2027 introduces a limit that did not exist before: Starting once per career, Consolidator once per career, ERC Plus once in a lifetime. ### Resubmission restrictions A low Step 1 score blocks later calls. A C at Step 1 two calls ago, or a B or C last year, closes the main schemes for the following year. A research-integrity breach blocks everything. Two details that rescue more situations than people expect: proposals ruled inadmissible or ineligible, and those withdrawn before the deadline, do not count against these restrictions; and a resubmitted proposal is assessed as new – the earlier score is not passed to reviewers. ### Host institution and portability The host must be established in an EU member state or associated country – a university, research organisation, company, or an international European research organisation. For Starting, Consolidator, Advanced and Plus the host is the sole participant: no consortium is required or foreseen. Synergy allows up to four hosts, one of which (other than the corresponding host) may be outside the EU. A legally binding Host Institution Support Letter must accompany the proposal; without it the proposal is inadmissible. A Gender Equality Plan is mandatory throughout the project for public bodies, research organisations and higher education establishments from the EU and associated countries. An ERC grant belongs to the researcher, not the institution: portability allows moving it to another eligible host, including where the original host falls under restrictions or sanctions. ### Extending the post-PhD window Documented career breaks extend the window: maternity – 18 months per child (or the actual leave, if longer); paternity/parental leave – actual duration; long-term illness over 90 days, of the researcher or a close relative; national military service; disability; clinical training – up to 4 years; major disasters, explicitly including armed conflict – documented incapacity from 90 days; asylum procedures – from application to decision. Since 2026 the list also covers gender-based and other violence. Events must fall between the PhD defence and the call deadline – except maternity and paternity, which count for children born before the defence too. ### How proposals are assessed 28 panels across three domains: Physical Sciences & Engineering (11), Life Sciences (9), Social Sciences & Humanities (8). Choosing the panel is the applicant's responsibility. There is a single criterion – excellence, in two elements: the research project (above all its ground-breaking nature and ambition) and the principal investigator. The decisive asymmetry: at Step 1 the panel asks only about the importance of the questions and the ambition of the objectives. Methodology, work plan, timelines and resources are assessed only at Step 2. Feasibility is not considered at all in the first round. Starting, Consolidator, Advanced and Plus run two steps with an interview at Step 2 – note that the Advanced Grant now has one too. Synergy runs three steps with the interview at Step 3. Proof of Concept is single-step, assessed remotely, no interview. The interview lasts about 30 minutes, the applicant remote and the panel at the ERC premises; questions may cover the budget. At Step 1 panel members see only Part I and the CV, and assess as generalists. At most 44 proposals per panel reach Step 2. Budget is distributed across panels in proportion to demand, keeping success rates comparable. ### Proposal structure and page limits From WP2026 the Extended Synopsis no longer exists – a guide that still mentions it is out of date. Current structure: Part I up to 5 pages; CV and track record up to 4 pages per PI; Part II up to 7 pages (10 for Synergy); Resources and Time Commitment up to 2 pages; plus a 0.5–2 page Statement of Vision for ERC Plus. Formatting is strict: A4, font size no smaller than 11, single spacing, 2 cm side margins. References and Funding ID do not count. Limits are applied literally: reviewers are asked to read only what fits, and are under no obligation to read further or to follow links to external pages. ### Ukraine and the ERC Ukraine has been an associated country of Horizon Europe since 9 June 2022 and appears in the official list of participating countries without restrictions on the scope of participation, unlike several other associated countries. Ukrainian institutions may act as hosts. Legal entities established in non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine are excluded from participation in any role; the work programme states explicitly that this exclusion does not extend to researchers of Ukrainian nationality residing there. In the 2025 Starting Grant call, seven of the 478 grantees held Ukrainian nationality. How many ERC grants are hosted in Ukrainian institutions could not be established from official data: Ukraine does not appear in the published host-country breakdowns, and absence from a breakdown is not the same as zero. There is no separate ERC scheme for Ukraine. "ERC for Ukraine" is not a call and not a budget line: it is a call on ERC grant holders to employ displaced Ukrainian researchers and support staff (over 700 vacancies collected in 2023) and the ERC Mentoring Initiative, run with the Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine and the NRFU. Do not confuse it with MSCA4Ukraine – that €25m programme belongs to Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. ### What the ERC itself advises All of the following comes from the official Information for Applicants, not from consultants. Part I decides everything. The ERC asks applicants not to treat it as an abstract for Part II: the panel decides on an interview from Part I alone. Write for generalists – Step 1 readers are not specialists in your topic. Unjustified budgets will be reduced – the wording is literally that. Up to 10 items in the track record, each with its significance and your role. Senior applicants are advised to show recent achievements rather than lifetime output. No contact with reviewers, direct or indirect. Attempting to influence them counts as an integrity breach. Language. Any official EU language is formally allowed, but non-English proposals receive only a raw machine translation that ERCEA does not check. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Do I need a consortium for an ERC grant? Answer: No. For Starting, Consolidator, Advanced and Plus the host institution is the only participant in the project. A consortium with partners is not envisaged here at all. The exception is the Synergy Grant, with two to four principal investigators and up to four host institutions. - Question: I got a B at step 1 last year. When can I apply again? Answer: A B or C grade at Step 1 of last year's call closes off the main schemes for the following year, so you will have to skip one call. Important: if the proposal was declared inadmissible or ineligible, or you withdrew it before the deadline, this restriction does not apply. And a resubmission is evaluated as a new proposal; the previous score is not shown to the reviewers. - Question: Can a Ukrainian institution act as the host institution? Answer: Yes. Ukraine is an associated country of Horizon Europe with no restrictions on the scope of participation, so its institutions meet the host institution requirement. You will need a Gender Equality Plan and a legally binding letter of support. The exception is legal entities from territories not under government control: they cannot take part in any role. - Question: Does service in the Ukrainian armed forces extend the post-PhD window? Answer: Yes. The work programme explicitly names national military service among the grounds for an extension, for the documented duration. Major disasters, including armed conflicts, are listed separately, for a documented period of incapacity of 90 days or more. The event must fall after the PhD defence and before the call deadline. - Question: What is ERC Plus and is it worth applying for? Answer: A new scheme of up to €7 million for projects that cannot be carried out with an ordinary ERC grant. It is open to any career stage, can be applied for once in a lifetime and requires a separate Statement of Vision. The work programme itself advises weighing your chances: around 30 grants a year against roughly a thousand under the three main schemes. - Question: Can I apply to several schemes at the same time? Answer: Under the 2027 work programme, no: one proposal under evaluation at a time and only one eligible proposal for the whole programme. Under WP2026 you could submit more than one, but only the first eligible proposal was evaluated. This is one of those differences that make it essential to read the work programme for your own year. Sources: - ERC Work Programme 2027 (C(2026) 4907) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2027/wp_horizon-erc-2027_en.pdf) - ERC Work Programme 2026 (C(2026) 62) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026/wp_horizon-erc-2026_en.pdf) - Information for Applicants StG/CoG v11.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/information-for-applicants_he-erc-stg-cog_en.pdf) - ERC Starting Grants 2025 – statistics (https://erc.europa.eu/system/files/2025-09/erc-2025-stg-statistics.pdf) - ERC for Ukraine (https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/erc-ukraine) ## Jean Monnet: modules, chairs and centres of excellence URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/erasmus-plus/erasmus-jean-monnet/ Updated: 2026-08-29 Jean Monnet Actions fund teaching and research on European integration. It is the most accessible strand of Erasmus+ for a single institution: one university applies with no consortium, and the grant is up to €35,000 for a Module, up to €60,000 for a Chair and up to €100,000 for a Centre of Excellence. Key facts: - Module: up to €35,000, 40 hours a year - Chair: up to €60,000, 90 hours a year - Centre of Excellence: up to €100,000 - Consortium: Not required Jean Monnet is the strand people most often underrate. The amounts are modest next to the rest of the programme, but this is the only part of Erasmus+ where a single institution applies with no consortium, and preparation is measured in weeks rather than months. For an institution with no EU project experience it is the shortest route to a first grant and a first experience of reporting to the EACEA. ### Three formats Module – a short teaching course on European integration: at least 40 teaching hours per academic year over three years, grant up to €35,000. Chair – a professorship specialising in European studies: at least 90 teaching hours per year over three years, grant up to €60,000. Centre of Excellence – a focal point of competence in the institution combining teaching, research and public activity. No teaching-hour requirement, three-year duration, grant up to €100,000. ### Who may apply Higher education institutions from programme countries and from third countries not associated to the Programme, Ukraine among them. The restrictions are geographic and specific: organisations from Belarus are not eligible for Modules and Chairs, and organisations from Belarus and the Russian Federation are not eligible for Centres of Excellence. ### What the project is actually about The mistake that costs points is submitting an ordinary international relations or economics course under a Jean Monnet label. The subject must be European integration itself: EU law and institutions, policies, the history of the project, the country's place in it. The second requirement that is often ignored is reach beyond the classroom. Evaluators expect activity aimed at a wider audience than the students on the course: public lectures, materials for schools, work with civil servants or the media. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a Ukrainian university apply? Answer: Yes. Jean Monnet is open to higher education institutions from third countries not associated to the Programme, and Ukraine is among them. It is one of the few Erasmus+ strands where a Ukrainian institution is the applicant rather than a partner. - Question: Are partners required? Answer: No. Modules, Chairs and Centres of Excellence are submitted by a single institution. That is what makes this the simplest entry into the programme. - Question: May the module be taught in English? Answer: Yes, the strand does not restrict the language of instruction. What matters is the subject of the course and its place in the institution’s curriculum. Sources: - Programme Guide: Jean Monnet Actions in higher education (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-b/jean-monnet-actions/higher-education) ## Key Action 1: mobility and KA171 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/erasmus-plus/erasmus-ka1-mobility/ Updated: 2026-08-29 Key Action 1 funds the movement of people: study and traineeships for students, teaching and training for staff. Mobility with countries outside the EU sits in a separate action, KA171, where the grant goes to the European institution and the Ukrainian partner sends and hosts participants under an agreed quota. Key facts: - Action for Ukraine: KA171 - Applicant: European institution - Model: Daily and distance unit rates - Duration: Usually 24–36 months Key Action 1 is the programme's largest action by number of participants and the simplest in intent: it pays for moving a person between institutions. The difficulty is not the intent but the fact that the part of it which works for Ukraine is not the part people usually have in mind. ### KA131 and KA171 are not the same thing KA131 is mobility inside the circle of programme countries, paid from the EU's internal budget. Ukraine is not in that circle. KA171 is mobility with third countries not associated to the Programme, paid from external instruments. This is the action through which a Ukrainian institution works with European partners. The practical consequence: the European institution applies to its own National Agency, receives the grant and administers the funds. The Ukrainian partner signs an inter-institutional agreement and agrees a quota of places, but is not a beneficiary of the grant. ### How the money is calculated KA1 does not work against actual costs. Individual support is paid at a daily unit rate depending on the destination country and the type of mobility, and travel at a distance-based unit rate in kilometre bands, with a separate higher rate for green travel. As a result, finding a cheaper ticket changes nothing in the project budget, whereas the duration of the mobility changes it directly. ### What a Ukrainian institution should do The practical entry into KA171 is not an application but a partnership: the institution agrees with a European university that plans to apply for KA171, enters its application as a partner institution, and settles the fields and the number of places. So what you look for is a partner rather than a call, and you do it before that partner's National Agency deadline, not after. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a Ukrainian institution apply for KA171 on its own? Answer: No. The applicant in KA171 is an institution from a programme country applying to its own National Agency. The Ukrainian institution joins the project as a partner. - Question: How many places does a partner get? Answer: It is agreed between the institutions while the application is being prepared and depends on the budget the European institution requested for that country. There is no fixed national quota. Sources: - Erasmus+ Programme Guide (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/introduction) ## Key Action 2: cooperation partnerships URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/erasmus-plus/erasmus-ka2-partnerships/ Updated: 2026-08-29 Key Action 2 funds joint projects between organisations rather than trips for individuals. Cooperation Partnerships come in three fixed lump sums – €120,000, €250,000 and €400,000 – and Small-scale Partnerships in two, €30,000 and €60,000, the latter designed as the entry point for organisations with no EU project experience. Key facts: - Partnerships: €120,000 / €250,000 / €400,000 - Small-scale: €30,000 / €60,000 - Minimum: 3 organisations from 3 countries - Model: Lump sum Key Action 2 is about organisations. The output here is not a trip but something that remains afterwards: a curriculum, a methodology, a platform, a qualified staff. ### Two formats with different entry thresholds Cooperation Partnerships are meant for organisations with experience. The minimum composition is three organisations from three different programme countries. The grant is one of three predetermined amounts: €120,000, €250,000 or €400,000. The applicant picks the amount to match the volume of work; there are no values in between. Small-scale Partnerships exist precisely for those who have never held an EU grant: two organisations from two countries, a simplified application, a grant of €30,000 or €60,000. It is the cheapest way to earn a first line on an organisation's track record. ### Why the lump sum changes the logic of the application Because the grant is paid for work delivered rather than against receipts, the budget stops being the centre of the application. What is assessed instead are the work packages: whether the described volume of activity matches the amount requested. Hence the classic mistake: an application asks for €400,000 behind a work plan that looks like a €120,000 project. The expert does not reduce the amount, the expert lowers the score. ### What is open to a Ukrainian organisation Partnerships are a decentralised action, so applications go to the National Agency of a programme country. A Ukrainian organisation does not apply in its own right, but it can be a partner where its involvement is necessary to achieve the project's objectives and this is justified in the application. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can I request an amount between €120,000 and €250,000? Answer: No. The amounts are fixed and there are no values in between. You choose the one that matches the real volume of work. - Question: Beyond the amount, how does a Small-scale Partnership differ? Answer: A simplified application, a smaller minimum composition – two organisations from two countries – and no expectation of prior EU project experience. The low threshold is deliberate. Sources: - Programme Guide: Cooperation partnerships (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-b/key-action-2/cooperation-partnerships) - Erasmus+ Programme Guide (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/introduction) ## Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: mobility programmes URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/msca/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions fund people rather than topics: researcher mobility, doctoral programmes and training. Payments are made at fixed monthly unit rates rather than against actual costs, and both individual researchers and institutions can apply. Key facts: - Action type: TMA, 100% rate - COFUND: 70% - 2026 budget: ~€1.2bn - Consortium: Not needed for fellowships MSCA funds people, not topics. There are no thematic topics: you propose your own research project and a host organisation, and what is assessed is your trajectory, your plan and what the move will do for your career. It is the most accessible entry point into Horizon Europe for an individual researcher: most schemes require no consortium. ### How the funding works MSCA are training and mobility actions, funded not against actual costs but at fixed monthly unit rates per researcher, with country coefficients. The funding rate is 100%. The exception is COFUND at 70%, which co-finances an institution's own doctoral or postdoctoral programmes. Indicative rates: €2,800 per month for doctoral candidates and €3,980 for postdocs. The budget is around €1.2bn for 2026 and the same again for 2027. ### Main schemes Postdoctoral Fellowships – individual fellowships for those who already hold a PhD, applied for by the researcher together with a host. No consortium. The most popular scheme and the clearest first step. Doctoral Networks – joint doctoral programmes run by consortia, training candidates through mobility between partners. Staff Exchanges – secondments across sectors and countries. COFUND – co-financing of an institution's existing programmes. MSCA and Citizens – science communication for a wide audience. ### Calendar Schemes have one deadline a year, with no cut-offs, and the dates are fairly stable year on year: postdoctoral fellowships in early September, doctoral networks in late November, staff exchanges and COFUND in April. Exact dates shift, and a director-general may postpone a deadline by up to two months, so check the call page. ### For Ukrainian researchers Ukraine is an associated country with full access to MSCA on general terms. Separately, MSCA4Ukraine supports displaced Ukrainian researchers with around €35m and has supported over 170 of them. Do not confuse it with the ERC: MSCA4Ukraine belongs to Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. The 2026–2027 programme also includes a COFUND call under Choose Europe for Science worth over €50m, aimed at attracting researchers to Europe generally. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can you apply to MSCA without a host institution? Answer: No. Even in individual fellowships the proposal is submitted together with a host organisation, and it is the host that becomes the beneficiary of the grant. But a consortium of several institutions is not needed for fellowships. - Question: Is MSCA4Ukraine the same as ERC for Ukraine? Answer: No, they are different things. MSCA4Ukraine is a support programme for displaced researchers, worth around €35m, within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. ERC for Ukraine is not a funding scheme but a mentoring initiative and a call on ERC grant holders to employ Ukrainian researchers. - Question: Why is there no budget to calculate in MSCA? Answer: Because the funding is provided as fixed monthly rates per researcher with a country coefficient, not against actual costs. The exception is COFUND, with a rate of 70%. Sources: - HE Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 2 (MSCA) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-2-marie-sklodowska-curie-actions_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Nature and Biodiversity: the largest sub-programme URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/life/life-nature/ Updated: 2026-08-29 Nature and Biodiversity is the largest LIFE sub-programme, with €2.143 billion for 2021–2027. It funds the restoration of habitats and species populations, the build-out of the Natura 2000 network and the implementation of EU nature legislation, and the co-financing rate here reaches 75%. Key facts: - Budget: €2.143bn - Rate: up to 75% - Field: Environment - Types: SAP, SNaP, technical assistance This is the largest LIFE sub-programme: €2,143,000,000 of the €5.432bn total, and on top of that the Regulation guarantees it at least 60% of all action-grant resources in the field "Environment". In LIFE, nature is not one theme among several but the central one. ### What exactly is funded Restoration of habitats and species populations, the build-out and management of the Natura 2000 network, action against invasive alien species, and the practical implementation of the Habitats and Birds Directives. The operative word is restoration. A project about inventory or monitoring will not pass on its own: monitoring has to be part of an intervention, not its purpose. ### Why the rate is higher The general LIFE rate is 60%, but for this sub-programme it reaches 75%. The logic is straightforward: habitat restoration rarely has an owner able to put up 40%, and almost never pays for itself. The higher rate compensates for exactly that. ### What this means for a Ukrainian organisation Ukraine is associated to LIFE, so a Ukrainian organisation can be a beneficiary. The practical constraint lies elsewhere: much of the call portfolio is built around Natura 2000 and EU legislation that Ukraine has not yet fully transposed. A more realistic entry is therefore projects tied to the Emerald Network and to legal approximation, together with partners from EU countries that have run such projects before. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Must a project be tied to Natura 2000? Answer: No, but projects inside and around the network make up most of what gets funded. A project outside it has to state more clearly which conservation status or obligation it serves. - Question: Can land purchase be funded? Answer: LIFE has historically allowed land purchase to be funded where it is necessary for the long-term conservation of a site. The conditions are strict and set by the individual call, so check the call documents. Sources: - Regulation (EU) 2021/783 establishing the LIFE Programme (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/783/oj/eng) - LIFE Programme – CINEA (https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en) ## Pillar 2: Clusters – 6 thematic clusters URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/clusters/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The clusters are the six thematic areas of Horizon Europe Pillar 2, funding applied research against specific societal challenges: health; culture and society; civil security; digital, industry and space; climate, energy and mobility; food, bioeconomy and environment. This is where the bulk of consortium calls sits. Key facts: - Pillar 2 budget: ~€47.4 billion - Clusters: 6 - Largest: Digital and Industry · Climate - Where to apply: By topic, not by cluster Pillar II is the largest part of Horizon Europe by budget, around €47.4bn, and it holds most of the consortium calls. It is divided into six thematic clusters. The logic here is the opposite of the ERC: you do not propose the topic – the Commission states a challenge, and you argue that your consortium can meet it. ### The six clusters Cluster 1: Health (~€6.9bn) – from prevention and digital medicine to health systems. Cluster 2: Culture, creativity and inclusive society (~€1.4bn) – the smallest by budget, but the only one open to the humanities, cultural institutions and social research. Cluster 3: Civil security for society (~€1.3bn) – crime and terrorism, cybersecurity, borders, infrastructure resilience. Cluster 4: Digital, industry and space (~€13.5bn) – one of the two largest: AI, advanced manufacturing, materials, space. Cluster 5: Climate, energy and mobility (~€13.5bn) – the other one: decarbonisation, renewables, transport. Cluster 6: Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment (~€9bn). ### How to read a topic A cluster is not the level you apply at. Clusters split into destinations, those into calls, and calls into topics. The topic determines everything: type of action and funding rate, expected outcomes, budget per project, consortium requirements and deadline. Two topics in the same cluster can carry different types of action – and therefore different rates and rules. Decisions are made by reading the topic, not the cluster description. ### What changed in 2026–2027 Topics are down by roughly a third and single-project topics halved. Half the call budget runs through lump sums. Some short proposals are assessed anonymously. Horizontal calls also appeared, belonging to no cluster: research for the Clean Industrial Deal and an AI-in-science strand. If your topic is genuinely interdisciplinary, look there too. Frequently asked questions: - Question: My project fits two clusters. What should I do? Answer: Pick one topic and apply under it: a single proposal addresses exactly one topic. If the subject really is interdisciplinary, look at the horizontal calls in the 2026–2027 programme – they were created for precisely that. - Question: Where do you look for humanities topics? Answer: In Cluster 2 – culture, creativity and inclusive society. It is the smallest cluster by budget, so competition there is high and the window of opportunity is narrower than in the technical clusters. Sources: - HE Work Programme 2026-2027, General Introduction (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-1-general-introduction_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Pillar 3: European Innovation Council (EIC) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/eic/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The European Innovation Council is the part of Horizon Europe for high-risk breakthrough innovation, from early idea to market. Its distinguishing feature is blended finance – a grant alongside a direct equity investment in the company – and most of its instruments are applied for by a single company rather than a consortium. Key facts: - 2026 budget: >€2.1bn - Accelerator: grant: up to 70%, cap €2.5m - Equity investment: €1–10m - Applicant: A single company The EIC funds what is too risky for a private investor and too applied for classical science. Its 2026 budget exceeds €2.1bn, making it Europe's largest deep-tech support instrument. Its key difference from the rest of Horizon Europe: it does not only give a grant – it buys a stake in the company. ### Three stages of maturity Pathfinder (~€262m) – early stage, research on a breakthrough technology. Research action, 100%, lump sum, up to €4m. Transition (€100m) – bringing a technology to market readiness, usually building on Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept results. €0.5–2.5m. Accelerator (~€634m) – the largest and best known, for companies bringing an innovation to market. ### Accelerator: how blended finance works The grant component reimburses up to 70% of costs, capped at €2,499,999. Separately there is an investment component – €1m to €10m of direct equity through the EIC Fund. A single company applies – an SME or a small mid-cap. No consortium is required or foreseen. The calendar is unusual too: short proposals are accepted continuously, full proposals in batches roughly every two months. There are also purely investment instruments without a grant component – STEP Scale Up at €10–30m, including for critical and dual-use technologies. These run first-come, first-served, and if the annual budget runs out the final batch may not happen. ### For Ukrainian companies As an associated country, Ukraine has access to EIC instruments on general terms. Separately, EIC4Ukraine carries €20m: in April 2026 support for 41 Ukrainian deep-tech companies was announced. The 2026–2027 programme also introduced an EIC Pre-accelerator for Widening countries worth €40m – and Ukraine is one. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Is a consortium needed for the EIC Accelerator? Answer: No. An Accelerator proposal is submitted by a single company, an SME or a small mid-cap. The same applies to Transition and to Pathfinder Challenges. A consortium is only required in the open part of Pathfinder. - Question: What does “blended finance” mean? Answer: That you receive two different things: a grant that reimburses up to 70% of the costs with a ceiling of around €2.5m, and, separately, a direct investment of between €1m and €10m, in return for which the EIC Fund takes a stake in your company. You may also apply for the grant component only. - Question: When should we submit? Answer: Short proposals to the Accelerator are accepted continuously, so you choose the moment of submission. Full proposals are assessed in batches roughly every two months. The investment instruments work on a first-come, first-served basis, and the last batch of the year may not take place if the budget runs out earlier. Sources: - European Innovation Council – work programme and calls (https://eic.ec.europa.eu/index_en) ## Widening Programme: opportunities for Ukraine URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/widening/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Widening is the strand of Horizon Europe created to close the participation gap between countries with different research capacity. Ukraine is a Widening country, so Ukrainian institutions may coordinate Twinning, ERA Chairs and Excellence Hubs projects, and join already-funded consortia through the Hop-on Facility. Key facts: - Ukraine: Is a Widening country - List source: Work programme, part 11 - Twinning 2026: €223 million, ~210 projects - Classic Teaming: Absent in 2026–2027 European funding is distributed unevenly: a handful of countries take a disproportionate share. Widening is the answer to that. It funds partnerships between weaker and stronger research systems, and its calls are built so that only an institution from a Widening country can coordinate. ### Ukraine is a Widening country – and where to check This is the most common source of confusion, because people look in the wrong document. The list of Widening countries is not in the General Annexes – those only list associated countries. Anyone citing the General Annexes for this is citing the wrong text. The list lives in Part 11 of the work programme, the part devoted to the strand itself. It covers 15 EU Member States and associated countries with comparable R&I performance – and Ukraine is named there explicitly. The legal chain: topic conditions refer to "Widening countries as defined in the Horizon Europe regulation"; the regulation names the Member States and, for associated countries, points to a list published in the work programme. So Part 11 is the operative source. ### Instruments in 2026–2027 Twinning – the largest, around €223m in 2026, projects of €0.8–1.5m, roughly 210 of them. An institution from a Widening country partners with at least two leading European institutions. ERA Chairs – €175m in 2027, about 80 projects. An institution recruits a recognised scientist to lead a field and bring a team. Excellence Hubs – €15m in 2026 and €85m in 2027, for regional innovation ecosystems. Hop-on Facility – €30m, the fastest route into a European project. Also: ERA Fellowships, a Research Management Facility, ERA Research Managers, and an EIC Pre-accelerator for Widening countries. ### Classic Teaming no longer exists If you are looking for Teaming for Excellence – the large centre-of-excellence instrument – it is not in the 2026–2027 programme. Only Teaming Synergies remains, at €7m, and it is restricted to those who already coordinated a Teaming action. For a newcomer that route is closed. ### Hop-on Facility: the rules that decide everything It lets you join an already-funded project without writing a proposal from scratch. The conditions are strict, and this is where applicants fall out. The application has exactly two legal entities: yours from a Widening country and the coordinator of an already-funded action. Only Pillar II grants of the main programme or EIC Pathfinder qualify. At the deadline the grant must be between 1 and 12 months old. And crucially, the consortium must not yet include any beneficiary from a Widening country. The split is fixed too: at least 90% of the grant goes to the new participant, no more than 10% to the coordinator. The practical conclusion: Hop-on rewards searching more than writing – tracking newly started projects without Widening partners and hitting the twelve-month window. ### What this strand does not contain There is no Ukraine-specific topic in the Widening part of the work programme. The word "Ukraine" appears there exactly once, in the list of Widening countries. Ukraine-specific opportunities exist – five of them – but in other parts of the programme. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How do you prove that Ukraine is a Widening country? Answer: By referring to part 11 of the work programme, which sets out the list. The General Annexes do not contain this list – they only cover associated countries, and that is exactly where the confusion comes from. - Question: We want to join a Hop-on. Where do we start? Answer: Not with the text of the proposal, but with the search. You need a Pillar 2 project or an EIC Pathfinder project that started no more than twelve months ago and has no beneficiary from a Widening country. If such a partner is already on board, you do not qualify on a formal ground, and the best proposal in the world will not change that. - Question: Can we apply for Teaming? Answer: The 2026–2027 programme has no classic Teaming for Excellence. There is only Teaming Synergies, worth €7 million, open to those who have already coordinated a Teaming action before. For a first participation it is worth looking at Twinning or ERA Chairs. Sources: - HE Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 11 (Widening and ERA) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-11-widening-participation-and-strengthening-the-european-research-area_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Horizon Europe budget calculator URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/budget-rules/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The Horizon Europe budget rules define which costs may be charged to a grant and how: personnel by actual salary and productive hours, equipment by depreciation in proportion to project use, plus subcontracting and indirect costs at a flat rate. Knowing them at proposal stage decides whether your budget survives evaluation. Key facts: - Personnel: Actual salary and hours - Equipment: Depreciation, not full cost - Indirect costs: 25%, flat rate - Overstating: Lowers your score A proposal budget is not a free-form estimate but a breakdown across defined cost categories, each with its own calculation rules. ### Personnel The main category in most projects. Costs are calculated from actual salary and hours actually worked on the project, not from a desired rate. A check worth knowing about: experts compare against a dashboard showing the spread of personnel costs between the 20th and 80th percentile by country and organisation type. Higher figures are not forbidden but need justification, or the amount is cut. ### Equipment Not the full purchase price but depreciation over time and in proportion to project use. Buying an instrument on the grant and writing it off entirely does not work, except where conditions expressly allow it. ### Subcontracting Passing part of the work to an external provider. It must be described in the proposal and stays limited: subcontracting may not cover the core of the project, and the coordinator may not subcontract its own duties at all. ### Indirect costs A flat rate of 25% of direct eligible costs. No justification is required – but neither can it be raised. Subcontracting, financial support to third parties and amounts already containing indirect costs are excluded from the base. ### What cuts budgets most often The guidance is unambiguous: unjustified budgets will be reduced. You must set out all categories, the team composition with roles, a technical description of equipment and how heavily the project uses it, a realistic estimate of open access costs, and existing resources that need no EU funding. And separately: a seriously inflated budget lowers the implementation score rather than simply being corrected. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can we budget the full cost of equipment? Answer: As a rule no – depreciation is charged for the time and the share of use within the project. Writing off the full cost is possible only where the conditions expressly provide for it. - Question: Our salaries are above average. Is that a problem? Answer: It is not prohibited, but it needs justification: experts compare the figures against the distribution of personnel costs by country and type of organisation. Without an explanation the amount will be cut. Sources: - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Submitting an application: the Funding & Tenders Portal step by step URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/how-to-apply/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Applying to an EU call runs through the Funding & Tenders Portal as a sequence of steps: an EU Login account, registering the organisation to obtain a PIC, choosing a topic, preparing Parts A and B of the proposal, and submitting through the system before the call closes. Each step has its own timing and requirements, and underestimating them is what most often derails a last-day submission. Key facts: - PIC for submission: “Declared” status is enough - Type of action: Cannot be changed - Deadline: 17:00 Brussels time - After submission: Keep the signed PDF Applying through the EU portal is a sequence of steps, each with its own timing. The most expensive mistakes here are not about content but about organisation: not registering in time, not appointing a signatory, not allowing for a 17:00 deadline. ### Step 1. EU Login A personal account for portal access. Register it on a work address you will still control in years. Two-factor authentication becomes mandatory progressively over 2026 – set the second factor up in advance. ### Step 2. The organisation code Before registering, check whether the organisation already has a PIC: universities and large NGOs almost always hold one created by a colleague years ago. "Declared" status is enough to submit – validation comes later. ### Step 3. Choosing a topic Read the topic, not the programme description: it sets the type of action, funding rate, consortium requirements and deadline. Make sure you pick the right type of action – it cannot be changed once drafting has begun. ### Step 4. The proposal Part A is completed in web forms, Part B prepared separately and uploaded as a PDF. The limit is 40 pages for research and innovation actions, and anything beyond it becomes invisible after the deadline. ### Step 5. Submission The system closes automatically at 17:00 Brussels time. You can re-upload without limit before the deadline, so submit a draft early and refine it. Immediately after submission, download the signed PDF copy of your proposal – it is your proof of what was submitted and when. ### What to run in parallel While the text is being written, three things should be moving in the background: collecting PIC codes from all partners, appointing roles and signatories in your organisation, and agreeing the budget with partners. These are what most often delay a last-day submission. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a proposal be submitted without a validated PIC? Answer: Yes. “Declared” status is enough for submission; validation happens after the project has been selected. - Question: We picked the wrong type of action. Can it be changed? Answer: No, once work on the draft has started the type of action can no longer be changed, so you would have to create the proposal from scratch. That is why this is checked before anything is filled in. Sources: - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Structure of a successful application: Excellence, Impact, Implementation URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/proposal-structure/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A Horizon Europe proposal is assessed against three criteria, and Part B mirrors them: Excellence – how ambitious the objectives and how convincing the methodology; Impact – what change it brings and how that is measured; Implementation – whether the work plan, roles and budget are realistic. What an evaluator looks for matters more than length. Key facts: - Sections: 3, one per criterion - Length: 40 pages - Impact canvas: Not mandatory - Topic drift: Cannot be compensated The structure of Part B is not arbitrary: its three sections mirror the three award criteria. The evaluator reads a section and scores the corresponding criterion, so anything written in the wrong place is not credited. ### 1. Excellence Two subsections: objectives and ambition – how clear and pertinent the objectives are, how the work goes beyond the state of the art; and methodology – soundness of the approach, the gender dimension and open science practices. This is the largest block after the work plan. ### 2. Impact Pathways towards impact – how credibly your results lead to the changes the topic expects. Measures to maximise impact – the plan for dissemination and exploitation together with communication. There is also a subsection summarising impact through a canvas – it is not mandatory: a proposal is admissible and complete without it. But the evaluator reads it, so "not mandatory" does not mean "not worth doing". ### 3. Quality and efficiency of the implementation Work plan and resources – work packages, effort allocation, risk assessment, budget. Capacity of participants – why this consortium and what each partner's role is. ### Three things that decide it Fit with the topic. A proposal drifting from the scope earns an out-of-scope finding, and quality does not compensate. Internal consistency. The work plan must match the narrative, the budget the team, the deliverables the packages. Length. Forty pages for a research or innovation action; whatever does not fit becomes invisible to the evaluator. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Is a section with an impact canvas required? Answer: Formally no: the proposal counts as admissible and complete without it. But the evaluator does read it, and a concise account of the expected impact works in your favour. - Question: How many pages should each section have? Answer: The template gives a guide: about 4 pages on objectives, 14 on methodology, 3 on each impact subsection, about 12 on the work plan and resources, and 3 on the capacity of the participants. This is a recommendation rather than a fixed allocation; only the overall limit is fixed. Sources: - Application form HE RIA/IA V5.1 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) ## Ukrainian participants in Erasmus+: what is open URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/erasmus-plus/erasmus-ukraine/ Updated: 2026-08-29 In Erasmus+ Ukraine holds the status of a third country not associated to the Programme, region 2 "Neighbourhood East". This is not the full access it has in Horizon Europe: a Ukrainian institution applies in its own right in centralised actions and joins decentralised ones as a partner of a European applicant. Key facts: - Status: Third country, not associated - Region: 2, Neighbourhood East - Applies directly: CBHE, Jean Monnet, Erasmus Mundus - As a partner: KA171, KA2 partnerships The commonest mistake in conversations about Erasmus+ is to carry over the logic of Horizon Europe. In Horizon Europe Ukraine is an associated country with access on a par with member states. In Erasmus+ the status is different: a third country not associated to the Programme, region 2 "Neighbourhood East". ### What that means in practice A Ukrainian institution applies in its own right in the centralised actions run by the EACEA: CBHE, Jean Monnet, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters. A Ukrainian institution takes part as a partner in decentralised actions run by a National Agency of a programme country: KA171 mobility and KA2 partnerships. The difference is not formal: in the first case the money and the responsibility for the project are yours, in the second they belong to the European applicant. ### A National Office, not a National Agency Ukraine has a National Erasmus+ Office. It is an advisory body: it helps prepare applications, explains the conditions, collects participation statistics. It does not distribute grants and does not receive applications, unlike the National Agencies of programme countries. ### Where an inexperienced institution should start A realistic sequence looks like this. First grant: Jean Monnet – one institution, no consortium, a few weeks of preparation. Then partner participation in KA171 or a KA2 partnership, to build experience of working inside a European consortium. Only then CBHE, where the institution is expected to be capable of driving institutional change. Starting straight at CBHE with no prior EU project is technically possible, but that is exactly the case Strand 1, the less demanding strand, exists for. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Why is Ukraine associated to Horizon Europe but not to Erasmus+? Answer: Because they are separate programmes with separate participation agreements. Association to Horizon Europe entered into force in 2022. No such agreement exists for Erasmus+, so Ukraine remains a third country not associated to the Programme. - Question: Can Ukrainian students go on Erasmus+? Answer: Yes, through KA171 mobility within a project held by a European partner institution of your university. The number of places is set by that project’s budget. - Question: Where can I get advice? Answer: From the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine. It does not receive applications, but it explains the conditions of each action and helps judge whether an idea fits a particular one. Sources: - Національний Еразмус+ офіс в Україні (https://erasmusplus.org.ua/en/) - Erasmus+ Programme Guide (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/introduction) - Programme Guide: Capacity building in higher education (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-b/key-action-2/capacity-building-higher-education) ## Ukrainian participants: statistics and cases URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/ukraine-participation/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Ukraine participates in Horizon Europe as an associated country with full access to every part of the programme, and the national financial contribution is currently suspended. Ukrainian institutions may coordinate projects, and separate mechanisms support displaced researchers and deep-tech companies. Key facts: - Association: In force since 09.06.2022 - Scope: All parts, no reservations - State contribution: Suspended - Widening status: Yes Ukraine's association to Horizon Europe is not a concession or a simplified regime but full participation. Ukrainian institutions apply on the same terms as German or French ones and may coordinate projects. ### Legal status The agreement was signed on 12 October 2021, entered into force on 9 June 2022 and applies retroactively from 1 January 2021. The association covers all parts of the programme; the only carve-out concerns membership of the fusion joint undertaking. In the official list of participating countries Ukraine appears without reservations on the scope of participation. That matters: several other associated countries carry limits – Canada, New Zealand and Korea are associated to Pillar II only, the UK to everything except the EIC Fund. Ukraine has no such note. Ukraine is also associated to the Euratom programme. ### The national contribution Two mechanisms are often conflated. The contribution for 2021 and 2022 was waived – roughly €20m. Separately, since 2024 a general suspension of Ukraine's payment obligations across all Union programmes applies, retroactively from 1 January 2021, reviewed annually by the Commission. In practice, Ukrainian institutions' participation does not depend on the state paying a contribution. ### One restriction to know Legal entities established in non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine may not participate in any role. The work programmes state explicitly that this exclusion does not extend to researchers of Ukrainian nationality residing there. ### Ukraine as a Widening country This is a separate status, not the same as association, and it opens calls where only an institution from a Widening country may coordinate: Twinning, ERA Chairs, Excellence Hubs, the Hop-on Facility. See Widening. ### Ukraine-specific topics The 2026–2027 programme carries five: research infrastructures as an accelerator of Ukraine's integration into the European Research Area; cancer research capacity building; open innovation for soil health; bioremediation of ecosystems contaminated by conflict; and support for forest research. Separately, the Euratom programme provides a grant without a call for nuclear-sector training, naming Ukrainian universities individually. Note: the Widening part of the programme contains no Ukrainian topic at all. Look in the thematic parts. ### Support mechanisms Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine – the national support point, hosted by the NRFU since December 2023. MSCA4Ukraine – around €35m for displaced researchers, over 170 supported. EIC4Ukraine – €20m for deep-tech companies; 41 companies announced in April 2026. ERA4Ukraine on EURAXESS – a single entry point for vacancies and services. ERC for Ukraine – a mentoring initiative and a call on ERC grant holders to employ Ukrainian researchers. Not a funding scheme. ### On participation figures Be careful here. The only officially published static data is a Commission factsheet from November 2024: 289 Ukrainian organisations participated, with €58.64m in EU contribution. Newer figures exist only in an interactive dashboard, so any "current" number without a date and source is worth verifying. For context: the programme-wide success rate is 16.4%, and 70% of proposals judged good enough go unfunded. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a Ukrainian institution be the coordinator of a project? Answer: Yes. Association confers full rights, including coordinating a consortium. More than that, in Widening calls – Twinning, ERA Chairs, Excellence Hubs – only an institution from a Widening country may be the coordinator, and Ukraine is one of those countries. - Question: Does Ukraine have to pay a contribution in order to take part? Answer: Not at present. The contribution for 2021–2022 was cancelled, and since 2024 there has been a general suspension of Ukraine's payment obligations across all Union programmes, reviewed annually. This does not affect the right of institutions to apply. - Question: How many Ukrainian organisations have taken part so far? Answer: According to the Commission's official factsheet, as of November 2024 there were 289 organisations, with an EU contribution of €58.64 million. There are no more recent settled publications, so figures quoted without a date are worth checking. Sources: - EU–Ukraine association agreement, OJ L 95, 23.03.2022 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:22022A0323(01)) - HE Work Programme 2026-2027, General Introduction (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-1-general-introduction_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - Mid-term evaluation of Horizon Europe, SWD(2025) 110 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52025SC0110) ## Common mistakes and reasons for application rejection URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/programs/horizon-europe/common-mistakes/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Most Horizon Europe proposals are rejected not for a weak idea but for predictable failures: drifting from the topic scope, unmeasurable expected results, a consortium duplicating expertise instead of complementing it, and a work plan that does not match the narrative. Learning this list beats waiting a year for the next call. Key facts: - Most common formal: Consortium composition - Most common substantive: Drift from the topic - Inflated budget: Lowers the score - Good but unfunded: ~70% Horizon Europe proposals are rarely rejected for a weak scientific idea. Far more often it is for mistakes visible before substantive assessment, or ones that systematically cost points. ### Formal: rejected unread Consortium composition. Three partners from three associated countries do not satisfy the condition: at least one must be from an EU Member State. Affiliated entities and associated partners do not count towards the minimum three. Exceeding the page limit. Excess pages are automatically made invisible after the deadline – and a section pushed there counts as unaddressed. Missing the deadline. 17:00 Brussels time, with no exception for technical trouble. ### Substantive: costing points Drifting from the topic scope. The commonest cause of a low Excellence score. The evaluation form has a dedicated scope question, and partial mismatch is reflected in the score directly. Unmeasurable results. "Increased awareness" is not a result – a baseline and a target value are needed. A consortium duplicating expertise. Partners must complement, not repeat. Evaluators can tell when an organisation's role is not backed by any task. A work plan that does not match the narrative. Deliverables without packages, packages without deliverables, a budget unconnected to the team. An inflated budget. The mechanics matter here: experts are forbidden to recommend modifications. They will not advise cutting the amount – they will lower the implementation score. ### A mistake of expectations And the one that hurts most: believing that passing the thresholds means funding. Thresholds only admit you to consideration within the call budget. Officially, around 70% of proposals judged good enough go unfunded. A rejection at 12 out of 15 does not mean the proposal was bad – and resubmitting is worth it. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We were rejected with a score of 12. What does that mean? Answer: That the proposal is good, but it did not fit within the call budget. Around 70% of proposals above the threshold are left without funding. That is a reason to apply again, taking the comments into account, rather than to abandon the idea. - Question: Will our budget be corrected during grant preparation? Answer: No. Experts are not allowed to recommend changes, so an inflated budget simply lowers the score under the implementation criterion. Substantially changing the content, the budget or the composition of the consortium after selection is no longer possible. Sources: - Evaluation form HE RIA/IA V4.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/ef/ef_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) # Glossary ## Affordable Loans 5-7-9%: programme terms in 2026 (Affordable Loans 5-7-9%) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/kredyty-5-7-9/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Affordable Loans 5-7-9% is a Ukrainian state programme under which a business borrows from a bank and the state compensates part of the interest. It is not a grant: the borrower repays the principal and pays the reduced rate. For investment purposes the rate is 5, 7 or 9 per cent a year depending on the size of the business and the growth in jobs. Key facts: - Instrument: Interest compensation, not a grant - Investment rate: 5%, 7% or 9% a year - Term: up to 10 years for investment - Operator: National Development Institution The programme was launched by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 28 of 24 January 2020. Its essence is making a loan cheaper: the bank lends at a market rate and the state pays the difference between that rate and the reduced one the business pays. You receive no cash from the state and repay the loan in full. For years the programme was administered by the Entrepreneurship Development Fund. In February 2026 the text of the resolution replaced it with the National Development Institution, and the fund’s website now redirects to the institution’s page. The institution works with banks, not with borrowers directly. ### Rates in 2026 The name 5-7-9 describes loans for investment purposes: - 7 per cent – for micro and small businesses; the rate drops to 5 per cent if at least two new jobs are created in the first full quarter; - 9 per cent – for medium-sized businesses; - after that the bank adjusts the rate every quarter by 0.5 percentage points for each job created or cut, within 5–7 per cent for small and 7–9 for medium-sized businesses; - 5 per cent – for a newly created business borrowing for investment. Working capital loans cost more: up to 15 per cent, or up to 10 for agricultural producers. There are also softer strands: in the high war risk zone an investment loan costs 1 per cent for the first five years, and for gas, diesel and other generation units the rate is zero. These rates are not permanent: the resolution was amended more than five times in 2026 alone, so check the terms against the current wording and with the bank before applying. During martial law the bank may, with your consent, set a rate above the base one, and the state does not compensate that premium. ### What for and how much Investment purposes mean buying and upgrading fixed assets, including commercial vehicles, buying non-residential property or land for your own operations, building and repairing production premises, and a franchise. Working capital is financed separately. Limits depend on the strand: UAH 3 million for a sole proprietor, UAH 5 million for working capital outside priority areas, UAH 60 million for ordinary investment purposes, UAH 90 million for farmers and UAH 150 million for manufacturing. The term is up to 10 years for investment and up to three for working capital. The bank may charge a one-off fee of no more than 0.75 per cent of the amount. ### Who qualifies and how to apply The borrower may be a sole proprietor or a legal entity resident in Ukraine whose ultimate beneficial owners are residents, within the criteria for small and medium-sized business. For a sole proprietor annual income is capped at UAH 50 million. A business registered less than 12 months ago counts as newly created and borrows on separate terms. - Choose an authorised bank: the list of programmes and partners is on the National Development Institution’s website. - Submit the application and documents to the bank: financial statements, a project description, collateral details. - The bank assesses creditworthiness itself and takes the decision itself. State compensation does not waive collateral and financial standing requirements. - Once the loan is disbursed you pay the reduced rate, and the bank receives the compensation from the state. The main mistake is to treat the programme as guaranteed. It is the bank, not the state, that refuses, most often because of weak accounts or lack of collateral. ### How it combines with grants A loan and a grant do not exclude each other. In eRobota grants with mandatory co-financing the applicant’s share may be paid from own or borrowed funds. That is how half the cost of an orchard or greenhouse gets covered. The processing grant has a limit: at least 20 per cent of the project cost must be your own, non-borrowed money. Weigh the load: a grant requires paying taxes equal to its amount, and a loan requires monthly instalments. Both obligations fall on the same cash flow. The instruments are compared in Grant or subsidised loan. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Is 5-7-9 a grant? Answer: No. It is a bank loan on which the state compensates part of the interest. The borrower repays the principal and pays the reduced rate in full. - Question: Where do I apply: Diia or the bank? Answer: At a bank that participates in the programme. The bank assesses the borrower, takes the decision and signs the loan agreement, and it receives the interest compensation from the National Development Institution. - Question: What decides whether it is 5, 7 or 9 per cent? Answer: The segment and the jobs. Micro and small businesses start at 7 per cent and can bring the rate down to 5 by creating at least two jobs. A medium-sized business starts at 9 per cent, and its rate moves within 7–9. - Question: Can an old loan be refinanced? Answer: The procedure allows refinancing only for businesses in the high war risk zone and only for loans that already receive interest compensation. It does not work for an ordinary market loan. Sources: - Постанова КМУ від 24.01.2020 № 28 «Про надання фінансової державної підтримки» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/28-2020-%D0%BF) - Національна установа розвитку: програми (https://ndi.gov.ua/programs/) - Національна установа розвитку: результати програми «Доступні кредити 5-7-9» (https://ndi.gov.ua/publichna-informatsiia/informatsiia-pro-rezultaty-derzhavnoi-prohramy-dostupni-kredyty-5-7-9/) - Постанова КМУ від 21.06.2022 № 738 «Деякі питання надання грантів бізнесу» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/738-2022-%D0%BF) - Постанова КМУ від 24.06.2022 № 739 «Деякі питання надання грантів для виробництв переробної промисловості» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/739-2022-%D0%BF) ## Amendment (change to the grant agreement) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/amendment/ Updated: 2026-07-27 An amendment is a formal change to the grant agreement. It is needed for substantive changes: the composition of the consortium, the description of the action, the duration, the budget annexes. The other party has 45 days to sign, and silence means refusal. The agreement cannot be changed in a way that would call the award decision into question. Key facts: - Response time: 45 days - Silence: Means refusal - Budget flexibility in HE: No ceiling - Project extension: Does not raise the grant A grant agreement may be amended – provided the change does not call the award decision into question or breach equal treatment of applicants. That is the boundary an amendment may not cross. ### When it is required For all substantive changes: adding a beneficiary or terminating participation, changing the coordinator or its bank account, changes to the description of the action, changes to the start date, duration or reporting periods, changes to the budget annexes. Within the description of the action, an amendment is needed for: a substantial change of tasks or their distribution, changes to eligible in-kind contributions or subcontracting, adding or removing agreement options, and substantial changes to deliverables. ### When it is not – and this saves weeks Budget transfers within budget flexibility. In Horizon Europe there is no flexibility cap at all. A change of name or address – updating the Participant Register is enough. The same for bank details and for mergers and takeovers. A change to a deliverable's due date – no amendment. ### Procedure and deadlines The request is made and signed directly in the portal's amendment tool; the coordinator does this on the beneficiaries' behalf. It must state reasons and carry supporting documents. Then the crucial part: the receiving party has 45 days to sign or to formally notify disagreement. And a rule worth remembering: if no reply arrives, the request is considered rejected. Silence is not consent. An amendment enters into force on the day the receiving party signs, and takes effect from that date or from another date stated in it – so it can be retroactive. ### What an amendment cannot do The general terms and conditions that apply to all EU grants cannot be changed – only project-specific data and the agreement options are open. Nor can the consortium be changed in a way that affects the call's eligibility conditions, or the tasks changed so far that the action no longer fits the topic. And critically for planning: even if the project is extended, the maximum grant amount is not increased. An extension must be requested before the project ends and separately justified. ### Lump sum specifics Work packages already completed and paid cannot be amended. And for an amendment to be taken into account when a report is assessed, it must be completed before that assessment begins. ### The most common mistake Requesting too late. Given the 45 days and the fact that silence means rejection, requests should go in well in advance of the date the change is meant to take effect. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We have changed our organisation's name. Do we need an amendment? Answer: No. It is enough to update the data in the Participant Register. The same applies to the address, bank details and takeovers. An amendment is needed for changes to the composition of the consortium, the description of the action, the duration and the budget annexes. - Question: The Commission has not replied to our request. Does that count as approval? Answer: No, the opposite. If there is no reply within 45 days, the request is deemed rejected. That is exactly why you should submit well in advance. - Question: The project has been extended by six months. Will the grant go up? Answer: No. The maximum grant amount does not increase with an extension – this is stated explicitly. An extension has to be requested before the project ends, and it has to be justified. Sources: - Annotated Grant Agreement V2.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - Online Manual: Amendments (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Amendments) - How to manage your lump sum grants V1.5 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/how-to-manage-your-lump-sum-grants_en.pdf) ## Call for Proposals (CfP) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/call-for-proposals/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A call for proposals is a package of topics with a shared deadline and budget, published by the European Commission on the portal. You apply not to the call but to a specific topic within it: the topic sets the type of action, the funding rate, the consortium requirements and the expected outcomes. Key facts: - Hierarchy: Programme → call → topic - Funding rates: 100% RIA/CSA · 70% IA · 50% PPI - Topic budget: May change by up to 20% - Precedence: Topic conditions over general ones The hierarchy has three levels, and confusing them costs time. The work programme is adopted by Commission decision and split into thematic parts. Inside it are calls with a common deadline and budget. Inside calls are topics. A topic identifier is the call identifier plus a destination code and a number – so a long code tells you which call it belongs to. ### Read the topic The topic determines everything that matters: expected outcomes, scope, budget per project, consortium requirements, deadline and – above all – the type of action. The type of action sets the funding rate: research, coordination and training actions at 100%; innovation actions at 70% (non-profit entities up to 100%); public procurement of innovative solutions at 50%; programme co-fund actions between 30% and 70%. Two topics in the same call can carry different types of action, and therefore different rates and rules. Decisions are made by reading the topic, not the programme description. ### Three submission formats Single-stage – a full proposal by the deadline. The most common. Two-stage – a 10-page outline, and a full proposal only on invitation. Continuously open with cut-offs – submit any time; everything received by a given cut-off is evaluated together. ### A topic budget is not fixed Rarely mentioned but written into the rules: final figures may differ from those in the work programme by up to 20%. So "topic budget €10m" is a guide, not a guarantee. ### The priority rule The General Annexes set the baseline, but a topic may derogate from them. Where a topic has its own or additional conditions, this is stated explicitly in its specific conditions – and those prevail. This applies to evaluation thresholds and weightings too. Current dates and documentation always live on the topic page of the portal: the work programme is a decision, the portal is the current state. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How does a call differ from a topic? Answer: A call is a package of topics with a shared deadline and budget. A topic is a specific subject inside it, and it is the topic that sets the type of action, the funding rate, the consortium requirements and the expected outcomes. You always apply to a topic. - Question: Can one project be submitted to two topics? Answer: No. A proposal addresses exactly one topic. If the idea fits several, you have to prepare a separate proposal for each of them. - Question: The topic budget says €10 million. Is that the exact amount? Answer: No, it is indicative. The final figures may differ from those given in the work programme by up to 20%. Sources: - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## CFS: Certificate on the Financial Statements (Certificate on the Financial Statements (CFS)) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/cfs/ Updated: 2026-10-11 A CFS is a report by an independent auditor who checks, under agreed-upon procedures, the costs declared in a beneficiary's financial statements. In Horizon Europe it is required only at the final payment and only for a participant whose requested EU contribution reaches EUR 430,000. Below the threshold no certificate is needed and its cost is not reimbursed. Key facts: - Threshold: EUR 430,000 or more per participant - When: Only with the final report - Issued by: Independent external auditor - Standard: ISRS 4400, agreed-upon procedures The Certificate on the Financial Statements (CFS) is a document you commission yourself and attach to the financial statement. The auditor does not assess the project and gives no opinion on the organisation's accounts. The auditor works through the list of procedures in the Commission template and records what was found: whether the costs are in the accounts, whether they are backed by documents, whether they meet the terms of the agreement. ### When the certificate is mandatory The conditions are set in Point 4.3 of the Data Sheet of the grant agreement. In the Horizon Europe model agreement they are: - the threshold is a requested EU contribution to costs of EUR 430,000 or more; - it is counted for each beneficiary and affiliated entity separately, not for the consortium; - it is submitted only with the final payment; - for participants that have passed a systems and process audit the threshold is higher, EUR 725,000. Unlike in the previous programme, the threshold is counted on the whole requested EU contribution to costs, not only on actual costs. So the share attributable to indirect costs also brings you closer to it. Costs already audited by the granting authority are excluded from the calculation. Other EU programmes use a different threshold, most often EUR 325,000, so check your own agreement. How these figures diverge in official documents is explained in the article on reporting. ### Who can issue it A qualified external auditor who is independent of the beneficiary and complies with Directive 2006/43/EC or similar standards. It may be your usual auditor. Public bodies may entrust the check to a competent independent public officer who was not involved in drawing up the statement. The auditor works under the international standard ISRS 4400 and only with the template from the Portal: a free-form audit opinion will not be accepted. ### Cost and two traps The cost of a mandatory certificate is an eligible cost, so it is budgeted as a service. The amount a beneficiary expects is known at the budget planning stage, so the need for a CFS is visible in advance. - If a certificate was required and was not submitted or was rejected, the EU contribution is capped at the threshold minus one euro. - If a certificate was submitted when not required, below the threshold or with an interim report, the auditor's fee is not reimbursed. ### When to commission it and what comes after - At the start, check the threshold and put the cost in the budget. - A few months before the end, choose the auditor and show them the template. There are only 60 days for the final report, and the audit has to fit into them. - Prepare the cost ledger, contracts, payment records, the daily rate calculation and the time records. - If the auditor finds an error, take that cost out of the statement before submission. The certificate gives no protection against an audit by the granting authority, the European Court of Auditors, OLAF or the European Public Prosecutor's Office. In Horizon Europe an audit can be started within two years of the final payment, so records are kept after the certificate too. ### How other donors do it The names differ: expenditure verification, project audit, independent auditor's report. The substance is shared: an external check of costs before the last payment. What differs is who pays. At the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation an independent auditor's report is mandatory for the final report, but it cannot be paid for from the grant, only from co-financing or other sources. So read the audit terms before you apply. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Our consortium grant is EUR 3 million and our share is 200,000. Do we need a CFS? Answer: No. The threshold is counted for each participant separately on its own requested EU contribution. Only the partners that reach the Data Sheet threshold themselves submit a certificate. - Question: Can a Ukrainian auditor issue the certificate? Answer: The agreement requires a qualified independent external auditor complying with Directive 2006/43/EC or similar standards and does not restrict the choice by country. If in doubt about a specific auditor, clear it with the project officer before signing the engagement. - Question: Is a CFS a full audit? Answer: No. It is an agreed-upon procedures engagement: the auditor performs a defined list of checks and reports the factual findings without expressing an audit opinion. The decision on the eligibility of costs stays with the granting authority. - Question: Is a CFS needed in a lump sum grant? Answer: The certificate covers actual costs and costs under usual accounting practices. If the grant is paid entirely as a lump sum, there is nothing for it to check, and the Data Sheet normally contains no such requirement. Check Point 4.3 of your agreement. Sources: - Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement (Multi & Mono), V1.2 (01.06.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - EU Grants: AGA – Annotated Grant Agreement, V2.0 (01.04.2025) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Online Manual, V1.3 (01.05.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/om_en.pdf) - Український культурний фонд: документи для грантоотримувачів (https://ucf.in.ua/docs/220) ## Consortium Agreement URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/consortium-agreement/ Updated: 2026-10-11 A consortium agreement is an internal written contract between project partners on governance, distribution of funds, liability and intellectual property. The funder neither signs nor reviews it. In EU grants it should be concluded before the grant agreement is signed, so the text has to be read and negotiated during grant preparation, not after the project starts. Key facts: - Parties: Consortium partners only - Sign by: Before the grant agreement is signed - Mandatory: If required in the Data Sheet - Model: DESCA HE 2.1 (February 2026) A consortium agreement (CA) is a contract that the members of a consortium conclude among themselves. The grant agreement governs the consortium's relationship with the funder; the consortium agreement governs the partners' relationship with each other: who takes decisions, how money is shared, who owns the results and what happens if someone leaves the project. ### Status of the document and timing The EU Annotated Grant Agreement (AGA) calls the consortium agreement purely internal: it is not submitted to the granting authority for information or review, and the granting authority is not a party to it and bears no responsibility for its consequences. It must complement the grant agreement and may not contradict it. Article 7 of the model grant agreement requires a written consortium agreement where the Data Sheet says so. In Horizon Europe the default for that item is "yes", and a call may set an exception. Even where it is not mandatory, the AGA recommends having one. It should be concluded before grant signature: each partner signs the consortium agreement before signing its Accession Form. Negotiations therefore take place during grant agreement preparation. Costs of preparing the consortium agreement before the project starts are ineligible; costs of updating it during the project may be eligible. ### What the agreement covers - Governance. Consortium bodies, quorum, voting rules, veto rights, the powers of the coordinator. - Money. The funder pays the coordinator only. When and in what instalments the coordinator distributes the pre-financing and later payments is an internal matter for the consortium, and this agreement is where it is fixed. - Liability. Limits of the partners' liability towards each other, what happens when tasks are not delivered, and how recoveries are handled. - Intellectual property. The list of background (what a partner held before the project and what is needed for the work), ownership of results, joint ownership, access rights. - Confidentiality, disputes, withdrawal or replacement of a partner. ### Model agreements The European Commission endorses no particular template. The most widely used model for Horizon Europe is DESCA: the current version, HE 2.1, is dated February 2026 and can be downloaded from the initiative's website together with elucidations on each clause. The model comes with options and alternative modules, so two contracts "based on DESCA" can differ substantially. In other programmes and with other donors a similar document is often called a partnership agreement, and whether it is mandatory depends on the call conditions. ### What a Ukrainian partner should check - Background. Under the grant agreement, partners give each other royalty-free access to background needed to carry out their tasks, unless the holder informed the others of restrictions in advance, before acceding to the agreement. Anything you are not prepared to share has to be written into the annex to the consortium agreement. - Payment schedule. Check exactly when the coordinator transfers your share and whether part of it is withheld until a report is approved. - Governing law and forum for disputes. These are a matter for negotiation, not a given. - Signatory and lead times. Allow time for internal approval, legal review and translation. ### Common mistakes Signing the coordinator's text unread. Leaving the background list empty. Not describing the procedure for a partner's withdrawal and then having to settle it through an amendment to the grant agreement in the middle of a conflict. Assuming the consortium agreement can alter the requirements of the grant agreement: where the two diverge, the grant agreement prevails. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Does the consortium agreement have to be sent to the European Commission? Answer: No. According to the AGA it is a purely internal document: it is not submitted to the granting authority for information or review, and the granting authority is not a party to it. - Question: Is DESCA mandatory? Answer: No. The Commission endorses no specific template. DESCA is a widely used model with options and modules, but a consortium may take another one or draft its own text, provided it does not contradict the grant agreement. - Question: Can the consortium agreement be changed after the project starts? Answer: Yes. The AGA states explicitly that the consortium can modify it at any moment. The amendment procedure is usually described in the agreement itself. - Question: Which prevails, the consortium agreement or the grant agreement? Answer: The grant agreement. The consortium agreement must complement it and may not contain provisions contrary to it. Sources: - EU Grants: AGA – Annotated Grant Agreement, V2.0 (01.04.2025) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement, V1.2 (01.06.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - Horizon Europe Programme Guide, V5.1 (15.09.2025) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf) - DESCA – Model Consortium Agreement for Horizon Europe (https://www.desca-agreement.eu/desca-model-consortium-agreement/) ## Coordinator / Project Coordinator URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/coordinator/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The coordinator is the beneficiary chosen by the consortium to manage the project and represent it before the Commission. All payments pass through the coordinator's account, and it is the coordinator who submits the reports and deliverables; the grant agreement expressly forbids delegating these duties to anyone else. Key facts: - Selection: From among the beneficiaries - Delegation: Not allowed - Payments: Through one account - Adding partners: 30 days The coordinator is chosen by the participants from among the beneficiaries. In mono-beneficiary projects the single beneficiary is automatically the coordinator. ### What they must do The grant agreement lists the duties precisely: monitor that the action is implemented properly; act as the intermediary for all communications between consortium and Commission; request and review documents from participants and verify their quality and completeness before passing them on; submit deliverables and reports; report on payments made to other beneficiaries; and distribute payments received without unjustified delay. ### These may not be delegated The wording is categorical: the coordinator may not delegate or subcontract these tasks to any other beneficiary or third party, affiliated entities included. So hiring a consultancy "to coordinate the project" is a direct breach. Administrative support is possible, but the listed duties stay with the coordinator. There are exactly two narrow exceptions: coordinators that are public bodies may delegate part of the communication and payment tasks to entities they created or control, and coordinators that are sole beneficiaries such as an ERIC may delegate to one of their members. In both cases sole responsibility remains with the coordinator. ### The money goes through one account Something partners often do not expect: the Commission does not pay beneficiaries individually. All payments go to the account indicated by the coordinator. And a legally important consequence: payment to that account discharges the Commission's payment obligation. From the moment the money reaches the coordinator, the EU has performed, and further distribution is an internal matter for the consortium. If the coordinator does not distribute, that is resolved within the consortium, not through the Commission. Which is why distribution deadlines belong in the consortium agreement: deadlines fixed there are not "unjustified delay". ### Key timings Other beneficiaries accede through an accession form within 30 days of entry into force. Pre-financing may be distributed only to those who have acceded, and only once the minimum number has. The periodic report is due 60 days after the period ends; the Commission has 90 days to pay. After the payment letter the coordinator has 30 days to submit observations. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can we hire an external firm to do the coordination? Answer: No. The grant agreement expressly forbids delegating or subcontracting the coordinator's duties to anyone, including other beneficiaries and affiliated entities. Support services are possible, but the responsibility and the tasks themselves stay with the coordinator. - Question: Why did our payment not come from the Commission directly? Answer: Because it never does. All payments go to the coordinator's account, and crediting that account is what discharges the Commission's payment obligation. Distribution from there is an internal matter for the consortium. - Question: The coordinator is holding up our money. What can we do? Answer: This is settled inside the consortium, not through the Commission. That is why the consortium agreement should set specific distribution deadlines in advance: agreed deadlines are not treated as unjustified delay, while their absence makes the dispute almost impossible to resolve. Sources: - HE Model Grant Agreement V1.2 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Deliverable URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/deliverable/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A deliverable is an output that has to be produced at a defined point in the project and submitted to the Commission: a report, a dataset, a prototype, a data management plan. It is numbered as “work package number.deliverable number” and has a type and a dissemination level. Key facts: - Numbering: “WP.number”, e.g. 4.2 - Types: R · DEM · DEC · DATA · DMP · ETHICS · SECURITY · OTHER - PU deliverables: Published on CORDIS automatically - Changing the date: No amendment needed A deliverable is what you submit. The official definition: a report produced at a given moment in the action and submitted to the Commission so the project can be monitored effectively. The key difference from a milestone: a deliverable is submitted, a milestone is verified. ### Numbering and dates The scheme is strict: work package number, dot, sequence number within that package. So 4.2 is the second deliverable of work package 4. Deliverables are numbered in order of delivery date, and dates are given in months from the project start, where the first month is month 1. ### Types R – document or report (excluding periodic and final reports). DEM – demonstrator, pilot, prototype, plan designs. DEC – websites, patent filings, press and media actions, videos. DATA – data sets. DMP – data management plan. ETHICS and SECURITY – deliverables on those issues. OTHER – software, algorithms, models. ### Dissemination level PU – public. An important detail: deliverables flagged public are automatically published on the project's CORDIS page. "Public" here means genuinely public, not "we do not object". SEN – sensitive, limited under the conditions of the grant agreement. Then three EU classification levels: R-UE/EU-R, C-UE/EU-C and S-UE/EU-S. ### Two mandatory deliverables Within the first six months you must submit two distinct deliverables: a data management plan and a plan for dissemination and exploitation including communication activities. The data management plan is then updated during the project. ### Why not to list extras The guidance advises including only deliverables essential for effective monitoring, and the reason is practical: each one in Annex 1 is a legal obligation, and removing it later needs an amendment. A useful asymmetry: adding or removing a deliverable requires an amendment; changing its due date does not. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How does a deliverable differ from a milestone? Answer: A deliverable is submitted to the Commission: it is an artefact you upload to the portal. A milestone is not submitted; it is verified, and the proposal has to state the means of verification for it. A milestone can coincide with the completion of a key deliverable, but they are different things. - Question: We are running late with a deliverable. Do we need an amendment? Answer: No. Changing the due date of a deliverable usually does not require an amendment. Adding or removing the deliverable itself does. - Question: Can a deliverable be made non-public? Answer: Yes, there is the SEN level with restrictions set out in the agreement, and three levels of EU classified information. But remember: everything marked PU is published on CORDIS automatically. Sources: - Application form HE RIA/IA V5.1 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) - Annotated Grant Agreement V2.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) ## Dissemination & Exploitation URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/dissemination-exploitation/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Dissemination is making the results of a project public so that others can use them; exploitation is putting those results to work to create value, including commercial value. In Horizon Europe this is not a wish but a contractual obligation, with its own plan due as a deliverable in the first six months. Key facts: - Dissemination: So that others can use it - Exploitation: So that value is created - Plan as deliverable: First 6 months - Assessed under: The Impact criterion These two are constantly merged, although they are about different things. Dissemination means making results public so others can use them: publications, conferences, open data. Exploitation means applying results to create value: commercialisation, uptake in practice, further research, influence on policy. Communication is separate again – telling a wider audience about the project. It is often confused with dissemination, but the audience and purpose differ: communication addresses society, dissemination addresses those who can use the results. ### This is a contractual obligation In Horizon Europe the plan for dissemination and exploitation including communication activities is a mandatory deliverable due in the first six months. The data management plan is due in the same window. In the proposal it has its own subsection under Impact, and what is assessed is not intent but specificity: who exactly the audience is, which channels, which indicators. ### The typical weakness A section reading "results will be published in scientific journals and presented at conferences". That is not a plan: no audience, no measurable indicators, no link to who is meant to use the result. A strong section answers: who will do something differently after the project – and how will we know. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How does dissemination differ from communication? Answer: In audience and purpose. Dissemination is addressed to those who can put the results to use: researchers, industry, regulators. Communication is addressed to society at large and tells the story of the project as such. - Question: When is the plan due? Answer: Within the first six months of the project. It is a mandatory deliverable under the grant agreement, as is the data management plan. Sources: - Application form HE RIA/IA V5.1 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) ## Due diligence (beneficiary vetting) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/due-diligence/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Due diligence is the check a donor carries out on an organisation before awarding funds: whether it legally exists, whether it is financially sound and whether it has management systems in place. In EU programmes this happens after the project is selected, during grant preparation. Key facts: - When: After the project is selected - Who: Usually the coordinator - Exempt: Public bodies - Valid for: 18 months A donor does not give money to an idea but to a legal entity – and checks beforehand whether that entity can absorb the funds and account for them. ### What is checked Legal existence – statutes, registration, the signatory's authority. In EU programmes this is part of the organisation validation tied to the PIC. Financial capacity – the ability to carry out the project with available resources. The indicators are liquidity, financial autonomy, solvency and profitability, plus dependency on EU funding. Operational capacity – whether the organisation has the staff and experience for what it proposes. ### When it happens Crucial for planning: in EU programmes the check comes after the project is selected, at grant preparation, not at submission. So you can apply without waiting for it. Financial capacity is not checked for everyone: normally for the coordinator and above a threshold of requested funding. Public bodies and international organisations are exempt. ### What a poor result means Not necessarily rejection. Consequences range from a request for more information to enhanced financial liability, split pre-financing, guarantees, replacement of a participant – and only in the last resort rejection. An assessment is valid for 18 months after the closing date of the assessed accounting period, so it need not be repeated for every project. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Do we have to pass the check before submitting? Answer: No. In EU programmes it takes place after the project has been selected, during grant preparation. You can apply while your organisation still has the "declared" status. - Question: Our financial indicators are weak. Does that mean rejection? Answer: Not necessarily. The consequences range from a request for further information to split pre-financing or a guarantee. Rejection is a last resort, not an automatic outcome. Sources: - Annotated Grant Agreement V2.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) ## ESR (Evaluation Summary Report) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/esr/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The Evaluation Summary Report is the final report on the evaluation of your proposal, with the experts' scores and comments for each criterion. It arrives through the portal roughly five months after the deadline, and only the evaluation procedure can be challenged, not the scientific judgement itself. Key facts: - Results: ~5 months after the deadline - Redress: Procedure only, not merits - Time limit: 30 days from opening - Request length: 7,000 characters The evaluation summary report is what you get instead of an explanation. For each of the three criteria it carries the experts' comments, the score and the stated threshold; then the total out of 15; then a block of other questions (whether the proposal is in scope, exceptional funding for third-country participants, ethics issues); and overall comments. What is not in it: the consensus group and panel minutes. Those are marked internal and are not sent to applicants. You see the agreed position, not how it was reached. ### When it arrives Around five months after the submission deadline; grant signature around eight months. For two-stage calls, about three months after stage one and five after stage two. These are not merely indicative: the programme regulation sets maximum periods – five months to inform applicants and eight to sign agreements. They may be exceeded for the ERC, for missions, and where a proposal undergoes ethics assessment or security scrutiny. ### Redress covers procedure only This is the central limit, stated in the regulation directly: only the procedural aspects of an evaluation may be reviewed. The evaluation of the merits of a proposal may not. So "the expert did not understand our methodology" is not a ground. The grounds are procedural irregularities, factual errors, manifest errors of assessment or abuse of powers. The review committee is chaired by and composed of staff who were not involved in the evaluation. It may recommend only one of two things: re-evaluation primarily by new experts, or confirmation of the original result. A review does not delay the selection of other proposals. ### The deadline that is easy to miss You have 30 days, counted not from sending but from accessing the notification in the portal. But there is a trap: a notification not opened within 10 days is deemed accessed. Delaying your login eats your own deadline. The request is capped at 7,000 characters and submitted by the coordinator. Two more limits that are easy to overlook. Only one request per proposal is considered – there is no second attempt. And re-evaluation is carried out on the proposal as originally submitted: no additional information is admitted. And something to warn management about: a score after re-evaluation may be lower than the original. This is not an appeal with a guarantee against making things worse. ### Three separate routes, not one Evaluation review is only the first. There is also a review of legality of an executive agency's decision – one month; and an action for annulment before the EU courts – two months. Separately, you may complain to the European Ombudsman. A practical detail: where an executive agency took the decision, both the review request and any action are directed at that agency, not at the European Commission. The recommended order is administrative review first – deadlines for later steps then run from receipt of the final reply. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We disagree with the expert's score. Can we appeal? Answer: Only where the procedure is at issue: a breach of process, a factual error, a manifest error of evaluation or a misuse of powers. Disagreement with the scientific judgement on the merits is explicitly excluded by the Regulation. - Question: How long do we have to submit a request? Answer: Thirty days from the moment you opened the notification in the portal. But a notification that has not been opened is deemed opened 10 days after it was sent, so in practice the clock starts running without you. - Question: Can a review make the result worse? Answer: Yes. The re-evaluation is carried out mostly by new experts, and the score that follows may be lower than the original one. That is worth taking into account when weighing whether it is worthwhile. Sources: - Evaluation form HE RIA/IA V4.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/ef/ef_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) - Regulation (EU) 2021/695, Art. 30-31 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R0695) ## Ethics Review URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/ethics-review/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Ethics review is a mandatory check that every Horizon Europe proposal above the evaluation threshold goes through. It starts from your own self-assessment in the proposal, and if serious issues are found, the grant will not be signed without ethics clearance. Key facts: - Who goes through: All proposals above the threshold - Issue categories: 9 - Experts per review: Up to 5 - Without clearance: The grant is not signed Ethics appraisal is often treated as a formality. It is in fact a procedure with its own stages, its own experts and the power to reject an already-selected proposal. ### Step one: your self-assessment At submission you complete the ethics issues table across nine categories: human embryonic stem cells and embryos; humans as participants; human cells and tissues; personal data; animals; non-EU countries; environment, health and safety; artificial intelligence; other issues. The temptation to answer "no" everywhere is strong, and this is the main mistake. All above-threshold proposals go through ethics screening, and undeclared issues surface anyway – but then as requirements before signature, and therefore as delay. ### Step two: screening and assessment Ethics screening happens during or soon after the scientific evaluation. It does not itself impose requirements, but it may oblige you to appoint an independent ethics adviser or board, and it flags proposals with serious or complex issues. Ethics assessment is an in-depth analysis before signature. It covers proposals flagged as complex and, automatically, all involving human embryonic stem cells or embryos. Four outcomes are possible: ethics clearance; conditional clearance with a list of requirements; a request for further information; and no clearance – meaning the proposal cannot be funded and is rejected, however high its scientific score. ### Ethics requirements become obligations Requirements due before signature usually mean updating the ethics section of the description of the action. Requirements due after the start are written into the grant agreement as ethics deliverables and placed in an automatically generated work package. Plan time and a named person for them: these are contractual obligations, not aspirations. ### During implementation An ethics check is internal, run by the project or ethics officer. An ethics review is a detailed procedure with up to five external ethics experts and possible on-site visits. An ethics audit follows a substantial breach of ethical principles, research integrity or applicable law. Consequences can reach amendment of the grant agreement and, in severe cases, reduction or termination of the grant. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We have no ethics issues. Can we skip it? Answer: You still have to fill in the table, and you will go through screening in any case, because every proposal above the threshold does. Ticking "no" where an issue does exist only postpones the problem until the stage before signature. - Question: We process personal data. Is that serious? Answer: It is one of the nine categories, and in itself it is not an obstacle. But it has to be declared, the safeguards described, and you should be ready for ethics requirements that become part of the grant agreement and a separate work package. - Question: Can the ethics review reject a selected proposal? Answer: Yes. If clearance is not granted after a second ethics assessment, the proposal cannot be funded and is rejected, regardless of its scientific score. Sources: - Horizon Europe Programme Guide V5.1 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf) - Application form HE RIA/IA V5.1 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) ## Evaluation (application review) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/evaluation/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Evaluation in Horizon Europe means scoring a proposal from 0 to 5 against three criteria: Excellence, Impact and quality of the implementation. To be considered for funding at all, a proposal needs at least 3 points on each criterion and 10 out of 15 overall, but in practice only those that fit within the call budget are funded. Key facts: - Scale: 0–5, half points allowed - Threshold: 3 per criterion, 10 of 15 - First stage: 4 and 4, about 8–8.5 in total - Impact weight in IA: 1.5, for ranking only Three criteria are assessed, and your proposal's structure should mirror them. Excellence – clarity and pertinence of the objectives, how far the work is ambitious and goes beyond the state of the art, soundness of the methodology including the gender dimension and open science practices. Impact – credibility of the pathways to the outcomes expected in the work programme, and the quality of the measures to maximise impact including dissemination and communication. Quality and efficiency of the implementation – the work plan, risk assessment, appropriateness of effort and resources, and the capacity of each participant and of the consortium as a whole. ### Scale and thresholds Each criterion scores 0 to 5, and half marks are allowed (tenths are not – that is a common invention). 0 – fails to address the criterion or cannot be assessed. 1 – serious inherent weaknesses. 2 – addressed broadly, significant weaknesses. 3 – good, with a number of shortcomings. 4 – very good, few shortcomings. 5 – excellent, shortcomings minor. Note that even a 5 allows shortcomings, provided they are minor. The difference between 4 and 5 is their number and weight, not their absence. The threshold per criterion is 3, the overall threshold 10 out of 15. Proposals passing both are considered for funding within the available call budget; the rest are rejected. ### Weighting: for ranking only Scores are normally not weighted. One exception: in innovation actions Impact carries a weight of 1.5 – but only for the ranking, never for passing thresholds. ### Two-stage calls Stage one assesses only Excellence and Impact, and only the aspects shown in bold. The threshold is higher – 4 per criterion. The overall threshold floats: it is set so the combined budget of proposals invited to stage two is close to three times the available budget and not less than twice. In practice this is usually 8 or 8.5. ### Who assesses, and how First an individual evaluation: each expert scores with comments and writes their own report. A proposal is normally read by at least three experts, sometimes two, often five. Then a consensus group: the same experts agree a common position, moderated by a Commission official. Where no agreement is reached, a minority opinion is recorded with the dissenting names. Finally the panel: it checks consistency across proposals, may revise scores, resolves disagreements and produces the ranked list. In Horizon Europe the panel usually consists exclusively of external experts. ### What happens on equal scores The priority order is fixed: first proposals covering call aspects not covered by others; then the higher Excellence score (for innovation actions, Impact first); then gender balance among researchers in leading roles; then geographic diversity – countries not yet represented higher in the ranking; and only then other panel considerations. ### An inflated budget lowers the score Worth knowing separately. Experts are forbidden to recommend modifications – they may not suggest cutting the budget or changing the consortium. Shortcomings must instead be reflected in a lower score. So an inflated budget is not "fixed at grant preparation" – it costs you points under the implementation criterion. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We scored 12 out of 15. Will we be funded? Answer: Not necessarily. Passing the thresholds only means that the proposal is considered for funding, within the budget available for the call. According to official statistics, around 70% of proposals judged to be of good quality receive no money. - Question: Can the experts advise us to reduce the budget? Answer: No, they are explicitly forbidden to do so. Instead of recommendations, weaknesses have to be reflected in a lower score. So an inflated budget will not be “put right later”; it costs you points immediately. - Question: What does gender balance count for in the evaluation? Answer: It adds no points, but it is taken into account when scores are equal: after the criterion of topic coverage and the Excellence score, the next priority is precisely gender balance among the researchers in leading roles, and only then geographical diversity. Sources: - Evaluation form HE RIA/IA V4.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/ef/ef_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## GDPR compliance URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/gdpr-compliance/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The GDPR is the EU's general regulation on personal data protection, and it applies to a project regardless of the participant's country whenever data on people in the EU is processed. In a proposal it forms a separate category of ethics issues, and undeclared data processing leads to requirements before the grant is signed. Key facts: - Applies: By data, not by country - In the proposal: Ethics issues category - Anonymised data: Outside the regulation - Pseudonymised data: Still personal data The regulation applies not by where your organisation sits but by whose data you process. A Ukrainian institution in a European consortium almost always falls within it. ### Where it appears in the proposal Personal data is one of the nine categories in the ethics issues table everyone completes. Ticking "yes" does not complicate your life: it is undeclared processing, surfaced at ethics screening, that produces requirements to be met before signature – and therefore delay. ### What to think through The legal basis for processing and how you obtain informed consent from research participants. Minimisation – collecting only what the project's purposes genuinely require. Anonymisation or pseudonymisation – and distinguishing them honestly: anonymised data falls outside the regulation, pseudonymised data remains personal because re-identification is possible. Transfers outside the EU – a separate question with its own rules, relevant to any consortium with non-EU participants. Retention periods and how data is destroyed after the project. ### Relation to open data The open science requirement does not override data protection, and there is no contradiction: the principle expressly allows closing what must be closed. Personal data is a classic legitimate ground for restricting access, provided it is justified in the data management plan. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We are in Ukraine. Does the GDPR apply to us? Answer: If you process data on people in the EU, then yes, regardless of where the organisation is registered. In a European consortium that is almost always the case. - Question: We have de-identified the data. Does the regulation no longer apply? Answer: It depends how exactly. Truly anonymised data falls outside the regulation, pseudonymised data does not: if re-identification is possible, the data remains personal data. Sources: - Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj) ## Grant Agreement Preparation (GAP) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/grant-agreement-preparation/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Grant Agreement Preparation (GAP) is the stage between the evaluation result letter and the signature of the grant agreement. In Horizon Europe applicants must be informed within 5 months of the deadline and the agreement signed within 8, leaving about three months. In that time the consortium turns the proposal into annexes to the agreement, while organisations are validated and appoint a LEAR. Key facts: - Results: Within 5 months of the deadline - Signature: Within 8 months of the deadline - Accession Form: 30 days after entry into force - Pre-financing: By default 30 days after entry into force A successful evaluation is not yet a grant. After the evaluation summary report the consortium receives an invitation to Grant Agreement Preparation (GAP). This is not a negotiation of the project's content but a technical and legal stage: the proposal is turned into annexes to the agreement, and the granting authority checks the participants themselves. ### Timing Article 31 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695 sets two maximum periods counted from the final date for submission of proposals: 5 months for informing applicants and 8 months for signing grant agreements. The work programme may set shorter periods. They may be exceeded, among other cases, for the ERC, for missions and for actions submitted to an ethics assessment or security scrutiny. The specific dates for your project are given in the invitation letter, and missing them can cost you the grant. ### What participants do - Grant data. The consortium fills them in together in the portal system and the coordinator submits them: participants' legal and financial data, starting date, reporting periods. - Annex 1 (Description of the Action). Part A consists of structured tables (work packages, deliverables, milestones), Part B is a narrative based on the proposal. - Annex 2. The estimated budget by participant and cost category. - Validation of the organisation. The PIC data are checked by the Central Validation Service. Validation is needed for beneficiaries and affiliated entities. - LEAR. Appointed by a legal representative of the organisation. It is mandatory for all validated participants: without a LEAR no agreement can be signed electronically in the portal. The LEAR designates the persons with signing rights. - Financial capacity. In Horizon Europe it is verified only for the coordinator and only if the requested funding for the action is EUR 500,000 or more, although anyone may be checked where there are grounds for doubt. - Declaration of honour. Signed by the authorised signatory (PLSIGN) of each beneficiary. - Ethics and security. If the ethics review produced requirements, they are fulfilled or written into Annex 1. ### What can no longer be changed According to the Online Manual, the description of the action may differ from the proposal only within the limits stated in the invitation letter: correcting errors, addressing shortcomings identified by the evaluators, making the parts consistent with each other. Revising objectives, replacing key partners or reallocating the budget on your own initiative is not foreseen at this stage; such matters are agreed with the project officer. ### Signature and the first payment The coordinator's PLSIGN signs the agreement in the portal first, followed by the granting authority. The agreement enters into force with the last signature. The other beneficiaries accede through an Accession Form within 30 days after entry into force. Affiliated entities and associated partners sign nothing. The consortium agreement should be concluded before that moment. Under the default Data Sheet option the initial pre-financing is paid within 30 days from the entry into force of the agreement or 10 days before the starting date, whichever is the latest. The contribution to the Mutual Insurance Mechanism is retained from it (5–8% of the maximum grant amount in the agreement template). For exact amounts and dates, see your own agreement. ### Common mistakes Leaving the LEAR appointment and validation to the final weeks. Having no signatory ready with an EU Login account. Filling in Annex 1 by copying the proposal without checking the tables. Starting the consortium agreement negotiations after the invitation to sign. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Does an invitation to GAP guarantee the grant? Answer: No. The grant is awarded only once the agreement is signed. If the coordinator does not sign it within the set period, or a participant fails the checks, the granting authority may stop the preparation. - Question: What happens if a partner does not sign the Accession Form within 30 days? Answer: Under Article 40 of the model grant agreement the coordinator must, within 30 days, request an amendment to terminate that beneficiary and keep the action on track. The granting authority retains its right to terminate the grant. - Question: Is the financial capacity of a Ukrainian partner checked? Answer: In Horizon Europe the standard check covers only the coordinator, where the requested funding for the action is EUR 500,000 or more. Other participants may be checked where there are grounds for doubt. Public bodies are exempt. - Question: When can work start and money be spent? Answer: Costs are eligible if incurred during the action duration, which begins on the starting date set out in the agreement. Costs of preparing and negotiating the proposal before the start are ineligible. Sources: - Регламент (ЄС) 2021/695 про Horizon Europe (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/695/oj/eng) - Online Manual: Grant preparation (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/spaces/OM/pages/1867954/Grant+preparation) - Online Manual: Grant signature (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/spaces/OM/pages/1867952/Grant+signature) - Online Manual: Financial capacity assessment (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/spaces/OM/pages/1867821/Financial+capacity+assessment) - Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement, V1.2 (01.06.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) ## In-kind contribution (non-monetary contribution) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/in-kind-contribution/ Updated: 2026-07-27 An in-kind contribution is a non-monetary resource that a third party provides to a beneficiary free of charge: staff, equipment, goods or services. Horizon Europe is a rare case where such contributions can be charged to the grant as eligible costs; in most EU programmes they are allowed but not eligible. Key facts: - Key condition: Provided free of charge - In Horizon Europe: Eligible costs - In most EU programmes: Not eligible - Mandatory: Declare in Annex 1 An in-kind contribution is a non-financial resource made available to you by a third party free of charge. The definition points to the EU Financial Regulation: resources provided without any payment. ### Why Horizon Europe is the exception The grant agreement provides three regimes. In most EU programmes in-kind contributions are allowed but not eligible as costs. In some they are not allowed at all. And there is a third regime, which applies in Horizon Europe: in-kind contributions may be charged to the action as eligible costs. The guidance's own example: a civil servant works as a professor at a beneficiary university but is paid by a ministry. In most EU programmes those costs are ineligible. In Horizon Europe the beneficiary may charge them, even though a third party incurs them. ### Free of charge and against payment are different things If you pay a third party for the resource, it is no longer an in-kind contribution. Those costs go in the ordinary categories: personnel costs for seconded persons, renting of equipment, purchase of goods, works and services. There is no budget category for "in-kind against payment". ### How it is valued The contribution is declared in the budget category you would have used for your own costs. Depreciation of equipment provided free goes under equipment. Beyond the general eligibility conditions, one specific rule applies: the contribution is limited to the direct costs incurred by the third party. Horizon Europe may also accept a third party's internally invoiced costs, in which case indirect costs may be included according to that party's usual accounting practice. ### Three things you cannot do You cannot give the third party project tasks. Whoever provides an in-kind contribution implements no action tasks and charges no costs – the beneficiary using the resource declares them. You cannot leave it out of the description of the action. Contributions and the third parties providing them must be listed in Annex 1; the application template has a dedicated table that carries over into the agreement. You cannot deny auditors access. The beneficiary must give the Commission, the Court of Auditors and OLAF the right to check the third party. The wording is unambiguous: if access is denied, the costs are rejected. ### If the contribution appears after signature Two routes. Submit an amendment to add it to Annex 1 – then you know the answer immediately. Or flag it in the periodic report under the simplified procedure – faster, but the risk is yours: the Commission may not approve it and may reject the costs at payment stage. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Equipment was given to us for free use. How do we account for it? Answer: As depreciation under the equipment category, that is, the same category you would use for your own equipment. The limit: only the direct costs actually incurred by the owner. - Question: We rent premises from a partner for a nominal fee. Is that an in-kind contribution? Answer: No. As soon as there is payment, it is no longer an in-kind contribution but ordinary rental costs under the relevant category. An in-kind contribution means provision free of charge. - Question: We forgot to include the contribution in the proposal. What now? Answer: Either submit an amendment and add it to the description of the action, or flag it in the periodic report. The second route is faster, but the risk of the costs being rejected at payment falls on you. Sources: - Annotated Grant Agreement V2.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - Application form HE RIA/IA V5.1 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) ## Lump Sum Funding URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/lump-sum/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A funding model in which the grant is paid as fixed amounts for completed work packages rather than against actual costs. The beneficiary does not prove costs, it proves that the work was done. In the Horizon Europe work programme for 2026–2027, 50% of the call budget is delivered through lump sums. Key facts: - Share in WP2026–2027: 50% of the call budget - Applies to: Grants up to €10m - Payment: For completed work packages - Cost audit: None. Technical review instead Under the ordinary model you spend, collect receipts and prove every cost. Under a lump sum the amount is fixed in advance and payment turns on one question: is the work package complete or not. This is not "a simpler grant with fewer requirements". It is a different thing to prove: work done, rather than costs incurred. ### Two types and the detailed budget table Type 1 – the amount is fixed in the topic text. Type 2 – you set it yourself, and a detailed budget table is annexed to Part B: a macro-enabled Excel file downloaded from the submission system. The cost estimates in it must be "an approximation of your actual costs", follow the same eligibility rules as ordinary grants, and match your usual accounting practice. The table itself computes the split per beneficiary and per work package and applies the funding rate. A technical trap: the file is issued as .xlsm but must be uploaded back as .xlsx – the system rejects .xlsm for security reasons. What enters the grant agreement (Annex 2) is the split, not the table. Once the amount is fixed, later price changes are not reopened. ### Payment: complete or not The coordinator flags each work package complete or not complete. There is no interim payment for a partially completed package. Partial payment is possible only at the balance, at the end of the project. A package may be declared complete even if something is missing – if all substantial work was done, or equivalent work was done, or the deviations are duly justified. Achieving objectives and milestones is "desirable but not a requirement for completion". Where several beneficiaries share a package, it is not complete until all of them are done. If a package is rejected, you are first invited to respond to the project officer's comments. Rejection does not mean losing the money: the package can be finished and declared in any subsequent reporting period. ### Ex-post technical review There are no financial checks, reviews or audits of costs at all – with no financial reporting there is nothing to audit. Instead Horizon Europe provides for in-depth technical reviews after payment with external experts. They are triggered within two, three or five years after the balance is paid (the exact period is in your Data Sheet), focus on the work of one individual participant in a given period, and may involve supporting documents, interviews with key staff and an on-site visit. The practical point: a lump sum removes the duty to evidence costs, not the duty to keep evidence that the work was done. ### Two mistakes that cost points Splitting into small packages. The guidance is explicit: lump sum funding should not lead to subdividing the project into many small work packages. What is not a work package: a single activity, a single task, a "percentage of progress", or a period of time such as "year one activities". Inflated personnel costs. Experts check against a dashboard showing the spread of personnel costs between the 20th and 80th percentile by country and organisation type. Higher figures are allowed but must be justified. Inflation alone does not lower the score – the amount is simply cut. But "serious problems with the lump sum budget" do lower the score under the implementation criterion. And separately: declaring actual costs in a lump sum grant is not accepted – it contradicts the model. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Do we still need to keep supporting documents under a lump sum? Answer: There is no financial reporting, but the ex-post technical review routinely examines supporting documents on the work carried out, and it may include interviews and an on-site visit. In other words, accounting evidence of costs is not required, but evidence of delivery is. - Question: We will not manage to complete a work package. What happens? Answer: If it cannot be completed by the end of the project for technical reasons or because of force majeure, the amount will be paid in part, in proportion to the accepted degree of completion. The degree of completion is not linked to the funds or resources spent. - Question: How many work packages should we set up? Answer: As many as make sense for the project. Splitting them up in order to get smaller payments is explicitly not recommended: a work package should be a substantial part of the work plan, not a single task, a percentage of progress or a slice of the calendar. Sources: - Lump Sum Funding: What do I need to know? V3.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-funding-what-do-i-need-to-know_he_en.pdf) - How to manage your lump sum grants V1.5 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/how-to-manage-your-lump-sum-grants_en.pdf) - HE Work Programme 2026-2027, General Introduction (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-1-general-introduction_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Milestone URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/milestone/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A milestone is a control point in a project that makes it possible to check progress: the completion of a key stage after which the next one can begin, or the moment a decision is taken. Unlike a deliverable, a milestone is not submitted to the Commission but verified, and the means of verification must be stated in the proposal. Key facts: - What it is: A control point - Submitted: No, it is verified - Mandatory: Means of verification - In lump sum: Not a payment condition A milestone is a control point, not a document. The official definition describes it as a point that helps chart progress: it may correspond to a key result after which the next phase begins, or be a decision point – for instance where the consortium chooses which of several technologies to develop. ### How it differs from a deliverable A deliverable you submit – it is a file uploaded to the portal. A milestone you demonstrate. Hence the mandatory means of verification column in the milestone table, and it must be concrete. Official examples: a laboratory prototype up and running; software released and validated by a user group; a field survey complete with data quality validated. "Stage completed" is not a means of verification. ### Practical role Milestones underpin continuous reporting: progress against them is tracked throughout the project, not only in periodic reports. In lump sum grants there is an important nuance: achieving milestones is desirable but not a requirement for a work package to count as complete. A milestone is a management instrument, not a payment trigger. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How does a milestone differ from a deliverable? Answer: A deliverable is submitted to the Commission as a file; a milestone is not submitted, it is verified. That is why the proposal has to state a concrete means of verification for each milestone: a working prototype, software validated by users, a completed study with verified data. - Question: We did not reach a milestone on time. Will that block a payment? Answer: In lump sum grants, no: reaching the milestones is desirable but it is not a condition for a work package to be recognised as complete. It is, however, something to discuss with the project officer and a reason to revisit the plan. Sources: - Application form HE RIA/IA V5.1 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) ## NICRA (Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/nicra/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A NICRA is an agreement between an organisation and a US federal agency on the indirect cost rate that may be charged to grants. An organisation without such an agreement may apply the standard de minimis rate, which since 2024 stands at 15% rather than 10%. Key facts: - De minimis: 15% (was 10%) - Applies to awards: From 01.10.2024 - Subaward base: First $50,000 - From 2025: Lower rate = advantage Indirect costs are those that cannot be attributed to a specific project: accounting, office rent, management. A NICRA fixes the percentage of direct costs you may charge to a grant to cover them. Negotiation is with your cognizant agency – the one providing the largest volume of direct federal funding. ### De minimis is 15%, not 10% This is the most common stale figure in circulation. The standard rate for those without a negotiated agreement was raised from 10% to 15% by the 2024 revision, applying to awards from 1 October 2024. The base changed too: it now includes the first $50,000 of each subaward, up from $25,000. Who may use it: any recipient or subrecipient without a current negotiated federal rate. The 2024 revision removed the old restriction on entities that once held a NICRA. But having chosen it, you must apply it to all federal awards until you move to a negotiated rate. ### Four types of rate Provisional – temporary, for funding and interim reimbursement until a final rate is set. Final – based on actual costs of a past period, not subject to adjustment. Predetermined – for a current or future period based on estimates, not revised. Fixed with carry-forward – like predetermined, but the difference between estimate and actual is carried into the next period's calculation. A rate proposal is submitted within six months of the end of the fiscal year. ### A high rate has become a competitive disadvantage A 2025 change worth knowing separately. An executive order of 7 August 2025 introduced a preference for applicants with a lower indirect cost rate, and it is already operating: State Department documentation for 2026 names the lower rate explicitly as a tie-breaker. So a NICRA is no longer purely an accounting document – it is a competitiveness factor. ### Status in 2026 The proposed reform of federal rules published in May 2026 deliberately leaves the indirect cost system alone. So 15% stands at least until a separate decision. Cognizance over former USAID partners passed to the State Department. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Which rate do we use if we do not have a NICRA? Answer: The de minimis rate, 15% of the modified total direct cost base. It is not 10%: the rate was raised by the 2024 revision of the rules, for awards made from 1 October 2024. It has to be applied to all federal awards. - Question: Is it worth negotiating a high rate? Answer: Since 2025, not necessarily. An executive order introduced a preference for applicants with a lower indirect cost rate, and this is already being used as a tie-breaker when results are equal. A high rate can now cost you the award. - Question: The prime organisation is requiring us to apply de minimis. Is that lawful? Answer: No, not if you have a negotiated federal rate. The rule expressly prohibits a pass-through entity from requiring de minimis from a subrecipient that has its own negotiated rate. Sources: - 2 CFR 200.414 and Appendix IV (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414) ## NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/nofo/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A NOFO is the official announcement of a US federal grant opportunity, setting out the programme, who may apply, how and by what deadline. It is a standardised document of eight sections, and all its variants, RFA and APS among them, are forms of NOFO rather than alternatives to it. Key facts: - Sections: 8 (A–H) - Eligibility: Section B, not C - Summary: Up to 500 words - Minimum posting: 60 days A Notice of Funding Opportunity is not free-form. It is a document with a standardised structure set by federal rule. Knowing the structure, you find what you need in a minute instead of an hour. ### Eight sections – but the contents moved The letters A to H survived; what sits under them changed after the 2024 revision. Currently: A basic information, B eligibility, C program description, D application contents and format, E submission requirements and deadlines, F application review information, G award notices, H post-award requirements. A practical trap: in the old structure eligibility sat in section C, and people still look there. It is now section B, right after basic information. ### RFA and APS are NOFOs, not something else A common misunderstanding. USAID's own rules put it plainly: the agency used two types of NOFO – Request for Applications and Annual Program Statement. So these are subtypes, not alternatives. The difference lies elsewhere: an RFA announces a specific competition with a deadline, whereas an APS was published at least annually and could stay open or set a deadline no sooner than six months out. ### Two numbers worth knowing The executive summary is capped at 500 words. And a notice must stay posted for at least 60 calendar days – never fewer than 30 even in exceptional circumstances, which must be justified. A competition "closing in a week" is a reason to check whether you are looking at an outdated page. ### Where to look in 2026 Notices are published on grants.gov. Since early 2026 the default search is the modernised simpler.grants.gov interface; full replacement of the legacy system is expected around 2027. Programmes formerly run by USAID are now announced by State Department bureaus – and the USAID page on grants.gov returns an error. Search by subject and sector, not by agency name. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How does an RFA differ from a NOFO? Answer: Not in nature: an RFA is a type of NOFO. So is an APS. The difference between them lies elsewhere – an RFA announces a specific call with a deadline, while an APS was published at least once a year and could stay open for a long time. - Question: Where should we look for USAID programmes now? Answer: On grants.gov, but not under the agency name, because its page returns an error. The programmes are run by State Department bureaus, so search by topic, region and sector. - Question: The call closes in a week. Is that normal? Answer: Probably not. The rule requires an announcement to stay posted for at least 60 days, and a shorter period, no less than 30, has to be justified by exceptional circumstances. It is worth checking whether you are looking at an archived page. Sources: - 2 CFR 200.204 and Appendix I (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200) ## OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/ofac/ Updated: 2026-07-27 OFAC is the US Treasury unit that maintains the sanctions lists, above all the SDN list. The general federal grant rules contain no requirement to screen partners against those lists: it comes from sanctions law itself and from the terms of the specific award, so read your own agreement. Key facts: - In grant rules: No requirement - SDN entries: ~19 thousand - Liability: Strict, no intent needed - Record retention: 10 years The Office of Foreign Assets Control administers US economic sanctions. Its principal list is the SDN list – Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons: their assets are blocked and dealings by US persons prohibited. It holds roughly nineteen thousand entries and is updated on no fixed schedule, in practice several times a month. ### The core misunderstanding: this requirement is not in the grant rules Verified by full-text search of the general federal financial assistance rules: the words OFAC, SDN, terrorism and IEEPA do not appear there once. What those rules do contain is a different system: checking the exclusions list in SAM.gov. Different agency, different legal basis, different consequence – ineligibility for federal procedures rather than blocked assets. The two should not be conflated. ### So where does the obligation come from From the law itself – for US persons, sanctions rules apply regardless of any grant. From the general requirement in the rules to comply with US law and the terms of the award. From the terms of the specific award – historically the operative channel. USAID's standard provisions carried a clause prohibiting transactions with persons under OFAC or UN sanctions, requiring it to be passed into every subaward, and making breach grounds for unilateral termination. ### Why this matters practically for a non-US organisation A Ukrainian NGO is generally not a "US person" for sanctions purposes. Direct OFAC jurisdiction over it is limited – arising through US-origin goods, dollar payments through US banks, or causing a US person to violate. So what binds you most tightly is the contract, not your status. Read the terms of your award, not the general rules. And an important 2026 change: the State Department's current standard terms contain no mention of sanctions, OFAC or the SDN list – that requirement has moved to bureau level and to individual calls. Ukraine is not among the countries for which formal applicant vetting is required. ### The trap that matters more than the lists The 50 Percent Rule: an entity owned 50% or more in the aggregate by blocked persons – directly or indirectly – is itself blocked, even if it appears on no list. In practice your bank, landlord or logistics contractor can be blocked while never appearing in a name screen. Ownership diligence is required, not just list matching. The second typical failure OFAC names itself is transliteration: filters that do not account for alternative spellings. For a Ukrainian context this is acute – the same name can be written several ways in Latin script. ### Liability and record-keeping Civil liability is strict: no intent is needed. The maximum civil penalty under the principal sanctions statute is the greater of about $377,000 or twice the transaction amount (January 2025 figures; no inflation adjustment was made in 2026). Criminal liability requires wilfulness and reaches $1m or 20 years. Note the two different retention periods: general grant rules require three years, sanctions rules ten – extended from five only in 2025. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Do we have to screen every beneficiary of the assistance? Answer: As a rule, no. The standard USAID certification explicitly took final beneficiaries of humanitarian assistance – recipients of food, medicine, shelter – outside the requirement, except where the organisation knew or had reason to believe that a particular person was under sanctions. The same applied to ordinary commercial payments. But the exact terms have to be checked in your own award. - Question: Our counterparty is not on the list. Is that enough? Answer: No. Under the 50 per cent rule, a company is also treated as blocked if sanctioned persons together own half or more of it, even if the company itself is not listed. So you need to check the ownership structure, not just match names. - Question: How long do records have to be kept? Answer: There are two different periods here, and the longer one governs: the general grant rules require three years, while sanctions law requires ten. The period was extended from five to ten years in 2025. Sources: - 2 CFR Part 200 (перевірено суцільним пошуком) (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200) - OFAC Framework for Compliance Commitments (https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/16331/download?inline) - OFAC Revised Guidance – 50 Percent Rule (https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/6186/download?inline) ## Open Access / Open Science URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/open-science/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Open science is the practice of making research results accessible: open access publications, FAIR data, transparent methodology. In Horizon Europe open access to publications is mandatory, and the quality of open science practices is assessed directly under the Excellence criterion. Key facts: - Publications: Open access mandatory - Data: As open as possible - Data management plan: First 6 months - Assessed under: The Excellence criterion Open science in Horizon Europe is not a declaration but part of an award criterion. The soundness of the methodology is assessed together with "the quality of open science practices", so a weak approach here costs Excellence points. ### Two different requirements Publications – open access is mandatory. Peer-reviewed publications arising from the project must be openly accessible, and the costs are eligible – but only for fully open venues. Data – "as open as possible, as closed as necessary". This is not a requirement to open everything: restrictions for personal data, commercial confidentiality or security are legitimate – but they must be named and justified, not passed over in silence. The instrument for managing this is the data management plan, a mandatory deliverable of the first six months, updated thereafter. ### FAIR is not the same as open FAIR principles mean data can be found, accessed, integrated and reused. Data can be FAIR and still restricted: what matters is not publicity but that the description, identifiers and access conditions are clear. ### What to budget for Open access publishing costs money, and it must be budgeted realistically. The guidance explicitly names "a realistic estimate of open access costs" among the things the resources section must set out. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We cannot open our data because of trade secrets. Is that a problem? Answer: No, provided the restriction is named and justified in the data management plan. The principle reads “as open as possible, as closed as necessary” – saying nothing is the problem, a justified restriction is not. - Question: Can open access costs be built into the budget? Answer: Yes, they are eligible – but only for fully open access venues. The guidance specifically advises estimating these costs realistically, because this is one of the points checked in the resources section. Sources: - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Outputs vs Outcomes vs Impact URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/outputs-outcomes-impact/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Three levels of project results: outputs are what you produce directly; outcomes are the changes in behaviour or capacity of those the project reaches; impact is the broader long-term change to which the project only contributes. Confusing them is the most common reason for a weak impact section. Key facts: - Outputs: Under your control - Outcomes: Influenced, not controlled - Impact: Contribution among other factors - Test: If you control it, it is an output These three levels differ not in scale but in how much of them you control. That is the point that matters. ### Outputs The goods, services and tangible results of your activity: people trained, a methodology written, equipment installed, a paper published. The international definition adds plainly: outputs are within the control of the implementing team and attributable to it. So if you do not control it, it is not an output. ### Outcomes The short- and medium-term effects of your outputs: trained people start applying the skills, an institution adopts the methodology, practice changes. The key point: an outcome is already not fully within your control – external conditions stand between your output and a change in behaviour. That is exactly why assumptions sit next to this level in a logframe. ### Impact Higher-level, longer-term change to which outcomes lead. Here your contribution is one factor among many, and the honest formulation is "contribute to", not "achieve". A terminological trap the international glossary warns about: "impacts" and "results" are often used interchangeably, which creates confusion. And impact as a result level is not the same as impact as an evaluation criterion. ### How to test this in a proposal The simplest check: if you claim you will achieve impact, you are either overstating or you have called an outcome an impact. Conversely, if your "outcome" is entirely within your control, it is an output. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How do we tell an outcome from an output? Answer: By control. You create an output yourself and you are fully responsible for it. An outcome is a change in the behaviour or capacity of others, and it is affected by external conditions. If you can guarantee that it will be achieved, it is an output. - Question: Can we promise impact? Answer: It is correct to promise a contribution to impact. A claim such as “our project will reduce unemployment in the region” will be read by an evaluator as a failure to understand the levels, not as ambition. Sources: - OECD-DAC Glossary, 2nd ed., 2023 (https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2023/06/glossary-of-key-terms-in-evaluation-and-results-based-management-for-sustainable-development-second-edition_2767e14e/632da462-en-fr-es.pdf) ## PIC (Participant Identification Code) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/pic/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A unique 9-digit identifier for an organisation in the European Commission's systems, required to submit proposals for any EU grant (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, LIFE, Digital Europe and others). It is obtained once, by registering in the Unique Registration Facility (URF) on the Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal. Key facts: - Format: 9 digits - Issued: Once per legal entity - To submit: "Declared" status is enough - Validation: Beneficiaries, not partners The PIC is the nine-digit number under which your organisation exists in the European Commission's systems. It is issued once per legal entity and follows it through every EU grant and tender procedure. ### One code per organisation, not per project A PIC is not obtained "for a call": it belongs to the legal entity. So the first step is a search, and the instructions ask you to check several spelling variants before concluding there is no entry. Duplicates buy nothing but trouble: the Central Validation Service merges the data onto the correct code and flags the extra one as deprecated. That does not happen in a day. ### Registration: a six-step wizard The only prerequisite is an EU Login account. The wizard then covers: organisation identification (VAT number, legal name, country – the system shows possible duplicates immediately); organisation data; legal information; authorised users; summary; and the screen that issues the code. An unfinished registration can be saved and resumed – but incomplete drafts are deleted automatically after one year. How long registration and validation take is not published by the Commission. The "10–15 working days" circulating on consultancy blogs is in no official document, so do not plan around it. ### Declared and validated Immediately after registration the code is declared – provisional until formally validated. The completion screen says plainly that you can already start applying, and that nothing else is expected of you: the Central Validation Service will contact you later. Validation applies to beneficiaries and affiliated entities in grants and contractors in procurement, and only once a proposal has succeeded. Associated partners and subcontractors do not need it at all. ### Documents for validation The base set is the same for everyone: a signed legal entity identification form and an official VAT document, or proof of VAT exemption, not older than one year. Beyond that it depends on status. A private entity adds a registration extract no older than one year. A public body adds a copy of the act, law, decree or decision that established it. A natural person adds a full copy of a passport or ID card, both sides. Two points that regularly surprise people. NGOs and civil society organisations need no supporting documents – the rules say so explicitly, "unless exceptionally requested". And a tax exemption certificate does not prove non-profit status: it is only "an indication". Documents are submitted in the original language; for non-EU languages a free English translation is mandatory. ### Who has access While the PIC is unvalidated, the self-registrant holds access and may add unlimited further self-registrants – do it immediately. Once a LEAR is validated, the self-registrant role is revoked and control passes to the LEAR and Account Administrators. All communication about the organisation goes only through the Participant Register messaging facility. The wording is categorical: emails and other communications will not be accepted. Where access is lost entirely and no LEAR or administrator exists, a LEAR recovery procedure applies – for validated organisations only, one request at a time. ### Roles: organisation and project LEAR – the formally nominated main responsible for the organisation's use of the Portal, one per organisation, and an employee of it. Without a LEAR you can neither update legal data nor sign contracts electronically. Account Administrators – unlimited, appointed by the LEAR, who remains responsible. LSIGN / FSIGN – legal and financial signatories at organisation level. PLSIGN / PFSIGN – the same signatories assigned to a specific project. The trap: project signatories are appointed not by the LEAR but by the project coordinator or participant contact, and only from people who already hold the role at organisation level. ### Appointing a LEAR Three documents: the LEAR appointment letter, signed by both the legal representative and the LEAR; full copies of both people's identity documents; and documents proving the legal representative's powers, naming both the function and the person holding it. Handwritten or qualified electronic signatures are accepted; staff badges are not accepted as identity documents. For universities the rector and vice-rector, president and vice-president, chancellor and vice-chancellor are recognised as legal representatives by default. A dean only if the faculty is a separate legal entity. LEAR appointment is not a condition for submitting a proposal, but must be complete before a grant agreement can be signed. ### Financial capacity: three different thresholds EUR 500,000 – the check is normally done for the coordinator at or above this requested grant amount. EUR 60,000 – a low-value grant; no check. EUR 750,000 for action grants (and EUR 100,000 for operating grants) – above this an external audit report or a self-declaration is additionally required. Public bodies and international organisations are not checked. An assessment is valid for 18 months after the closing date of the most recent assessed accounting period. The indicators are liquidity, financial autonomy, solvency and profitability, plus dependency on EU funding. The result is one of four: good, acceptable, weak, insufficient. A poor result is not an automatic rejection: consequences range from a request for more information to split pre-financing, guarantees, replacement of the participant, or rejection. For programmes with the mutual insurance mechanism, including Horizon Europe, pre-financing guarantees and joint beneficiary liability are normally excluded. ### When the data changes The code survives changes of name, address or head – the profile data changes, and the LEAR submits the update with supporting documents. Upload limit 6 MB per file. A new PIC is needed only for a new legal entity. Formal appeal windows exist: 30 days for a validation review, one month for a review of legality, two months for an action for annulment. Note that a notification left unopened for 10 days counts as received, and the clock starts then. ### The US equivalent In US federal grants the equivalent is the UEI from SAM.gov. Similar logic, unconnected systems. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can we submit a proposal if the PIC has not been validated yet? Answer: Yes. The declared status is enough, and this is stated directly on the registration completion screen. Validation happens only after the proposal has been successful, and it concerns beneficiaries and affiliated entities. Associated partners and subcontractors do not need validation at all. - Question: How long does validation take? Answer: The Commission does not publish an official time limit. Figures such as “10–15 working days” circulate on consultancy blogs but are not confirmed in any EC document, so it is not worth building a schedule around them. - Question: Which documents does a non-governmental organisation need? Answer: Only the basic package: a signed legal entity identification form and a VAT document (or confirmation of exemption, no more than a year old). The rules state directly that NGOs and civil society organisations do not need additional documents unless these are requested in exceptional cases. However, if you have to prove non-profit status, a tax exemption certificate is not enough, it is only an indication. - Question: Who can sign the LEAR appointment letter at a university? Answer: The rector or vice-rector, president or vice-president, chancellor or vice-chancellor: these positions are recognised as the legal representative by default, without a separate check of powers. A dean only if the faculty is a separate legal entity. Two people sign the letter, the legal representative and the future LEAR, and copies of ID are needed from both. - Question: The person who registered the PIC has left. What do we do? Answer: If the code has not been validated yet, access was held only by the self-registrant and the people they added, which is why they should be added straight away. If the organisation is validated, it is managed by the LEAR and the Account Administrators. If nobody is left, there is a LEAR recovery procedure: it works only for validated organisations, requires only the PIC, and only one request can be active at a time. - Question: Why can the LEAR not appoint a project signatory? Answer: Because the roles are split across levels. The LEAR appoints LSIGN and FSIGN at organisation level. Project signatories, PLSIGN and PFSIGN, are appointed by the coordinator or the project participant, from among people who already hold a role at organisation level. This is set out explicitly in the manual and is a regular cause of delay in signing the agreement. - Question: Do we need a new PIC after the institution is renamed? Answer: No. The code stays, only the data in the profile changes, and the update is submitted by the LEAR together with supporting documents (up to 6 MB per file). A new PIC is needed only for a new legal entity. Sources: - Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, V5.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/rules-lev-lear-fca_en.pdf) - EU Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, V1.3 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/om_en.pdf) - Registration and validation of your organisation (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/spaces/OM/pages/1867804/Registration+and+validation+of+your+organisation) ## Pre-financing / First payment URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/pre-financing/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Pre-financing is the advance a consortium receives once the grant agreement is signed, so that work can start. In Horizon Europe it equals 160% of the average funding per reporting period, not a percentage of the whole grant. Until the final payment the money remains the property of the EU. Key facts: - Amount: 160% of average funding per period - Retained for MIM: 5–8%, exact figure in the Data Sheet - Payment: 30 days from entry into force - Interim payments cap: 90% of the grant Pre-financing is a float so you can start work. Formally it is an advance: the money remains EU property and becomes yours only when the Commission approves the corresponding funding against eligible costs – normally at the final payment. ### How much Here is a common error. Pre-financing is calculated not as a percentage of the grant but as 160% of the average EU funding per reporting period – that is, the maximum grant amount divided by the number of periods. It follows that with a single reporting period the pre-financing is lower, since 100% would mean handing over the whole grant up front. It is paid 30 days after entry into force or 10 days before the starting date, whichever is later – never before signature. And it may be distributed only once the minimum number of beneficiaries has acceded, and only to those who have. ### The insurance retention is 5–8%, not 5% Part of the pre-financing is retained and transferred to the mutual insurance mechanism covering the risk of non-recovery. This is a range of 5% to 8% of the maximum grant amount, with the exact figure fixed in your Data Sheet. The "5%" circulating in secondary sources comes from a worked example in the annotated agreement – it is an illustration, not a rate. Check your Data Sheet. The retention is released at the end of the action: if the balance is positive, as a separate payment; if negative, the debt is first offset against it and the remainder returned. ### The 70% rule for further pre-financing Where a call provides additional pre-financing: use at least 70% of the previous instalment and you get the next in full. Use less and the amount is reduced by the difference between 70% and what you actually used. ### Other payment facts Interim payments together may not exceed 90% of the maximum grant amount – the rest comes as the balance. Late payment interest by the Commission runs at ECB plus 3.5%. And separately: a payment is automatically reduced if any consortium member has outstanding debts to the EU. This happens without your consent – one more reason to check partners before signing rather than after. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How much money do we get at the start? Answer: Roughly 160% of the maximum grant amount divided by the number of reporting periods, minus 5–8% for the insurance mechanism. If there is only one period, less than that, because otherwise the whole grant would be paid up front. - Question: Can pre-financing be spent on anything? Answer: Formally it is an advance and stays the property of the EU until the final payment, so it has to be spent on eligible costs of the action. Any amount not covered by eligible costs will have to be returned. - Question: A partner owes money to the EU. Does that affect us? Answer: Yes. Payments are reduced automatically if anyone in the consortium has outstanding debts to the EU, and the participants are not asked to agree to it. Sources: - HE Model Grant Agreement V1.2 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - Annotated Grant Agreement V2.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Project Officer (PO) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/project-officer/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A Project Officer is a member of staff at the Commission or an executive agency assigned to your project after selection. They run the grant agreement preparation, accept reports and hold project reviews, and all communication with them has to be in writing through the portal. Key facts: - Grant preparation: 3 months from invitation - First data version: 3 weeks - Communication: In writing via the portal only - Unopened notification: Deemed received after 10 days A project officer appears once your proposal is selected and stays with the project until closure. They are your single official point of contact on the funder's side. ### Grant preparation The officer enters the agreement data, checks what the consortium submitted and returns it for changes where needed – the documents call this "ping-pong". The timings are tight: first version of data and annexes three weeks after the invitation letter; finalisation up to two weeks after the officer replies; declaration of honour signed no later than six weeks; grant signature three months from the invitation. The officer may extend deadlines in exceptional circumstances. But where a deadline is missed without an extension, grant preparation may be terminated and the proposal rejected – after it was selected. If the consortium must change before signature, the coordinator raises it: explaining why and proposing a solution. ### During the project The officer runs the ethics check – an internal one, drawing on ethics experts where needed. They organise project reviews assessing the work done, deliverables submitted, resources used, continued relevance of objectives and management procedures. They receive periodic reports: either accepting them and preparing payment, or asking for changes. ### The rule people forget The grant agreement requires all communication to be electronic, through the portal, in writing, clearly identifying the project number and acronym. An understanding reached by phone or ordinary email is not legally recorded. And the second half of the same rule: the receiving date is the moment the communication is accessed, and formal notifications not accessed within 10 days are considered accessed. A coordinator's holiday does not stop the clock. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We agreed it with the officer over the phone. Is that enough? Answer: No. The grant agreement requires communication in writing through the portal, quoting the project number. A verbal agreement is not recorded in legal form, and you will not be able to rely on it in a dispute. - Question: How much time is there to prepare the grant agreement? Answer: About three months from the invitation letter, with interim deadlines: three weeks for the first version of the data, two weeks for revisions after comments, six weeks for the declaration of honour. The deadlines can be extended, but without an extension the preparation may be terminated. - Question: The coordinator is on leave and has not opened the notification. Is the clock running? Answer: Yes. A formal notification that has not been opened within 10 days of being sent is deemed received, and the deadlines are counted from that moment. Sources: - HE Model Grant Agreement V1.2 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - Horizon Europe Programme Guide V5.1 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf) ## Reporting (grant reporting) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/reporting/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Reporting in Horizon Europe works in two modes: continuous reporting on milestones, deliverables and risks, and periodic reporting, the technical and financial part on which payments depend. The periodic report is submitted within 60 days after the reporting period ends. Key facts: - Submission deadline: 60 days after the period - Commission payment: 90 days from the report - CFS threshold: €430,000 per beneficiary - Threshold with SPA: €725,000 Two reporting regimes run in parallel, and it is these that get confused. ### Continuous reporting Not linked to payments, done through a dedicated tool on the portal. It covers progress against milestones, submitted deliverables, responses to critical risks, and programme indicators: publications, communication, intellectual property, open data, training, gender. ### Periodic reporting This is what the money depends on. It has a technical part – work carried out, progress, publishable summary, key indicators – and a financial part: individual and consolidated financial statements, an explanation of the use of resources, and certificates on the financial statements where required. The deadline is 60 days after the end of the reporting period. The Commission has 90 days for an interim or final payment from receiving the report. Signing a financial statement, you confirm the information is complete and true, the costs eligible and supported by adequate records, and – in the final report – that all receipts are declared. ### Certificate on the financial statements Not a project audit but an agreed-upon-procedures engagement by a qualified independent external auditor (for public bodies, a competent independent public officer). The threshold is EUR 430,000 of requested EU contribution to costs, calculated per beneficiary, not per consortium. For beneficiaries with a systems and processes audit it rises to EUR 725,000. In Horizon Europe the certificate is submitted only at the final payment. Treat this figure with care. Two official documents diverge: the Horizon Europe model grant agreement gives 430,000, while the portal's general online manual gives 325,000 for the 2021–2027 period. The smaller figure is most likely the corporate one shared across programmes and the larger one specific to Horizon Europe. What governs you is the Data Sheet of your own agreement. Two traps around the certificate cost real money. If it is mandatory and you do not submit it, the EU contribution is capped at the threshold minus one euro – at 429,999. And if you submit one when it was not required, the cost of it is ineligible, because it was not necessary for the action. ### Advice from the Commission itself Declare all eligible costs, even above the Annex 2 budget. The grant is still capped at the maximum amount, but the overrun helps if some costs are rejected. Costs not declared in an individual financial statement are not counted at all; errors from earlier periods are corrected by adjustment in a later report. ### On the length of periods There is no hard rule that a reporting period lasts 18 months in the current General Annexes. Period boundaries are fixed in your grant agreement during grant preparation – look there, not in general guidance. Frequently asked questions: - Question: When is a CFS required? Answer: When the EU contribution requested towards your costs reaches €430,000, or €725,000 if you have passed an audit of your systems and processes. The threshold is counted separately for each beneficiary. In Horizon Europe the certificate is submitted with the final payment. - Question: We failed to submit a mandatory CFS. What happens? Answer: The EU contribution towards your costs will be cut back to the threshold minus one euro, to €429,999. This is not a penalty and cannot be contested as an error: it is an explicit rule. - Question: Can we declare costs above the budget? Answer: Yes, and the Commission itself advises it. The grant is capped at a maximum amount, but declaring more saves you if part of the costs is rejected. Sources: - Annotated Grant Agreement V2.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - HE Model Grant Agreement V1.2 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) ## Seal of Excellence URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/seal-of-excellence/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The Seal of Excellence is a quality label for proposals that passed the evaluation threshold but received no funding because the call's budget ran out. It brings no money of its own; it eases access to national and regional programmes that recognise the label. Key facts: - Who gets it: Above threshold, no budget - General threshold: Does not exist - MSCA: 85% of the maximum - Funding guarantee: No The Seal is awarded to proposals that deserved funding but missed out on budget grounds. It is not a consolation prize and not a second chance within Horizon Europe – it is a quality label you can present to another funder. ### There is no universal threshold This is the central misunderstanding. The Seal is awarded only where the conditions of the specific call or topic provide for it, and the threshold is set there too. There is no programme-wide "score this much and you get a Seal" rule. The figure often quoted as general – 85% – actually comes from the MSCA work programme and applies there. ### Where it is awarded at all Currently: EIC Accelerator and EIC Transition, MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships and COFUND, Teaming, the climate adaptation mission, and ERC Proof of Concept. The practical consequence: in most Pillar II collaborative calls the Seal is not foreseen at all. Promising one for passing thresholds in an ordinary research action is a mistake. ### What it gives you Access to national and regional funding programmes that recognise the Seal, including cohesion policy and recovery funds. Plus training and advice through the business support network, exposure to investors and participation in relevant forums. It does not guarantee funding: the other fund decides independently, on its own rules. Separately there is a STEP Seal for contributing to the objectives of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform, with the project shown in the relevant portal with the applicant's consent. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We passed the thresholds but received no funding. Will we get the Seal? Answer: Only if the conditions of your call provide for it. In most collaborative Pillar 2 calls the Seal is not awarded at all – it operates mainly in mono-beneficiary schemes such as MSCA, EIC and ERC Proof of Concept. - Question: Does the Seal guarantee funding from another source? Answer: No. It is a quality label recognised by national and regional programmes, but the decision is taken by that fund on its own and against its own criteria. - Question: Is it true that the threshold is 85%? Answer: That is the MSCA threshold, not a general Horizon Europe rule. There is no across-the-board threshold: the Seal is awarded only where the call conditions state so explicitly, and the threshold is set in the same place. Sources: - Seal of Excellence – European Commission (https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/seal-excellence_en) - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Subgrant / Subaward URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/subgrant/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A subaward is the part of a US federal grant that the main recipient passes on to another organisation so that it carries out a share of the project. The key point is telling a subrecipient from a contractor correctly, because that decides whose monitoring and audit obligations arise. Key facts: - Key question: Subrecipient or contractor - Test: Substance, not the contract title - Reporting from: $30,000 - Single audit from: $1,000,000 A subaward is where an organisation holding a federal grant passes part of the funds to another so that it contributes to the project's objectives. The one passing them on is the pass-through entity. ### Subrecipient or contractor – the question that decides everything Your obligations follow from the classification, and getting it wrong is dangerous both ways. Subrecipient: determines who is eligible for assistance; its performance is measured against programme objectives; makes programmatic decisions; is responsible for programme compliance; carries out the programme for a public purpose. Contractor: provides goods or services within its normal business operations; provides them to many purchasers; operates in a competitive environment; its goods or services are ancillary to the programme; and it is not subject to programme compliance requirements. The governing rule is substance over form. The name of the agreement decides nothing, and no single factor is determinative. Calling a subrecipient a "contractor" to avoid monitoring is a classic error with consequences in disallowed costs and clawback. ### What the pass-through entity must do Pass down a mandatory data set in the subaward document: the subrecipient's name as registered, its UEI, the federal award identification number, dates, amounts, project description, awarding agency and – separately – the indirect cost rate. Assess each subrecipient's risk: prior experience, audit results, changes in personnel and systems, whether it has been under federal monitoring. Monitor performance, review reports and issue management decisions on audit findings. One rule subrecipients often do not know: a pass-through entity may not require the de minimis rate from a subrecipient that holds its own federally negotiated indirect cost rate. ### Three thresholds $30,000 – the point at which subaward reporting is required, due by the end of the month following the month of obligation, and since March 2025 through SAM.gov rather than the retired FSRS system. $500,000 – the ceiling for a fixed amount subaward with prior written agency approval. $1,000,000 – the single audit threshold, raised from $750,000 for fiscal years beginning on or after 1 October 2024. ### What may change The proposed reform of federal rules published in May 2026 would, among other things, abolish fixed amount subawards entirely and codify SAM.gov reporting. As of late July 2026 there is no final rule, so the 2024 edition stands – but this is worth watching. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We signed a services contract. Does that make it procurement? Answer: The name is not what decides. If the organisation makes programmatic decisions, determines who is eligible for assistance and is responsible for meeting the programme's objectives, it is a subrecipient, even if the agreement is called something else. The rule expressly requires you to look at the substance of the relationship. - Question: The prime organisation is imposing a 15% rate on us. We have our own. Answer: Then the requirement is unlawful: a pass-through entity may not require the de minimis rate from a subrecipient that has its own federally negotiated indirect cost rate. - Question: From what amount is a single audit required? Answer: From one million dollars of federal funds in a fiscal year. The threshold was raised from $750,000 for years beginning on or after 1 October 2024, so older materials quote a lower figure. Sources: - 2 CFR 200.331 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.331) - 2 CFR 200.332 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.332) ## TRL (Technology Readiness Level) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/trl/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Technology Readiness Level is a nine-level scale of technological maturity, running from observation of basic principles at level 1 to a system proven in an operational environment at level 9. The individual topic states which level your project has to move the technology from and to. Key facts: - Levels: 9 - When it applies: Only if the topic requires it - Research actions: Lower levels, 100% - Innovation actions: Higher levels, 70% The TRL scale describes how far a technology has moved from idea to working product. In Horizon Europe it is not a blanket requirement: it applies only where the conditions of a specific topic require it, and a topic may set its own definitions. ### The nine levels TRL 1 – basic principles observed. TRL 2 – technology concept formulated. TRL 3 – experimental proof of concept. TRL 4 – technology validated in a lab. TRL 5 – technology validated in a relevant environment (industrially relevant for key enabling technologies). TRL 6 – technology demonstrated in a relevant environment (same caveat). TRL 7 – system prototype demonstration in an operational environment. TRL 8 – system complete and qualified. TRL 9 – actual system proven in an operational environment (competitive manufacturing for key enabling technologies, or in space). That is the complete official text: the General Annexes present the scale as one-line definitions. Expanded interpretations are consultancy and national contact point material, not a quotation from the document. ### How it affects your proposal TRL relates to the type of action. Research actions typically operate at lower levels and are funded at 100%; innovation actions sit closer to market and are funded at 70%. The commonest error is claiming a move from, say, TRL 4 to TRL 8 in a topic whose target range is 3–5. Mismatch with the topic's target level is assessed under Excellence and can lead to a finding that the proposal is out of scope – the evaluation form contains an explicit scope question. Frequently asked questions: - Question: The topic does not mention TRL. Do we still have to state it? Answer: No. The scale applies only where the topic conditions require it. If there is no such requirement, there is no need to invent a level. - Question: We are planning a jump from TRL 4 to TRL 8. Is that a good thing? Answer: Only if it matches the target range set in the topic. If the topic expects, say, 3–5, your jump would take the project outside the scope of the topic – and that will show in the score or in a finding that the proposal does not match. Sources: - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/uei/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The UEI is a twelve-character identifier for an organisation in the US federal grants system, issued free of charge through SAM.gov. Without an active registration an application never reaches substantive review, and the longest stage here is not the registration itself but the validation of the organisation. Key facts: - Format: 12 characters - Cost: Free of charge - Registration time: 4–8 weeks - NCAGE: Not needed for grants The Unique Entity Identifier is the American counterpart of the European PIC: a single organisational identifier across all federal grant procedures. It is issued by the US government through SAM.gov and belongs to the government. ### DUNS is gone Until 4 April 2022 this role was played by the DUNS number issued by a private company. It has been fully replaced. A document still requiring a DUNS number is at least four years out of date. ### Time and cost Obtaining the identifier and registering in SAM.gov are free. Worth repeating, because a market of intermediaries charges for what the government does at no cost. Official estimates vary: the system itself quotes up to ten business days, while State Department call documentation for 2026 says four to eight weeks. All of these clocks start after entity validation, which is a separate step. ### Registration must stay active Both while an application is under consideration and throughout the period of performance of an award. It is renewed annually. The consequence of lapsing is blunt: an application with an inactive registration does not reach substantive review at all. It is not scored lower – it is not scored. ### You probably do NOT need an NCAGE This is the most common outdated advice and it costs people weeks. Foreign entities once had to obtain an NCAGE code before registering. It is now needed only in two cases: if you register for "all awards" (contracts and grants) or if you seek Department of Defense funding. An organisation applying for an ordinary grant selects "financial assistance awards only" – and needs no NCAGE at all. Many guides, including on government sites, still say otherwise, because SAM.gov is a government-wide system covering other cases. ### What actually slows registration down Not the NCAGE but entity validation – a separate step that precedes registration and adds to its duration. The leading cause of rejection is documents not matching what you entered in SAM.gov, character for character. Next is translation: it must be certified in the prescribed form and done by a person – machine translation is not accepted. Then stale documents: a registry extract must be no more than a year old. A separate trap: a PO box or virtual address is not accepted as a physical address, nor are coworking spaces, storage units or registered agent addresses. And a technical detail that costs days: if the validation service asks for documents and you do not reply, the ticket auto-closes after five days – and the agent will not see anything you upload later. ### Two exemptions worth knowing Subrecipients do not need full registration – the identifier alone suffices. If you receive funds as a partner of a US organisation rather than directly, obtaining a UEI is enough. An agency may also exempt a foreign organisation from full registration for an award under $500,000 performed outside the US – though the UEI is still required. This is the agency's discretion, not your entitlement: State Department documentation requires requesting such an exemption at least two weeks before the deadline, with the grants officer's approval. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How much does it cost to obtain a UEI? Answer: Nothing. Both the code and SAM.gov registration are free. Intermediaries who offer to “speed up” or “handle” this for a fee are selling a free government service. - Question: When should we start the registration? Answer: At least two months before the deadline. Official estimates vary – from ten working days in the system itself to four to eight weeks in State Department call documentation – and all of them are counted after the validation of the organisation is complete, which is a separate stage. - Question: Do we need an NCAGE code? Answer: Most likely not. It is only needed by those registering for contracts and grants at the same time, or applying through the US Department of Defense. For an ordinary grant, choose the purpose “financial assistance only” and you will not need an NCAGE. Advice to obtain it in advance is out of date. - Question: Our registration expired during the project. What happens? Answer: The registration must stay active for the whole period of performance of the award, not only at the moment of submission. Letting it lapse blocks procedures, payments included, so renewal is worth putting in the calendar as an annual task. Sources: - 2 CFR Part 25 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25) ## Ukraine Facility URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/ukraine-facility/ Updated: 2026-10-11 The Ukraine Facility is the EU’s support instrument for Ukraine for 2024–2027 worth up to €50 billion: up to €33 billion in loans and up to €17 billion in non-repayable support. It is mostly not a grant programme to apply to: the bulk goes to the state budget. Money reaches businesses, municipalities and NGOs through banks, financial institutions, state programmes and individual calls. Key facts: - Size: up to €50bn - Period: 2024–2027 - Composition: up to €33bn loans and up to €17bn grants - Municipalities: at least 20% of Pillar I grants The Ukraine Facility is an EU financial instrument established by Regulation (EU) 2024/792 for 2024–2027. Its size is up to €50 billion: up to €33 billion in loans to Ukraine and up to €17 billion in non-repayable support. News about "Ukraine Facility money" is often read as an announcement of grants, but the instrument is built differently: the recipient of the bulk of it is the state, not individual applicants. ### Three pillars Pillar I is financial support to the state budget for delivering the Ukraine Plan. The money arrives in tranches once the government has fulfilled the agreed reform steps and goes to general state expenditure. It is not possible to apply here. Pillar II is the Ukraine Investment Framework: EU guarantees and the blending of grants with loans. This money goes not to final beneficiaries but to international financial institutions and other partners, which lend and invest in Ukraine under the EU guarantee. Pillar III is technical assistance, support for EU accession reforms, strengthening the capacity of public authorities, local self-government and civil society, and interest rate subsidies on the loans. ### How the money reaches businesses, municipalities and NGOs - Business. At least 15% of the guarantees under the Investment Framework must support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including through tools that reduce the lending risk of Ukrainian banks. For an entrepreneur this means a loan, a guarantee or leasing from a partner bank, not a grant from the EU. The difference between a loan and a grant is explained in the article "Grant or loan"; on the state programme of subsidised lending, see "Affordable Loans 5-7-9%". - Municipalities. Article 16 of the Regulation requires an amount equivalent to at least 20% of the non-repayable support under Pillar I to be allocated to the recovery needs of sub-national authorities, in particular local self-government. The money passes through the state budget and national mechanisms, so a municipality applies to a Ukrainian programme or fund, not to the EU. An overview of such opportunities is in the article on grants for communities. - Non-governmental organisations. Support for civil society is provided under Pillar III and usually arrives through EU projects that announce their own calls or pass the money on through regranting. ### How to read news about "Ukraine Facility money" Before looking for an application form, ask three questions. - Which pillar is it about? A tranche of several billion euros is almost always Pillar I, that is budget support, and no call will follow. - Who operates the money? If a bank, an international financial institution, a ministry or a fund is named, that is who you approach, and that is who sets the conditions. - Is there an announcement with conditions? A real opportunity has a programme name, criteria, deadlines and a page on the website of the operator or the donor. If these are missing, the news describes a financing decision, not a call. A typical mistake is to wait for "Ukraine Facility grants" instead of following specific operators. The name of the instrument in a news item says nothing about who hands out the money and on what terms. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can we apply for a Ukraine Facility grant? Answer: Not directly. The instrument does not announce general grant calls for organisations. An application goes to a specific operator: a bank, a state programme, a fund or an EU project with its own conditions and procedure. - Question: Does this money reach municipalities? Answer: Yes, but indirectly. The Regulation requires an amount equivalent to at least 20% of the non-repayable support under Pillar I to be allocated to the needs of sub-national authorities. Distribution takes place through the state budget and national mechanisms. - Question: What does a small business get? Answer: Mostly access to finance rather than grants: at least 15% of the guarantees under the Investment Framework must support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which makes it easier for banks to lend. The loan terms are set by the bank or financial institution. - Question: Is it a loan or non-repayable aid? Answer: Both. Of the total €50 billion, up to €33 billion is loans to Ukraine and up to €17 billion is non-repayable support, guarantees and technical assistance. The loans are repaid by the state, not by final recipients. Sources: - Регламент (ЄС) 2024/792 про створення Ukraine Facility (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/792/oj/eng) - European Commission: The Ukraine Facility (https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/european-neighbourhood-policy/countries-region/ukraine/ukraine-facility_en) - Міністерство економіки України: Ukraine Facility (https://www.ukrainefacility.me.gov.ua/) ## Work Programme URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/work-programme/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The work programme is a European Commission decision setting out which calls will run in a given period, with what budgets and topics. It is the legal basis of a call, so the conditions of a topic have to be checked against the work programme for the year that the call belongs to. Key facts: - Adopted by: European Commission - In force: 2026–2027, last of the period - Rules: In the general annexes - ERC and EIC: Own work programmes A work programme is adopted by decision of the European Commission and sets everything: the list of topics, budgets, types of action, the calendar. The current Horizon Europe programme covers 2026–2027, was adopted on 11 December 2025 with €14bn, and is the last of the period. ### What it consists of The programme splits into parts: separate ones for MSCA, research infrastructures, each of the six clusters, innovation ecosystems, Widening, missions, horizontal strands – plus a part containing the General Annexes, where the eligibility rules, funding rates, award criteria and procedures live. The ERC and EIC have their own work programmes, adopted by separate decisions. ### Why this matters in practice Rules change between years, and not cosmetically. Post-PhD windows, resubmission restrictions, page limits, consortium composition – all are set by the programme of a particular year. Hence the rule: open the work programme of the year your call belongs to. Reading last year's guide is the commonest way to work from rules that no longer exist. And second: the General Annexes set the baseline, but a topic may derogate. Where a topic has its own conditions, they are stated explicitly – and they prevail. ### What changed in 2026–2027 The programme is a third shorter, topics are down 35%, half the call budget runs through lump sums, and some short proposals are assessed anonymously. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Where do I find the rules for my call? Answer: In the general annexes of the work programme for the year that the call belongs to, plus the specific conditions of the topic itself – these take precedence over the general ones where the two differ. - Question: Is last year's guide still valid? Answer: Often not. Page limits, eligibility windows and restrictions on resubmission change from one work programme to the next. This is where people slip up most often, so check against the work programme for your own year. Sources: - HE Work Programme 2026-2027, General Introduction (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-1-general-introduction_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## WP (Work Package) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/work-package/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A work package is a self-contained part of the project work plan with its own tasks, lead partner, budget and deliverables. Work packages are how a proposal is structured and how effort is shared between participants, and in lump sum grants they are also the unit on which payments are calculated. Key facts: - Level: Above tasks, below the project - In lump sum: The unit of payment - Partial completion: Not paid - Recommended: A separate management WP A work package is a substantial subdivision of the work plan, not a single task. Tasks sit inside it; the package is the level above. Each is described separately in the proposal: objectives, tasks, which partner leads, person-months per participant, and the deliverables and milestones it produces. ### How many As many as the scale and complexity justify. The guidance frames it as: each package should be a substantial part of the work plan, and their number proportionate to the project. A separate project management package is explicitly advised – expected practice, not padding. ### Why splitting hurts In lump sum grants a package is also the unit of payment, and the temptation to slice it for more frequent instalments is strong. The guidance warns against exactly this and lists what a package is not: a single activity, a single task, a "percentage of progress" such as "50% of tests", or a stretch of calendar such as "year one activities". A second reason: in lump sum grants a package is paid only when fully complete, and a partially finished one is not paid at all until the end of the project. ### Link to the project logic Work packages are the operational layer of what a logframe calls activities and outputs. A package leading to no result, or a result belonging to no package, is a gap an evaluator will see. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How many work packages should there be? Answer: In proportion to the scale of the project, and each one has to be a substantial part of the work plan. Splitting packages up in order to get more frequent payments under lump sum funding is explicitly discouraged: a task, a percentage of progress or “the first year” is not a work package. - Question: Do we need a project management work package? Answer: Formally it is not mandatory, but the guidance advises setting one up and evaluators expect to see it. Without it, management effort is spread across the other packages and looks unplanned. Sources: - Application form HE RIA/IA V5.1 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) ## Foreign currency account and receiving a grant in foreign currency (Foreign currency account for receiving a grant) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/currency-account/ Updated: 2026-10-11 To receive a grant in euros or dollars, an organisation or a sole proprietor opens a foreign currency current account with a Ukrainian bank and gives the donor the IBAN and the bank’s SWIFT code. National Bank Resolution No. 18 does not require foreign currency receipts to be sold, but transfers abroad are restricted, so returning a balance or paying a foreign partner is planned in advance. Key facts: - Mandatory sale: not required by Resolution No. 18 - Basis for bank: grant agreement - Transfers abroad: only under the exceptions in para 14 - Reporting rate: under the donor’s rules Donors from the EU, the United States or UN agencies usually pay in their own currency, and the money arrives by SWIFT transfer. The recipient needs a current account in foreign currency with a Ukrainian bank. A legal entity, a civic or charitable organisation and a sole proprietor can all open one. Budgetary institutions follow a separate procedure: they work through the State Treasury or state-owned banks, as described in the article on treasury servicing. ### What to give the donor and what the bank will ask The donor needs the account holder’s name in Latin script exactly as the bank has it, the account number in IBAN format, the bank’s SWIFT code and, for dollar payments, often the correspondent bank details. The bank issues these details as a statement, and that statement is what should be forwarded rather than a hand-typed version. When the funds arrive, the bank, as an entity subject to financial monitoring rules, may ask you to explain where the money comes from. Keep the grant agreement with a translation, the award letter, the project budget and the statutory documents at hand. If the payer’s name in the transfer does not match the donor’s name in the agreement, for instance when the donor’s treasury or a programme administrator pays, ask the donor for a letter explaining this. ### Does the currency have to be sold The current wording of Resolution No. 18 of the Board of the National Bank of Ukraine of 24 February 2022, which governs banking during martial law, contains no requirement to sell foreign currency receipts. The grant can be held on the account in foreign currency and sold in parts when hryvnia is needed for salaries and payments to Ukrainian suppliers. The restrictions concern the reverse flow. Paragraph 14 of the Resolution prohibits cross-border transfers from Ukraine apart from a list of exceptions. These include settlements within international technical assistance and cross-border cooperation projects and programmes, and the return of grant funds to grantors, of which the Resolution gives a narrow list. So if you are a coordinator and have to transfer a share to a foreign partner, or if an unused balance has to be returned, ask your bank in advance which exception the payment falls under and what documents it will want. The Resolution is amended often, and the answer in last year’s letter may no longer hold. ### Exchange rates in the budget and the report Ukrainian accounting is kept in hryvnia, while the report to the donor is prepared in the donor’s currency, and the two systems produce different figures. The books show exchange differences: the balance on the foreign currency account is revalued at the National Bank rate, and the difference is income or expense unrelated to the project. The report to the donor follows the donor’s conversion rule. In EU programmes it is written into the grant agreement, and for Horizon Europe it is explained in the article on budget rules. The rate at which you actually sold the currency at the bank is usually not what the report uses. The practical consequence: keep a margin for rate movements in the budget within what the donor allows, and do not promise hryvnia salaries rigidly pegged to a foreign currency amount. ### The account in the donor’s system In EU programmes the bank account is not sent in a letter: it is entered on the Funding & Tenders Portal in the data of the organisation to which the PIC is linked, and confirmed with a bank document or a financial identification form. Until the account is validated, pre-financing will not arrive. In a consortium the coordinator receives the money and distributes it among partners, so partners should look closely at what the consortium agreement says about transfer deadlines. ### Typical mistakes - The account is opened in one currency while the agreement specifies another, and the bank converts at its own rate. - The organisation’s name in the agreement differs from the name at the bank by one word, and the payment is held for clarification. - The grant lands on the director’s personal account instead of the organisation’s account. - Correspondent bank fees are not budgeted, and less reaches the account than was sent. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a civic organisation hold a grant in euros without selling it? Answer: Yes. The current wording of Resolution No. 18 does not require foreign currency receipts to be sold. The organisation sells as much as it needs for hryvnia payments, unless the grant agreement provides otherwise. - Question: Can part of the grant be transferred to a partner abroad? Answer: Cross-border transfers from Ukraine are allowed only in the cases listed in paragraph 14 of Resolution No. 18. The exceptions include settlements within international technical assistance projects. Whether your payment qualifies is decided by the bank on the documents, so put the question to the bank before signing the consortium agreement. - Question: Which rate is used to convert costs in an EU report? Answer: The rule written into the grant agreement, not your bank’s rate on the day of sale. For Horizon Europe the rule is described in the article on the programme’s budget rules. If in doubt, ask the project officer before submitting the report. - Question: Does a sole proprietor need a separate account for the grant? Answer: A grant for business activity should arrive on the account the sole proprietor opened for that activity, not on a personal card. The law does not require a separate account specifically for the grant, but the donor may, and it makes reporting easier. Sources: - Постанова Правління НБУ від 24.02.2022 №18 «Про роботу банківської системи в період запровадження воєнного стану» (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/v0018500-22) - Постанова Правління НБУ №18 від 24.02.2022 – сайт Національного банку (https://bank.gov.ua/ua/legislation/Resolution_24022022_18) - Рамкова угода між Урядом України і Комісією Європейських Співтовариств від 12.12.2006 (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/994_763) ## Grant URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/grant/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A grant is non-repayable, earmarked financial support for a specific project, awarded by a donor through a competitive selection. Unlike a loan it is not paid back, but in return it demands strict use of the funds for the stated purpose, reporting and compliance with procurement rules. Key facts: - Repayment: Not required - Selection: Competitive - Legally: A contract, not aid - Coverage: Usually not 100% A grant differs from other funding in three ways: it is not repaid, it is earmarked, and it is awarded competitively. The last distinguishes a grant from a subsidy: a subsidy is granted on the recipient's formal characteristics, a grant on the results of a selection among applications against the donor's criteria. ### What you get and what you give up You get money you need not repay. You give up freedom in spending it: only on what the approved budget and work plan foresee, with substantial changes only through a formal amendment, and costs evidenced by reporting. A grant usually does not cover the full cost of a project: the rest must come from co-financing. ### A grant is a contract The most common misconception is to read a grant as "aid". Legally it is a contract with obligations on both sides, setting deadlines, results, reporting, and grounds for termination and recovery. Hence the consequences: failing your obligations can mean not only losing further funding but repaying what you already received. ### Forms of payment Reimbursement of actual costs – the classic model, where you evidence every cost. A lump sum – payment for completed work packages, with no cost evidence. Unit rates – a fixed amount per unit, for instance per researcher-month. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can grant money be spent on other needs of the organisation? Answer: No. The funds are earmarked: they may only be spent on what the approved budget and work plan provide for. Use for other purposes is grounds for recovery of the funds, not merely for a remark. - Question: How does a grant differ from a subsidy? Answer: In the way it is awarded. A subsidy is granted on the basis of formal characteristics of the recipient, while a grant follows a competitive selection of proposals against the donor's criteria. ## Vlasna Sprava grant: amounts, terms and obligations (Vlasna Sprava grant (Own Business)) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/vlasna-sprava/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Vlasna Sprava (Own Business) is a Ukrainian state grant for starting or scaling a business. Since September 2026 it runs under a single procedure: UAH 100,000 to 300,000 for a start and UAH 500,000 to 1.5 million for scaling, with top-ups for young people, veterans, frontline regions and priority sectors. In return the recipient must pay taxes equal to the grant. Key facts: - Start: UAH 100–300k, up to 500k with top-ups - Scaling: UAH 0.5–1.5m, up to 2.5m with top-ups - Pass mark: 130 or more - Decision by: State Employment Centre Vlasna Sprava is the most widely used grant of the eRobota programme. Until 1 August 2026 it operated as a microgrant with fixed ceilings tied to the number of jobs, and veterans applied under a separate procedure. Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 616 of 15 May 2026 replaced both mechanisms with a single Procedure for grants for starting or scaling one’s own business. If you are reading an overview with the old amounts, it describes the previous model. ### How much you can get For a start – UAH 100,000 to 300,000. Applicants are individuals, Ukrainian citizens aged 18 or over, who after a positive decision have 20 calendar days to register as a sole proprietor or set up a legal entity. Creating jobs is not mandatory at this level. For scaling – UAH 500,000 to 1.5 million. Applicants are operating sole proprietors and private-law legal entities that qualify as small or medium-sized businesses. One new job is a mandatory condition. The base amount is increased by top-ups, which add up: - 5 per cent – for applicants aged 18 to 25; - 20 per cent – for veteran-owned businesses, VAT payers, holders of a patent linked to the project, internally displaced persons with more than six months of business experience and relocated enterprises, and for a commitment to create two jobs; - 30 per cent – for frontline regions and the Slavutych community, or for replacing fixed assets destroyed or damaged by the aggression; - 50 per cent – for projects in the priority sectors listed in the annex to the procedure. Even with every top-up the grant cannot exceed UAH 500,000 for a start and UAH 2.5 million for scaling. ### How the application is assessed A business plan in the format set by Resolution No. 1527 of 26 November 2025 is attached to the application on Diia. Without it the application is not considered. Two steps follow: - the authorised bank checks the data and business reputation. Applications scoring 99 points or more go forward. For young applicants without a business track record and for veteran-owned businesses the bank score is multiplied by 1.25; - the regional employment centre holds an interview and awards 0 to 50 points. Applications with a final score of 130 or more are admitted to the decision. If funds do not stretch to everyone, grants go to those who scored higher. The assessment criteria are set by the Ministry of Economy. ### What the money can be spent on Equipment, tools, furniture and commercial vehicles carry no separate ceiling. Other lines are capped as a share of the grant: premises repairs, raw materials and supplies, and equipment leasing at up to 50 per cent each, rent of premises or land at up to 25, licensed software at up to 25, marketing and advertising at up to 10. The money arrives in a bank account by transfer and goes only to the lines named in the agreement. It must be used within three months, and the bank returns any balance. ### Obligations and what happens on default The project runs for two, three or five years, as the applicant chooses. Over that time you must pay taxes, duties and the unified social contribution for yourself and your employees at least equal to the grant. If less is paid, the difference is repaid within two months after the project ends. Jobs, where they are a condition, are created within three months of the funds being credited and kept filled for at least 18, 24 or 54 months depending on the project term. A person who worked for you during the previous 180 days does not count. If the jobs are not created, the grant is repaid in full within a month. ### Typical grounds for refusal - The business plan lacks spending on wages and taxes equal to the grant. - The applicant did not confirm the interview date within two days or declined it. - There is a tax debt, open enforcement proceedings or court cases without supporting explanations. - The activity is barred by the procedure: weapons, alcohol, tobacco, currency exchange. If the money falls short of a larger project, the grant can be supplemented with a loan under Affordable Loans 5-7-9%. On taxation of the amount see the article on sole proprietor tax on a grant, and on choosing between instruments see Grant or subsidised loan. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Do the UAH 200,000 and 350,000 amounts still apply? Answer: No. Those were the ceilings of the previous microgrant procedure, under which applications were accepted until 1 August 2026. The amount is now set by your request within UAH 100,000 to 300,000 for a start and UAH 500,000 to 1.5 million for scaling, plus top-ups. - Question: What advantages do young people and veterans have? Answer: Applicants aged 18–25 get a 5 per cent top-up, veteran-owned businesses 20 per cent. In addition, the bank check score for veteran-owned businesses and for young applicants without a business track record is multiplied by 1.25. - Question: Can I receive the grant a second time? Answer: Yes, once. A repeat grant is awarded for a new project after the employment centre has issued a certificate confirming that the previous agreement was fulfilled. - Question: What if I cannot repay on time? Answer: The procedure lets you ask the State Employment Centre for repayment by instalments. The new deadline depends on the share to be repaid and is set by a separate decision. Sources: - Постанова КМУ від 21.06.2022 № 738 «Деякі питання надання грантів бізнесу» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/738-2022-%D0%BF) - Постанова КМУ від 15.05.2026 № 616 про зміни до постанови № 738 (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/616-2026-%D0%BF) - Мінекономіки: «Власна справа» оновлено, новина від 07.05.2026 (https://me.gov.ua/News/Detail/ec3dcfc0-318d-4c9a-aeec-c817978e7d3b?lang=uk-UA) - Портал Дія: започаткування та масштабування власної справи (https://diia.gov.ua/services/zapochatkuvannia-ta-masshtabuvannia-vlasnoi-spravy/) - Постанова КМУ від 26.11.2025 № 1527 про бізнес-плани для отримання фінансової державної підтримки (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1527-2025-%D0%BF) ## Grants for budgetary institutions: treasury servicing URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/treasury-accounts/ Updated: 2026-10-11 A budgetary institution receives a grant as own revenue of the special fund, in the Budget Code subgroup for charitable contributions, grants and gifts. The money goes to an account with the State Treasury or, for universities, research and cultural institutions, with a state-owned bank. It can be spent only after the estimate is amended, and that time has to be built into the project plan. Key facts: - Revenue type: own revenues, second group - Provision: Budget Code, Article 13 - University account: Treasury or a state-owned bank - Before spending: amend the estimate A university, a museum, a school or the executive committee of a council cannot simply open an account with a commercial bank and take a grant there. A budgetary institution lives by its estimate, and its money is serviced by the State Treasury. For a donor and partners such an institution is therefore slower than a civic organisation, and that is procedure rather than negligence. Knowing the procedure in advance makes the delays avoidable. ### What a grant is from the budget’s point of view The Budget Code classes grants as own revenues of budgetary institutions: receipts obtained as payment for services, for carrying out earmarked activities, grants, gifts and charitable contributions. They are received in addition to general fund money and are included in the special fund of the budget. Part four of Article 13 of the Code divides own revenues into two groups. Grants fall into the second group, "other sources of own revenues": subgroup 1 is charitable contributions, grants and gifts, subgroup 2 is funds from enterprises, organisations and individuals for earmarked activities. The subgroup determines what the money can be spent on, so the accounting office assigns it by the text of the grant agreement, not by the project title. ### Treasury or bank The general rule is that the money is credited to the institution’s special registration account with a Treasury office. The exceptions are written directly into the Code. - State and municipal institutions of professional pre-higher and higher education, research institutions and cultural institutions may credit fees for services, charitable contributions and grants to special registration accounts with the Treasury or to current accounts with state-owned banks (part seven of Article 43). The procedure for placing such funds is approved by the government. - Local budgets: by decision of the relevant local council, development budget funds and own revenues of budgetary institutions may be serviced by state-owned banks (Article 78). For a grant in euros this is the key question, because a bank account is what makes it possible to hold foreign currency and pay foreign partners. A municipal enterprise is not a budgetary institution and works through ordinary bank accounts, which often makes it the more convenient recipient in community projects. ### The estimate: why the money is there but cannot be paid out The arrival of the grant on the account does not yet give the right to spend it. First the institution amends the special fund of its estimate: it draws up a statement of changes with calculations and justification and registers it with the Treasury. Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 228 allows this to be done for own revenues without amending the budget schedule, so the procedure is shorter than for the general fund, but not instant. The Treasury then registers budget commitments under each contract, and only after that does it make the payment. At the end of the year the rule on closing the accounts of the budget period applies, and the balance of own revenues carries over to the next year through new amendments to the estimate. ### Procurement: Prozorro and the donor’s rules A budgetary institution is a contracting authority under the Law of Ukraine on Public Procurement, and the source of the money does not change that. Article 6 of the Law gives two exceptions: where a different procurement procedure is laid down by an international treaty to which the Verkhovna Rada has consented to be bound, and where procurement is financed by loans, credits and grants of the international financial organisations listed in the Law, in which case their rules apply. In other cases both sets of requirements have to be met at once. That is usually possible: EU donors require best value for money and the absence of a conflict of interest, and an open procedure in Prozorro satisfies those requirements. Problems arise with thresholds, time limits and the language of the documentation, so these are checked against the cost eligibility rules while the budget is being drafted. During martial law procurement is carried out subject to special rules approved by the government, and their current wording is checked before each procedure. ### Typical delays and how to plan for them - Start. Weeks pass between the arrival of pre-financing and the first payment: amendments to the estimate, registration of commitments, the tender. Do not plan equipment purchases for the first month. - Year end. In December and early January payments effectively stop. Key results are not scheduled for that period. - Foreign currency payments. Fees for events abroad and transfers to partners need separate agreement with the bank. - VAT. If the project gives the right to a VAT exemption, project registration is started straight after the agreement is signed. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a university open a foreign currency account for an EU grant? Answer: Yes, but only with a state-owned bank: the Budget Code allows higher education institutions, research institutions and cultural institutions to credit grants to current accounts with such banks. The procedure for placing the funds is approved by the government, so the details are clarified with the accounting office and the bank itself. - Question: Is Prozorro mandatory if the money is grant money rather than budget money? Answer: For a budgetary institution as a contracting authority, yes, unless an exception under Article 6 of the Law on Public Procurement applies: a different procedure in a ratified international treaty, or the rules of the international financial organisation that provided the grant. The donor’s requirements are met in parallel. - Question: Why has the grant arrived but the invoice cannot be paid? Answer: Because special fund expenditure is made under the estimate. The estimate has to be amended and the budget commitment registered with the Treasury first, and only then is the payment made. - Question: Who is the better recipient in a community project, the council or a municipal enterprise? Answer: That depends on the call conditions. A municipal enterprise works through ordinary bank accounts and pays faster, but the donor may require the applicant to be a local self-government body. Often the council is the applicant and the enterprise a partner. Sources: - Бюджетний кодекс України (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2456-17) - Постанова КМУ від 28.02.2002 №228 про порядок складання, розгляду, затвердження кошторисів бюджетних установ (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/228-2002-%D0%BF) - Закон України «Про публічні закупівлі» (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/922-19) ## Grants for sole proprietors: taxation (Taxation of grants received by a sole proprietor) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/fop-grant-tax/ Updated: 2026-10-11 The Tax Code of Ukraine expressly removes from a sole proprietor’s income only budget grants and earmarked funds from budgets and social insurance funds. On that basis the tax service does not treat a state eRobota microgrant as single-tax income. For a grant from a foreign donor or a foundation there is no direct rule: it may be counted as income, so check with the tax office first. Key facts: - Group 3 limit: 1,167 minimum wages a year - Personal income tax: 18% - Military levy: 5% for individuals, 1% of income for group 3 - Budget grant: not taxed if used for its purpose The law contains no single answer along the lines of "a sole proprietor’s grant is not taxed". Everything depends on two things: who pays and which tax regime the entrepreneur is on. The sources are set out below with the numbers of the Tax Code provisions, which are worth rereading in their current wording before signing an agreement. ### State grants: eRobota and other budget funds For single-tax payers the relevant rule is subparagraph 4 of paragraph 292.11 of the Code: income does not include earmarked funds received from budgets, state special-purpose funds or compulsory state social insurance funds, including under state or local programmes. This is the provision the tax service relies on when it says in its explanations that the Vlasna Sprava microgrant and other eRobota grants under Resolution No. 738 are not income of a single-tax payer and do not count towards the group limit. The Code has no separate article on eRobota, so this is an interpretation of a general rule rather than a dedicated exemption. As an individual, the recipient does not pay personal income tax or the military levy on such amounts either: the tax service applies subparagraph 165.1.1 on state aid from budgets and social insurance funds. These conclusions are known from individual tax rulings, which formally bind only the person who obtained them. Do not confuse this with a budget grant. In the Code that is a narrow term (subparagraph 14.1.277-1): earmarked aid in culture, tourism, the creative industries, sport and other humanitarian fields from providers listed by the government. Such a grant is not included in a single-tax payer’s income (paragraph 292.1), is not subject to personal income tax provided it is used for its purpose (paragraph 170.7-1), and is not part of the income of a sole proprietor on the general regime (subparagraph 177.3.2). ### A grant from a foreign donor or a foundation Here there is no direct rule, and the position is ambiguous. Paragraph 292.1 defines a single-tax payer’s income broadly, as income received in monetary, tangible or intangible form, and the list of exclusions in paragraph 292.11 does not mention a grant from a non-state or foreign source. The cautious approach is therefore to assume the grant may be counted as income. For group 3 that means single tax at 5% (or 3% with VAT), a military levy of 1% of income and, most importantly, the amount counting towards the annual limit: 167 minimum wages for group 1, 834 for group 2 and 1,167 for group 3. A large grant can push you out of the group. There is an opposite argument: a grant is not payment for goods or services, so it is not income from business activity but income of an individual. In that case it is taxed as other income: personal income tax at 18% and the military levy at 5%, with an annual return filed if the payer is not a Ukrainian tax agent. Which approach will be applied to you depends on the wording of the agreement, so it is worth requesting an individual tax ruling before the funds arrive. A sole proprietor on the general regime includes the grant in income and reduces it by documented expenses related to the activity. ### An individual without sole proprietor status If the grant goes to a person rather than an entrepreneur, the general rule applies: anything not listed in Article 165 is taxable income. The rates are the same, 18% and 5%. The exemptions include grants within research projects carried out under international treaties and registered under the law on scientific activity, and budget grants. If the payer is a Ukrainian organisation, it withholds the taxes as a tax agent, and a subgrant provider has to budget for them. Charitable aid is a different instrument with its own rules in paragraph 170.7. Calling a business development grant charitable aid to avoid tax will not work: such aid is given by benefactors for purposes defined by law, not against a business plan. ### What to write in the payment and common mistakes - The payment reference should carry the number and date of the grant agreement and words about earmarked non-repayable funding, not "payment for services". - A business grant lands on a personal card: the tax office sees income of an individual, while the entrepreneur’s expenses are left without a source. - The grant amount is not included in the limit forecast, and the excess comes to light in December. - There is no separate record of grant expenses, and nothing to prove the funds were used for their purpose. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Does a sole proprietor pay single tax on an eRobota microgrant? Answer: According to the tax service’s explanations, no: these are earmarked funds from the budget or a social insurance fund, which subparagraph 4 of paragraph 292.11 of the Tax Code removes from a single-tax payer’s income. The Code has no dedicated rule on eRobota, so keep the agreement and the payment documents showing the source of the funds. - Question: Does a grant count towards the group income limit? Answer: Budget grants and earmarked funds from budgets and state funds do not. A grant from a foreign donor or a non-state foundation is not expressly removed from income by the Code, so it is safer to assume it counts towards the limit, or to obtain an individual tax ruling. - Question: What taxes apply to a grant paid to an individual who is not a sole proprietor? Answer: Unless the grant is exempt under Article 165 of the Tax Code, it is other income: personal income tax at 18% and the military levy at 5%. When a Ukrainian organisation pays, it withholds the taxes. When a non-resident pays, the recipient files an annual return. - Question: Can a grant be documented as charitable aid? Answer: Not if it funds a business project. Charitable aid has its own exemption conditions in paragraph 170.7 of the Code, and they concern purposes defined by law, not business development. Sources: - Податковий кодекс України (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2755-17) - Постанова КМУ від 21.06.2022 №738 про надання грантів для створення або розвитку бізнесу (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/738-2022-%D0%BF) ## Processing plant grant: terms and co-financing (Processing plant grant) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/pererobka-grant/ Updated: 2026-10-11 The processing plant grant is non-repayable state support of up to UAH 8 million for equipment for manufacturing businesses in Ukraine. The state covers 50 to 80 per cent of the project cost and the applicant funds the rest. In return you must create at least five jobs and pay taxes equal to the grant within three years. Key facts: - Amount: up to UAH 8m, up to 16m for restoration - Grant share: 50%, 70% or 80% of the project - Jobs: at least 5 - Obligation period: 3 years This is the largest grant by amount for manufacturing businesses within the eRobota programme. It is governed by a separate Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 739 of 24 June 2022. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and sole proprietors operating in Section C (Manufacturing) of the national classification of economic activities may apply, except state-owned and municipal ones. ### Amount and co-financing share One recipient can obtain up to UAH 8 million. For those replacing fixed assets destroyed or damaged by the aggression the ceiling is higher, up to UAH 16 million, but no more than the damage sustained. The grant always requires co-financing. The state share depends on the project: - up to 50 per cent – the base rule for most applicants; - up to 70 per cent – if you buy fixed assets whose country of origin, per the certificate, is Ukraine; - up to 80 per cent – for territories of possible or active hostilities, for makers of unmanned aerial vehicles and their parts, for printing, and for restoring destroyed capacity. The applicant’s share can be met from own or borrowed funds, but there is a limit: the own, non-borrowed contribution must be at least 20 per cent of the project cost. Financing your whole half with a loan is not possible. ### What the money is for - purchase of production fixed assets: machinery, equipment, power tools; - their delivery and commissioning, including software; - intangible assets and applied development to bring an innovative product into serial production; - post-harvest handling equipment – for perennial crop growers registered in the State Agrarian Register. Construction, raw materials and wages are not covered. The equipment cannot be disposed of until the agreement is fulfilled. If it is second-hand, a valuation by a certified valuer is mandatory. ### Recipient’s obligations The grant agreement has two mandatory conditions. The first is to pay taxes, duties and the unified social contribution equal to the grant received within three years. The second is to create at least five full-time jobs and pay unified social contribution for those employees of at least 20 per cent of the grant amount. If an employee leaves, a replacement is hired within a month. On a shortfall the difference is repaid, and if the business is liquidated the grant is repaid in full. ### How selection works The application with a business plan is filed through Diia, with an authorised bank chosen. These are banks in which the state holds more than 50 per cent of the shares. The bank checks the applicant, assesses the business plan and holds a video-recorded interview. To get the grant you need more than 25 points under criteria approved by an order of the Ministry of Economy. The Ministry of Economy and the State Employment Centre decide within 20 working days of the closing date. There are several closing dates a year, and a funding cap can be set for each. After the decision you have 10 working days to open a bank account and pay in your share. The grant arrives only after that. ### Typical grounds for refusal - Incorrect calculations in the business plan or discrepancies between the application, the plan and the documents. - Equipment is to be bought from a related party or a company that was related within the past 12 months. - The premises do not match the declared activity. - The bank cannot confirm the lawful origin of the own contribution. - No certificate of origin where 70 per cent is claimed for Ukrainian equipment. - The applicant declined the interview or its video recording. If your own share falls short, part of it can be borrowed under Affordable Loans 5-7-9%, where manufacturing is a priority area. How to weigh the two instruments is explained in Grant or subsidised loan. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can the grant pay for second-hand equipment? Answer: Yes, the procedure does not forbid it, but it requires a valuation of such equipment by a certified valuer. The supplier must not be a party related to you. - Question: Can the whole own share be borrowed? Answer: No. The recipient’s share may come from own or borrowed funds, but the own non-borrowed contribution must be at least 20 per cent of the project cost. - Question: Can I get the grant twice? Answer: The general rule is one grant, either for a new plant or for expanding an existing one. A grant for replacing destroyed fixed assets is calculated net of what was already received, and a repeat application needs a completion certificate for the previous grant. Sources: - Постанова КМУ від 24.06.2022 № 739 «Деякі питання надання грантів для виробництв переробної промисловості» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/739-2022-%D0%BF) - Портал Дія: грант на виробництво переробної промисловості (https://diia.gov.ua/services/grant-na-pererobne-pidpriyemstvo/) - Постанова КМУ від 24.01.2020 № 28 «Про надання фінансової державної підтримки» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/28-2020-%D0%BF) ## Grant or subsidised loan: which should a business choose (Grant or subsidised loan) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/grant-vs-loan/ Updated: 2026-10-11 A grant is not repaid, but you answer for it with results: jobs, taxes and reports. A subsidised loan is repaid with interest, yet the money arrives faster and can be spent more freely. A grant fits when the project matches the programme terms and you are ready for monitoring, a loan when speed, amount and flexibility matter. Key facts: - Grant: Non-repayable, with conditions - Loan: Repayable, at a reduced rate - Decision by: The state or the bank - Can be combined: Yes, if the procedure allows An entrepreneur who needs money to grow usually chooses between two state instruments: a non-repayable grant and a loan at a reduced rate. Both are cheaper than market money, but they work differently, and a wrong choice costs months. Below is a comparison on substance, without amounts, because amounts and rates change. ### What you give in return A grant is not repaid if the agreement is fulfilled. But the conditions are measurable: create and keep jobs, pay taxes at least equal to the grant, spend the money only on agreed lines. On a shortfall you repay the difference, and on gross breaches the whole amount. That is how Vlasna Sprava, the processing grant and the orchard and greenhouse grants are built. A subsidised loan is always repaid, with interest. The state only compensates part of the rate, as in Affordable Loans 5-7-9%. In exchange you have almost no result obligations towards the state: what matters is paying on schedule. ### Speed, amount and freedom - Speed. A grant has a cycle: application window, checks, assessment, decision, agreement. A bank reviews a loan at its own pace, without waiting for a call deadline. - Amount. Grants have hard ceilings. Loan limits are far higher and depend on your creditworthiness. - Own contribution. Large grants require co-financing: you fund part of the project cost yourself. With a loan the bank may also require your own stake and collateral. - Freedom of spending. A grant pays only for the list in the procedure, often directly to the supplier from a dedicated account. A working capital loan can go to current needs. - Monitoring. A grant is watched for years: jobs, taxes, presence of the equipment. With a loan the bank watches the payments and the collateral. ### Taxes A loan is not income, because it is repaid. A grant is more complicated: the consequences depend on the type of grant, the recipient’s status and the tax regime. Do not rely on general statements; read the article on sole proprietor tax on a grant and check the terms of your programme. ### When each fits better A grant – when the project fits the programme terms exactly, you plan to hire people and operate officially for several years, and there is enough time to prepare a business plan and wait for the decision. A loan – when the money is needed quickly, the amount exceeds the grant ceiling, the need is not among the permitted lines, or you are not ready to take on job commitments. There is one precondition: the business must generate a cash flow sufficient for the instalments. ### How to combine them without mistakes The instruments can be combined: a loan covers your own share in a grant if the procedure allows borrowed funds. Check this in the current wording, because in some grants part of the contribution must be strictly your own. - Add up both obligations: taxes equal to the grant and loan instalments fall on the same cash flow. - Buy nothing before the decision and the agreement: a grant does not cover costs retroactively. - Do not apply for a grant just because it is non-repayable. If the job conditions are unrealistic for your model, repaying the grant will cost more than a loan. - Before choosing, look through all the current state grant strands: the list and intake dates are on the Diia portal. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Is a grant always better than a loan? Answer: No. A grant is non-repayable only if the obligations are met. If you cannot create the jobs or pay the required amount of tax, you will have to return the money, and a loan would have been simpler. - Question: Can I take both a grant and a loan for one project? Answer: Yes, if the procedure of the specific grant allows the own share to be paid from borrowed funds. Double financing of the same costs is prohibited, so the grant and the loan must cover different parts of the budget. - Question: Which is faster to get? Answer: Usually a loan, because the bank is not tied to call deadlines. A grant needs a business plan, an assessment and a decision by a state body, and intake of applications may be temporarily closed. Sources: - Постанова КМУ від 21.06.2022 № 738 «Деякі питання надання грантів бізнесу» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/738-2022-%D0%BF) - Постанова КМУ від 24.06.2022 № 739 «Деякі питання надання грантів для виробництв переробної промисловості» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/739-2022-%D0%BF) - Постанова КМУ від 24.01.2020 № 28 «Про надання фінансової державної підтримки» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/28-2020-%D0%BF) ## Grants for local communities: where to start URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/grants-for-communities/ Updated: 2026-10-11 A Ukrainian community can attract grants through its council, a municipal enterprise, a local development agency, or in partnership with a civic organisation. The realistic sources are EU programmes, UN agency projects and state instruments such as the regional development fund. Almost everywhere this takes local budget co-financing, a council decision and a link to the community strategy. Key facts: - Who applies: council, municipal enterprise, agency, NGO partner - State fund co-financing: at least 10% from the local budget - Ukraine Facility: at least 20% of grants for the local level - First step: strategy and a project list A community rarely loses a call because the idea is weak. More often it is because one person writes the application a week before the deadline, there is no council decision on co-financing, and the project is not in the strategy. So the place to start is not the search for a call but three questions: who will be the applicant, what is already written in the community’s documents, and how much of its own money it can put in. ### Who can be the applicant - The council or its executive body. The most common donor requirement for infrastructure and governance projects. The drawback is treasury servicing: the money passes through the estimate, and payments are slower. - A municipal enterprise or institution. A water utility, a hospital, a school, a cultural centre. An enterprise works through bank accounts and suits projects with a lot of purchasing. - A local development agency. A body set up with the community’s participation specifically to prepare and run projects. More flexible than a council, but it has to prove experience and financial capacity to the donor. - A civic organisation in partnership. Some calls are open only to civil society organisations. The community is then a partner, providing premises, data and a support letter. ### Which sources are realistically available EU territorial cooperation programmes. For border communities, and not only for them, these are the Interreg programmes of the 2021–2027 period: cross-border ones with Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, as well as transnational and interregional ones. A project must have a partner from an EU country, so the partner search begins months before the call. The geography and the open calls of each programme are checked on its website. Ukraine Facility. The EU regulation on this instrument requires at least 20% of the non-repayable support under its first pillar to go to the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation needs of sub-national authorities, in particular local self-government. This money reaches a community through state programmes and public investment, not through a direct call in Brussels. More in the article on the Ukraine Facility. State Fund for Regional Development. Under Article 24-1 of the Budget Code of Ukraine the fund finances medium-term plans of priority public investments of regions and communities that are consistent with the state and regional strategies and with community development strategies. Co-financing from local budgets is at least 10%. The size of the fund for the year and the selection procedure are set by the state budget law and government decisions, so they are checked every year. Projects of international organisations and bilateral donors. UNDP and other UN agencies, the U-LEAD with Europe programme, projects of individual governments. Here what is offered is more often not money on the community’s account but expert support, training, equipment or small grants through a selection of participating communities. This is a good entry point for a team without experience: taking part in such a programme becomes the first line in the portfolio. ### The community’s money and the council decision Co-financing for a community means local budget expenditure, and that does not happen without a council decision. The donor usually asks for confirmation already in the application: a council decision or a letter of guarantee that the funds will be budgeted. If the council sits once a month and the deadline is in three weeks, this has to be spotted on day one. The second document is the community development strategy. Evaluators in both state and international programmes look at whether the project is in the strategy and its action plan. A project that is not there looks like one person’s initiative. If there is no strategy, or it is out of date, updating it should be treated as the first step towards grants. If the donor works under an international treaty, the project may fall under technical assistance registration, where the executive body of local self-government acts as beneficiary. That gives the right to buy without VAT, which is worth reflecting in the budget. ### Team capacity The donor assesses not only the project but also those who will carry it out. The minimum for a first application: a person responsible for the project with time for the work, an accountant who understands the special fund, a lawyer or procurement specialist, and someone who can read the call conditions in English. ### Typical mistakes - Starting with a large infrastructure call without a single completed small project. - Applying for what the community needs rather than what the call funds: road repairs in a youth policy programme. - Having no design and cost documentation at submission when the call requires it. - Forgetting about title to the land and the building where the works will take place. - Not budgeting for the upkeep of the facility after the grant ends. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a small rural community receive an EU grant directly? Answer: Yes, in territorial cooperation programmes a community can be a partner or the lead applicant if it lies within the programme area and has a partner from an EU country. It is more realistic to begin as a partner in a project led by a more experienced organisation. - Question: Is co-financing from the local budget mandatory? Answer: It depends on the source. For the State Fund for Regional Development the Budget Code requires at least 10% from local budgets. In EU programmes the own contribution is set by the call. There are also programmes with no cash contribution, where the community puts in premises and staff time. - Question: What if nobody in the community writes projects? Answer: Begin with programmes that offer training and expert support, and with a partnership with a civic organisation or a regional development agency. Hiring an outside author for one application is not enough: after winning, someone has to deliver the project and report on it. - Question: Is a community development strategy needed to apply? Answer: Formally not in every call, but for state investment instruments consistency with the strategy is a condition, and in international programmes it is one of the evaluation criteria. A project written into the strategy and its action plan scores higher on relevance. Sources: - Бюджетний кодекс України (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2456-17) - Regulation (EU) 2024/792 establishing the Ukraine Facility (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/792/oj/eng) - Постанова КМУ від 15.02.2002 №153 «Про створення єдиної системи залучення, використання та моніторингу міжнародної технічної допомоги» (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/153-2002-%D0%BF) - U-LEAD з Європою – сайт програми (https://u-lead.org.ua/) - Interreg – портал програм територіального співробітництва ЄС (https://www.interreg.eu/) ## Orchard and greenhouse grants: amounts, land, obligations (Orchard and greenhouse grants) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/sad-teplytsia-grant/ Updated: 2026-10-11 The orchard and greenhouse grants are two agricultural strands of Ukrainian state support for business. An orchard, berry field or vineyard gets up to UAH 400,000 per hectare, capped at UAH 10 million, and a modular greenhouse UAH 2 to 7 million depending on area. The state normally covers up to half of the project cost, and the rest is the applicant’s own contribution. Key facts: - Orchard: up to UAH 400k per hectare, max UAH 10m - Greenhouse: UAH 2m, 3.5m or 7m by area - Grant share: up to 50%, about 80% in risk zones - Land rights: at least 7 years Both grants are approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 738 and belong to the eRobota programme, but they work differently from Vlasna Sprava. There is no interview at the employment centre: the Ministry of Economy decides on the basis of an application checked by the bank and a costed project. Both strands are financed under the Ukraine Facility, so EU rules on sanctions screening and visibility apply. The applicant may be a legal entity whose ultimate beneficial owners are Ukrainian citizens, or a sole proprietor, registered in the State Agrarian Register. State-owned and municipal enterprises are excluded. ### Orchard, berry field and vineyard grant The money pays for materials and equipment to plant and set up a new planting of 1 to 25 hectares. The amount is no more than UAH 400,000 per hectare and no more than UAH 10 million per recipient. - For all crops except grapes an irrigation system and a water source are mandatory. - Planting material must be of varieties entered in the state registers of plant varieties. - One plot or several adjacent plots. - A planting project with a cost estimate and an expert report on the estimate are attached to the application. ### Greenhouse grant What is financed is the construction of a modular greenhouse to a standard design approved by the Ministry of Economy. The amount is tied to the area: - 0.4–0.6 hectares – UAH 2 million; - 0.8–1.2 hectares – UAH 3.5 million; - 1.6–2.4 hectares – UAH 7 million. One recipient can receive a grant for one greenhouse only. A water source and irrigation are required. ### Co-financing and land In both strands the grant covers up to 50 per cent of the project cost, and the recipient contributes at least as much from own or borrowed funds. For farms in territories of possible or active hostilities, and for those with 80 per cent of their land still under occupation, the grant share rises to about 80 per cent. The mechanics are explained in the article on co-financing. Your share must be paid in full into a dedicated account at the authorised bank within 30 calendar days of signing the agreement. Otherwise the grant decision is cancelled. Ownership or use rights to the land must be documented for at least seven years as of the application date. A short lease is the most common reason an application is left without consideration. ### Obligations after the award Orchard. Costs must be paid within 12 months and planting completed within 18. After that you operate and pay taxes for at least five years and create permanent and seasonal jobs in the number given in the annex to the procedure, which depends on the crop. If the conditions are not met, you repay the difference between half of the grant used and the taxes paid. Greenhouse. Construction must fit into 12 months. After commissioning you create at least four permanent and ten seasonal jobs per hectare, with seasonal staff working at least eight months a year. Operation and tax payments continue for at least three years, and on a breach you repay the difference between the grant used and the taxes paid. In both cases selling the plantings or the greenhouse before the term ends, or spending funds off-purpose, means returning the grant. The bank, together with the regional administration, monitors the site every six months. ### Typical mistakes - The amount requested exceeds the per-hectare limit or breaks the ratio of grant to own funds. - The application does not state the commitment on the number of jobs. - The project is not signed by its developer or is filed without a cost estimate. - The supplier has been registered for less than 12 months: payments to such counterparties are not made. - Wanting to change the project after filing. No changes are made to a submitted project. Your own share can be partly covered by a loan under Affordable Loans 5-7-9%. Processing of the harvest is financed by the separate processing plant grant. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can I apply for an orchard on leased land? Answer: Yes, if the right of use is properly documented and still runs for at least seven years as of the application date. Ownership qualifies as well. - Question: Can I get a grant for two greenhouses? Answer: No. The procedure states explicitly that a recipient can receive a grant for the construction of one modular greenhouse only. - Question: Can the own share be borrowed? Answer: Yes. The procedures allow the recipient’s share to come from own or borrowed funds. What matters is paying it into the account at the authorised bank on time and in full. - Question: What if the orchard or greenhouse is destroyed? Answer: For a greenhouse the procedure provides that the project is released from monitoring if it is completely destroyed by an emergency classified under the established rules. In other cases check the current wording of the procedure and your agreement. Sources: - Постанова КМУ від 21.06.2022 № 738 «Деякі питання надання грантів бізнесу» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/738-2022-%D0%BF) - Портал Дія: грант на сад (https://diia.gov.ua/services/grant-na-sad/) - Портал Дія: грант на теплицю (https://diia.gov.ua/services/grant-na-teplicyu/) ## Grant application (proposal / application) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/grant-application/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A Horizon Europe proposal has two parts: Part A is filled in directly in the portal system and holds the administrative data and the budget, while Part B is the substantive description of the project, uploaded as a PDF. Part B has a strict page limit, and anything beyond it automatically becomes invisible to the evaluators. Key facts: - RIA / IA: 40 pages (was 45) - Lump sum: 45 pages - First stage: 10 pages - Over the limit: Becomes invisible Submission is only possible through the portal – paper applications do not exist. The proposal has two parts, and they are prepared quite differently. ### Part A: completed in the system The administrative part, which you do not write but fill in: participant data, the summary budget, call-specific questions, the ethics issues table, the security issues table and declarations. The ethics issues table has nine categories: human embryonic stem cells and embryos; humans as research participants; human cells and tissues; personal data; animals; non-EU countries; environment, health and safety; artificial intelligence; other ethics issues. ### Part B: uploaded as a PDF The substantive part, and its structure mirrors the three award criteria: Excellence (objectives and ambition, methodology), Impact (pathways to impact, measures to maximise it) and Quality and efficiency of the implementation (work plan and resources, capacity of participants). ### Page limits: 40, not 45 This changed in the 2026–2027 work programme and secondary sources have not caught up. The standard limit for research and innovation actions was cut from 45 to 40 pages. Forty-five now applies only to lump sum topics. The rest: coordination and support actions 25 pages (28 for lump sum), programme co-fund actions 65, first stage of a two-stage call 10. Formatting is prescribed too: Times New Roman or similar, font size no smaller than 11, at least single spacing. ### Three rules that cost points Excess pages are not "skipped" – they disappear. After the deadline everything beyond the limit is automatically made invisible and is not considered. If you pushed the consortium capacity section there, that criterion is assessed as unaddressed. Links do not rescue you. Experts are instructed to ignore hyperlinks to material designed to circumvent the page limit. You are assessed on what you submitted, not on the proposal's potential "if certain changes were made". Content, budget and consortium cannot be substantially changed during grant preparation. Frequently asked questions: - Question: What happens if we go over the page limit? Answer: After the deadline the excess pages automatically become invisible to the evaluators. It is not a penalty and not a warning – the text simply disappears, and any section that ended up there counts as not addressed. - Question: Can we move the details out into a link? Answer: No. Experts are explicitly instructed to disregard hyperlinks to material created to get around the limit. The proposal has to be a self-contained document. - Question: How many pages apply in our case? Answer: Forty for a research or innovation action, 45 if the topic uses lump sum funding, 25 for a coordination and support action, 65 for a programme co-fund action and 10 for the first stage. The idea that 45 is the general limit is out of date. Sources: - Application form HE RIA/IA V5.1 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Grantwriting URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/grantwriting/ Updated: 2026-07-27 Grantwriting is preparing a project proposal so that it complies with the donor's rules and convinces the evaluator. It is not the art of writing beautifully but the ability to read the call conditions and fit your idea into someone else's structure with someone else's criteria. Key facts: - Read by: An evaluator with a scoring form - Start with: The topic conditions - Structure: Follows the evaluation criteria - Over the limit: Not read The commonest misconception: grantwriting is not about the quality of the prose. Your proposal is read not by an editor but by an evaluator with a form and a score, whose job is to find answers to specific questions. ### Three things it starts with Reading the conditions, not the programme description. The topic sets the type of action, funding rate, consortium requirements and expected outcomes. The programme description is context; decisions are made on the topic. The idea before the template. A proposal begun by opening the template almost always turns out to be a list of activities with no logic. That logic is easiest to test with a logframe before any text is written. Structure by criteria. The sections of a Horizon Europe proposal mirror the award criteria for a reason: writing about impact in the methodology section means the evaluator will not credit it. ### What actually costs points Not style but specifics: drifting from the topic scope; unmeasurable expected results; a consortium whose partners duplicate rather than complement each other; a work plan that does not match the narrative; a budget unsupported by the content. And separately: exceeding the page limit. Excess pages are not skimmed – they are automatically made invisible, and a section pushed there counts as unaddressed. ### What is not expected of you Promises you cannot guarantee. Evaluators can tell ambition from overstatement, and an inflated budget or unrealistic plan directly lowers the implementation score – with no chance to "fix it later". Frequently asked questions: - Question: Where do I start with a first proposal? Answer: With reading the topic conditions carefully and checking eligibility. Then with the project logic: objectives, results, how to measure them. The text is written last, once the logic holds together. - Question: Do we need a professional grantwriter? Answer: Not necessarily, but you do need someone who will read the conditions in full and check compliance. The most expensive mistakes are formal ones: not matching the topic, breaching the consortium composition rules, exceeding the page limit. None of them depend on the quality of the writing. ## Submission deadline (call deadline / cut-off date) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/call-deadline/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The submission deadline is the point after which the system stops accepting proposals and closes automatically. In EU calls it falls at 17:00 Brussels time, and no technical or otherwise valid reason allows it to be extended on an individual basis. Key facts: - Time: 17:00 Brussels time - Closing: Automatic - Possible shift: Up to 2 months - Missed cut-off: Next session A deadline in EU calls is not "end of day". Every submission closes at 17:00 Brussels time. Convert that to your own time zone well before submission day, not on it. ### The system closes itself Submission stops automatically. An unfinished draft stays a draft: only a proposal you managed to confirm in the system counts as submitted. Technical problems on your side are not grounds for an extension. Which is why the official advice is to submit early: you may re-upload as many times as you like before the deadline, and the last submitted version replaces the previous one. ### A deadline can move – but not for you personally The director-general responsible for a call may postpone a deadline by up to two months and shift the opening date by a month either way. That is a decision about the call as a whole, not a concession to an individual applicant. The practical consequence: watch the call page on the portal right up to submission – a date in a guide or a presentation may already be superseded. ### Cut-offs are different Some calls stay open continuously and have cut-off dates: submit any time, and everything received by a given cut-off is evaluated together. Missing one does not lose your proposal – it moves to the next session. Frequently asked questions: - Question: What time does submission close? Answer: At 17:00 Brussels time. Not at midnight, and this is the most expensive mistake to make when converting time zones. - Question: Our internet went down during submission. Will they extend the deadline? Answer: No. Extending a deadline is a decision about the call as a whole, not an individual concession. So it is worth submitting early: the submission can be updated in the system an unlimited number of times before the deadline. Sources: - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) ## Donor (donor / funding body) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/donor/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A donor is an organisation that provides non-repayable funding for public-benefit purposes and sets the rules for using it: who may apply, what the money may be spent on and how it must be reported. Donors range from the EU to national governments, private foundations and corporate programmes, and the type of donor largely determines how demanding the requirements are. Key facts: - Sets: All the rules - Most formalised: EU programmes - Check first: Eligibility - Underestimated: Reporting requirements A donor is an organisation providing non-repayable funding for public-benefit purposes. But for an applicant something else matters more: the donor sets the rules, and its type determines how demanding the whole procedure will be. ### Four types, not equal in complexity Supranational bodies – the EU and its programmes. The largest budgets and the most formalised procedures: organisation registration, multi-stage evaluation, detailed cost eligibility rules. National governments – bilateral aid through their own agencies. Rules vary by country and are often tied to national law. Private foundations – usually more flexible procedures and smaller amounts, but less predictable criteria. Corporate programmes – the fastest decisions, the smallest amounts, often tied to the company's interests. ### What to establish before applying Whether you are eligible – by organisation type, country, field. This is what gets proposals rejected without being read. What share is covered and whether co-financing is required. Which costs are eligible – in particular whether administrative costs are covered and at what rate. What reporting is required – and whether your accounting system can actually deliver it. The last is the most underestimated. Winning a grant whose reporting you cannot sustain is worse than not winning: the consequence is repayment. ### A rule that saves months Donors almost never make exceptions to their own rules, but almost always answer questions before the deadline. The call's support service exists for exactly that – and using it is cheaper than guessing. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Where should we start when researching a donor? Answer: With the eligibility criteria: type of organisation, country, field. These are the grounds on which a proposal is rejected without even being read. And immediately after that, with the reporting requirements: if your accounting system cannot cope with them, a win will turn into a repayment of funds. - Question: Can we put questions to the donor while the call is open? Answer: Yes, and it is worth doing. The call helpdesk answers questions up to the deadline, which is cheaper than guessing. Donors do not make exceptions to their rules, but they are happy to give clarifications. ## eRobota: state grants for business URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/yerobota/ Updated: 2026-10-11 eRobota is the Ukrainian government’s programme of non-repayable grants for business, running since July 2022. In 2026 it covers the Vlasna Sprava grant for starting and scaling a business and grants for processing plants, orchards, greenhouses and produce storage. Applications go through the Diia portal, and in return the applicant commits to create jobs and pay taxes. Key facts: - Running since: 1 July 2022 - Application: Diia portal - Operators: Ministry of Economy, State Employment Centre - Condition: Jobs and taxes eRobota is the umbrella name for the state business grants the government launched in July 2022. Legally it is not one programme but several separate procedures: most are approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 738, while the processing grant sits in Resolution No. 739. On the Diia portal the section with these services is currently labelled eGranty. Every strand follows the same logic. The state gives money that does not have to be repaid, and the recipient commits to create jobs and, over several years, to pay taxes and the unified social contribution at least equal to the grant. Whoever falls short repays the difference. So this is not a gift but a grant with measurable obligations. ### Which strands operate in 2026 - Vlasna Sprava – a grant for starting or scaling a business. Since September 2026 a single procedure applies: UAH 100,000 to 300,000 for a start and UAH 500,000 to 1.5 million for scaling, with top-ups to UAH 500,000 and UAH 2.5 million respectively. - Processing plant grant – up to UAH 8 million for equipment, subject to co-financing and at least five jobs. - Orchard and greenhouse grants – up to UAH 400,000 per hectare of plantings or up to UAH 7 million for a modular greenhouse. - Vegetable or fruit storage grant – a new strand added in January 2026: new construction of a storage facility with a capacity of 500 tonnes or more. Separate grants for veterans and their family members are no longer filed under their own procedure: applications under it were accepted until 1 August 2026. Combat veterans, persons with war-related disabilities and their families now apply for Vlasna Sprava, which carries a top-up for veteran-owned businesses. Resolution No. 738 also contains procedures for energy independence support for business. Their terms were still being updated in autumn 2026, so check them on Diia. ### Who is responsible for what The State Employment Centre decides on Vlasna Sprava, signs the grant agreements and monitors the jobs. Money for this strand comes from the unemployment insurance fund and the state budget. The Ministry of Economy is the main spending unit for the processing, orchard, greenhouse and storage grants. The agricultural strands are financed under the Ukraine Facility. Authorised banks check the applicant’s business reputation, hold the dedicated account and pay supplier invoices from it. The grant is never paid out in cash. ### How to apply The application is generated on the Diia portal or at a branch of an authorised bank and signed with an electronic signature. You choose the bank in the application. A business plan or a costed project is attached, and without it the application is not considered. The Ministry of Economy sets the closing dates within the year, and intake can stop once the funds are used up. ### What to check before applying - Whether the terms have changed. Amounts and requirements here were revised every year, so rely on the current wording of the resolution and the service page on Diia, not on last year’s overviews. - Whether you have your own share where co-financing is required. - Whether the business plan squares with the tax obligation: wages and payments to the budget must together cover the grant. - Whether a subsidised loan would serve you better: the comparison is in Grant or subsidised loan, and the programme itself is covered in the article on Affordable Loans 5-7-9%. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Is eRobota a loan or a grant? Answer: A grant, that is, non-repayable support. Money has to be returned only when the agreement is breached: jobs were not created, funds were spent off-purpose, or less tax was paid than the grant amount. - Question: Can I apply without Diia? Answer: The application is generated through the Diia portal in any case. You can do it yourself or at a branch of an authorised bank, where staff help with identification and signing. - Question: Is there still a separate grant for veterans? Answer: Applications under the separate procedure were accepted until 1 August 2026. Veterans, persons with war-related disabilities and their family members now apply for the Vlasna Sprava grant, where veteran-owned businesses get a 20 per cent top-up. - Question: Why do the terms differ between overviews? Answer: Because the procedures change often: Resolution No. 738 alone was amended more than five times in 2026. Only the current wording on the parliament’s website and the service page on Diia are reliable. Sources: - Постанова КМУ від 21.06.2022 № 738 «Деякі питання надання грантів бізнесу» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/738-2022-%D0%BF) - Постанова КМУ від 24.06.2022 № 739 «Деякі питання надання грантів для виробництв переробної промисловості» (чинна редакція) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/739-2022-%D0%BF) - Постанова КМУ від 15.05.2026 № 616 про зміни до постанови № 738 (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/616-2026-%D0%BF) - Мінекономіки: «Власна справа» оновлено, новина від 07.05.2026 (https://me.gov.ua/News/Detail/ec3dcfc0-318d-4c9a-aeec-c817978e7d3b?lang=uk-UA) - Портал Дія: гранти для бізнесу (https://diia.gov.ua/services/categories/biznesu/yerobota/) ## Record-keeping after the grant ends (Record-keeping after the grant) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/record-keeping/ Updated: 2026-10-11 After a grant ends, project records must be kept for several more years, because the donor may check costs after the last payment. In EU grants this is five years after the final payment, or three for grants of up to EUR 60,000. If a document is missing when a check comes, the related cost is rejected and the money has to be repaid. Key facts: - EU grants: 5 years after the final payment - Small grants: 3 years if the grant is up to EUR 60,000 - Ukrainian rule: At least 5 years for source documents - Format: Originals as defined by national law The project is over, the report accepted, the money received, yet the obligations do not end there. The granting authority can check the costs you declared years later, and only documents can prove them. That makes record-keeping part of implementing the grant, not a matter for the archive. ### How long to keep records The period is set in Point 6 of the Data Sheet of the grant agreement. In EU grants it is 5 years after the final payment, and 3 years for grants of up to EUR 60,000. If a check, audit, investigation or dispute is under way, the records are kept until it ends. In Horizon Europe an audit itself can be started within two years of the final payment, but that does not shorten the retention period. The clock runs from the last payment, not from the date of the document. An invoice from the first month of a four-year project will have to be kept for roughly ten years. ### What to keep - Finance: contracts, invoices, acceptance certificates, payment documents, bank statements, accounting ledgers. The amounts in the financial statement, in the accounts and in the source documents must reconcile. - Personnel: employment contracts, orders, payroll, the daily rate calculation and time records. - Procurement: requests, offers, the reasons for choosing the supplier. - Evidence of results: reports, minutes, participant lists, photos, publications, data. - Changes: correspondence with the granting authority and every amendment. For simplified forms of costs you do not have to prove actual costs, but you do have to prove the number of units or the work carried out. ### Originals, scans and missing documents Originals must be kept in the form in which the document was created or received. Paper stays paper, electronic stays electronic, and there is no need to print it. A scan in place of a paper original is acceptable if national law treats it as equivalent. Otherwise the decision is the granting authority's and the risk is yours. Each participant keeps its own records, and the coordinator is no substitute. Costs without sufficient evidence are ineligible: they are rejected and what was already paid is recovered. The grant may be reduced. If the lack of documents is systemic, the audit findings are extended to other EU grants of the same beneficiary. Proving that a document once existed is nearly impossible, so losing the archive means losing the money. ### Ukrainian periods and other donors The grant agreement does not override national rules; the longer period applies. The Ministry of Justice list of standard documents sets 5 years for accounting source documents and 1 year for attendance sheets, and these periods are minimums. The Tax Code requires legal entities to keep source documents and ledgers for at least 1,825 days. But Ukrainian periods run from the creation of the document or the filing of the return, while the European one runs from the final payment. So project documents cannot be destroyed on the ordinary archive schedule: an attendance sheet that is one year old is still live for the grant. With other donors the periods differ, but the principle is shared: the clock runs from the end of the grant or the last report, plus an extension while checks are pending. Look in the agreement for the section on record retention and audit rights, and in contracts with Ukrainian funds also for the requirements on supporting documents. ### A practical system - One folder structure for all projects: agreement and amendments, reports, personnel, procurement, travel, results, correspondence. - In the file name: date, counterparty, document number and budget line. - Scan on the day the document arrives, not before the report. - Set by internal order the date before which the project file is not destroyed, and the person responsible. - Keep a backup outside the office. In wartime this decides whether the archive survives. Frequently asked questions: - Question: From which date do the five years run? Answer: From the date of the final payment of the grant, not from the date of the document or the end of the project. If a check, audit or dispute is started in that time, the records are kept until it ends. - Question: Can everything be kept in electronic form only? Answer: Electronic documents are kept electronically. A paper original can be replaced by a scan only where national law treats such a copy as equivalent. Otherwise the granting authority may refuse the copy, and the beneficiary bears the risk of cost rejection. - Question: Who keeps the records of consortium partners? Answer: Each participant keeps its own records. The coordinator is not obliged to hold partners' source documents, although the consortium may agree to deposit copies with the coordinator to make checks easier. - Question: The organisation is being reorganised or wound up. What about the records? Answer: The duty to keep them does not disappear: the records pass to the legal successor or are handed over for archival storage under national rules. Tell the granting authority about the change of status and agree where the records will be accessible. Sources: - EU Grants: AGA – Annotated Grant Agreement, V2.0 (01.04.2025) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement (Multi & Mono), V1.2 (01.06.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - Перелік типових документів із зазначенням строків зберігання, наказ Мін'юсту від 12.04.2012 № 578/5 (редакція від 16.04.2025) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0571-12) - Податковий кодекс України, пункт 44.3 статті 44 (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2755-17) ## VAT and customs exemption in technical assistance projects (VAT and customs duty exemption in international technical assistance projects) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/mtd-vat-exemption/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Goods and services paid for by a registered international technical assistance project and listed in its procurement plan are supplied in Ukraine without VAT, and imported goods are free of import charges. The exemption is tied to the registration card and the procurement plan, not to the word grant in a contract, so a paperwork mistake turns into a tax reassessment for the supplier. Key facts: - Code provision: Tax Code, para 197.11 - Condition: registration card and procurement plan - Implementer report: monthly, by the 20th - EU basis: Framework Agreement of 12.12.2006 The VAT exemption in international technical assistance projects rests on three supports. The first is paragraph 197.11 of the Tax Code of Ukraine: the supply of goods and services in the customs territory of Ukraine and the import of goods are exempt where they are financed by technical assistance provided under international treaties of Ukraine. The second is the treaty itself: under paragraph 3.2 of the Code its rules prevail if the Verkhovna Rada has consented to be bound by it. The third is the Procedure approved by Resolution No. 153, which makes the exemption verifiable through project registration and the procurement plan. ### How it works step by step - The development partner or the implementer draws up a procurement plan in the form of Annex 5 to the Procedure and certifies it. The plan lists the goods, works and services to be bought with project funds. - The plan is filed with the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers together with the registration documents, or later through re-registration. - Within five days the Secretariat sends copies of the registration card and the plan to the tax and customs services and publishes the plan on the Single Web Portal of executive authorities. - The supplier concludes the contract at a price without VAT and issues a tax invoice for an exempt transaction. - An implementer and a subcontractor using the exemption file an information confirmation in the form of Annex 8 with their tax office every month by the 20th. A subcontractor within the meaning of the Procedure is a person that has a written agreement with the implementer or the recipient and carries out procurement with project funds. If subcontractors are designated after registration, the procurement plan is filed again together with a copy of the subcontract. ### Grants from the EU, the United States and other donors For the EU the basis is the Framework Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Commission of 12 December 2006. Its Article 3 says that contracts financed by the Community are not subject to VAT, and that a contract for the supply of goods originating in Ukraine is concluded on the basis of prices excluding VAT. Goods imported for such measures are free of customs duties, import duties and similar charges. The Agreement covers measures financed by the EU in whole or in part. US assistance comes under a separate agreement on humanitarian and technical and economic cooperation of 7 May 1992. It exempts goods, supplies and other property provided or used in connection with US assistance programmes from tariffs, duties, import taxes and similar charges. The scope and status of US programmes has been changing, so the validity of a particular project is checked with the donor and against the register. With other donors everything depends on the wording of the bilateral agreement. If it contains no tax clause, the general rule of paragraph 197.11 remains, and applying it still requires registration and a procurement plan. ### Typical mistakes and who pays for them - Purchases outside the plan. The item is not in the procurement plan, yet the invoice is issued without VAT. The supplier bears the risk of reassessment. - Mixed payment. The project covers part of the price and own funds cover the rest. The exemption applies only to the part paid from technical assistance. - The supplier did not check the project. Before shipment it is worth asking for copies of the registration card and the procurement plan and comparing them with the published list. - A suspended project. If the recipient or the implementer has not submitted monitoring reports, the exemptions stop applying from the day after the suspension is published. - The supplier’s input VAT. Selling without VAT, the supplier has to offset the tax credit on purchases made for that transaction (paragraph 198.5 of the Code), and this needs to be priced in. In the financial report to the donor the amounts are shown without VAT. If the exemption was not used, whether the tax paid is an eligible cost is decided by the programme rules. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Is a grant agreement enough to buy without VAT? Answer: No. You need a registered project, a registration card and a procurement plan that contains the item in question. The grant agreement alone gives no exemption. - Question: The supplier is not a VAT payer. Does this concern them? Answer: A non-payer sells without this tax anyway, so a procurement plan is needed for such a purchase only if the donor requires it. The exemption matters for suppliers registered as VAT payers. - Question: How can equipment be imported without charges? Answer: The equipment has to be in the procurement plan of a registered project, a copy of which the Secretariat sends to the customs service. At clearance the declarant refers to the project and the international treaty. The list of documents for a specific shipment is best agreed with a customs broker in advance. Sources: - Податковий кодекс України (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2755-17) - Постанова КМУ від 15.02.2002 №153 «Про створення єдиної системи залучення, використання та моніторингу міжнародної технічної допомоги» (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/153-2002-%D0%BF) - Рамкова угода між Урядом України і Комісією Європейських Співтовариств від 12.12.2006 (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/994_763) - Угода між Урядом України і Урядом США про гуманітарне і техніко-економічне співробітництво від 07.05.1992 (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/840_295) ## Institutional support: a grant for the organisation, not a project (Institutional support (core funding, operating grant)) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/institutional-support/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Institutional support is a grant for the running of the organisation itself rather than a single project: permanent staff, office, strategy, audit, capacity development. In EU terms it is an operating grant; foundations call it core funding. The donor assesses not a project idea but strategy, governance and financial transparency, so preparation starts long before the call. Key facts: - EU term: Operating grant - Legal basis: Article 183(2)(b) of Regulation 2024/2509 - What it funds: The organisation’s annual work programme - EU limit: One operating grant per financial year A project grant pays for a specific action with a start, an end and results. Institutional support pays for the functioning of the organisation: the things projects cannot happen without, but which barely fit into a project budget. It is known as core funding, general operating support or, in EU rules, an operating grant. ### How the EU defines it Article 183(2) of Financial Regulation 2024/2509 distinguishes action grants from operating grants, which finance the functioning of a body whose objective forms part of, and supports, an EU policy. An operating grant takes the form of a contribution to the organisation's annual work programme. The same Regulation allows a beneficiary only one operating grant from the EU budget per financial year. Programme examples: - LIFE. Operating grants for non-profit organisations active in environment and climate. The scheme has two steps: a framework partnership agreement (FPA) and annual specific grant agreements (SGA). In the 2026 call the framework agreements cover financial years 2027 and 2028, and the co-financing rate is up to 70% of eligible costs. The applicant must have a structure and activities covering at least three EU Member States or associated countries. - CERV. Operating grants to framework partners: European networks, civil society organisations active at EU level, and think tanks. Both schemes are designed for organisations of European scale. For a local Ukrainian organisation it is more realistic to look for institutional support in the calls of foundations and programmes working in Ukraine, including through regranting. ### What can be covered The exact list is set by the call, but typically it includes: - salaries of the permanent team: director, finance, communications, administration; - office rent and running costs, communications, software; - developing a strategy, internal policies and procedures; - external audit, staff training, fundraising development; - statutory activities that no project covers. ### What the donor wants to see in the application - A strategic plan with multi-year goals and an annual work programme. - A governance system: separation of the board from the executive team, minutes, policies. - Financial transparency: the budget of the whole organisation rather than one project, a list of income sources, audit reports where available. - Diversified income. Donors look at dependence on a single source. The LIFE call analyses it separately. Before the contract the donor usually runs an organisational capacity assessment. ### How results are measured You report not on the activities of one project but on delivery of the annual programme and on organisational change: policies adopted, an audit passed, new income sources, outcomes and impact achieved against strategic goals. Propose the indicators yourself in the application, otherwise the donor will write them for you. ### The link to indirect costs, and typical mistakes In project grants administrative costs are covered by the indirect cost rate. If an organisation holds an EU operating grant, it may claim indirect costs in parallel EU action grants only if it can demonstrate cost separation through analytical accounting. Details are in the AGA, in the annotations to Article 6.2.E, and in the article on eligible costs. - Writing an institutional application like a project one: a list of activities instead of a strategy. - Showing a budget without the organisation's other income sources. - Funding the same salaries from the institutional and a project grant without allocating time. - Taking on permanent commitments under the grant that nothing will cover once it ends. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How does institutional support differ from indirect costs in a project? Answer: Indirect costs are a share of a project budget for administration, tied to that project. Institutional support is a separate grant for the running of the whole organisation under its own programme. They can be combined as long as the same costs are not funded twice. - Question: Can a Ukrainian organisation receive an EU operating grant? Answer: It depends on the programme and the call. Ukraine is associated to LIFE, but the call requires a structure and activities covering at least three EU Member States or associated countries. Check the participation conditions in the current call document on the Funding & Tenders Portal. - Question: Can we hold two EU operating grants at the same time? Answer: No. The EU Financial Regulation allows a beneficiary only one operating grant from the EU budget per financial year. The rule does not apply to institutional support from other donors, which follow their own conditions. Sources: - Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, стаття 183 «Scope and form of grants» (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj/eng) - AGA – Annotated Grant Agreement, стаття 6.2.E (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - Call document LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-FPA, версія 1.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/life/wp-call/2026/call-fiche_life-2026-ngo-og-fpa_en.pdf) - Call document CERV-2025-OG-FPA, версія 2.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/cerv/wp-call/2025/call-fiche_cerv-2025-og-fpa_en.pdf) - ІСАР Єднання – грантові конкурси, що тривають (https://ednannia.ua/tryvaiut-hrantovi-konkursy) ## Consortium (consortium) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/consortium/ Updated: 2026-07-27 A consortium is a group of legal entities that submit a proposal together and sign the grant agreement. Horizon Europe research and innovation actions require at least three independent organisations from three different countries, at least one of them from an EU Member State. Key facts: - RIA / IA minimum: 3 entities from 3 countries - Mandatory condition: At least one from the EU - Consortium agreement: Required by default - Average size: 16 partners The minimum for research and innovation actions is stated precisely: three legal entities independent of each other, each established in a different country, of which at least one is in an EU Member State and two others in different Member States or associated countries. Hence the mistake that eliminates proposals: three partners from three associated countries do not satisfy the condition – at least one must be from the EU. ### Who does not count Affiliated entities do not sign the grant agreement and therefore do not count towards the minimum three. Associated partners participate without funding and without signing – they do not count either. The Commission's Joint Research Centre, international European research organisations and entities created under EU law are deemed established in a Member State other than the others – so they "cover" one country. ### Other types of action Coordination and support actions, training and mobility actions and programme co-fund actions may be submitted by one or more legal entities. For public procurement of innovative solutions the rule is stricter: of the three participants, at least two must be public procurers from different countries. ### The consortium agreement In Horizon Europe it is mandatory by default – set in the Data Sheet of the grant agreement; it is not required only for mono-beneficiary projects. It must settle the consortium's internal organisation, management of portal access, other keys for distributing payments, financial liability on recoveries, rules on background and results, internal dispute resolution and confidentiality. One hard limit: no provision may contradict the grant agreement. Three things worth knowing. The agreement is purely internal: it is not submitted to the Commission, which is not a party and takes no responsibility for it. The cost of preparing it is ineligible (updating it during the project may not be). And the recommendation is to conclude one even where it is not formally required. The most common model is DESCA, currently version 2.1 of February 2026, covering both actual-cost and lump sum grants. It is not a Commission document: the EU deliberately endorses no particular model. ### The scale to expect According to the programme's own evaluation, the average consortium in Pillar II grew from 12 partners in the predecessor programme to 16, and the average grant to about €2.9m. The management load on the coordinator has grown accordingly. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Three partners from three associated countries – is that enough? Answer: No. The condition requires at least one legal entity from an EU Member State. Three associated countries do not satisfy it, and the proposal will be rejected on eligibility without its content being read. - Question: Can an affiliated entity be counted as a partner? Answer: No. Affiliated entities do not sign the grant agreement, so they do not count towards the minimum of three. The same applies to associated partners, which take part without funding. - Question: When should the consortium agreement be signed? Answer: The Commission recommends signing it before the grant agreement, meaning that each beneficiary should sign it before signing the accession form. There is no hard legal deadline in the grant agreement itself, but the costs of preparing the consortium agreement are ineligible, because it has to be concluded before the action starts. Sources: - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - HE Model Grant Agreement V1.2 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - DESCA (https://www.desca-agreement.eu/) ## Logical Framework Matrix (LSM / Logframe) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/logframe/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The logical framework matrix describes a project as a verifiable chain: activities lead to outputs, outputs to an outcome, the outcome to impact, with an indicator, a source of verification and the external conditions stated at every level. Donors use it to see the whole logic of a project at once and check whether it holds together. Key facts: - Current EU template: 7 columns + Activity Matrix - Levels since 2015: Impact – Outcome – Output - Fill order: Column 1 → assumptions → indicators - Required by: EU external action, FCDO. Not Horizon Europe The logical framework matrix describes a project so that its logic can be checked, not merely read. A donor treats it as the summary of the whole application. The European Commission distinguishes two things that everyday usage conflates. The LFA is an analytical process – stakeholder analysis, then problem analysis, then objectives, then strategy selection. The matrix is the document summarising the result. The guidelines put it plainly: the matrix should be thought of as "an aid to thinking". ### Four rows: the levels of a project Activities – the tasks needed to deliver the planned results. Results – the direct, tangible goods and services the project delivers, "largely under project management's control". Purpose – the development outcome at the end of the project, specifically the expected benefits to the target groups. Overall objective – the broad impact at national or sectoral level to which the project contributes. See Outputs vs Outcomes vs Impact for the result levels. Your degree of control falls with every level. ### Four columns – and the exception people forget Intervention logic, indicators, sources of verification, assumptions. The exception in the Activities row. In the Commission's layout that row carries neither indicators nor sources of verification – optionally it carries means and costs. The activities row is itself optional in the matrix; activities can live in a separate schedule. Textbooks that draw indicators there are wrong, not simplifying. Below the activities row sit the pre-conditions: what must hold before resources are committed. ### The order of completion is not left to right The Commission sets a 13-step sequence: the whole first column top-down (1–4), then the assumptions bottom-up (5–7), and only then indicators and sources of verification, top-down (8–13). You cannot write an indicator for a statement you are still going to change. ### The two logics an evaluator checks Vertical, as an if–then chain: if resources are provided, activities can be undertaken; if activities are undertaken, results are produced; if results are produced, the purpose is achieved; if the purpose is achieved, it contributes to the overall objective – with "and the assumptions at this level hold" added at every junction. Test it with necessary and sufficient, and note the asymmetry: activities should be necessary and sufficient to deliver the results, but the results are only necessary and may not be sufficient to achieve the purpose. Claiming your outputs are sufficient for the outcome means you have either overstated or mis-levelled it. Horizontal, within one row: level – indicator – source – assumption. ### Indicators: QQT, and the Commission's own SMART The Commission's formula is QQT – quantity, quality, time. Careful with SMART. The Commission expands it differently from most training material: Specific, Measurable, Available at an acceptable cost (not Achievable), Relevant to the information needs of managers, Time-bound. Two of the five criteria are about the cost and usefulness of measurement, not about the objective. An indicator too expensive to measure must be replaced with a proxy. SMART is not universal. The acronym does not appear at all in USAID's ADS 201/303 or in the UNDG results-based management handbook, both of which use their own indicator checklists; UNDP reads "A" as Achievable for results and Attainable for indicators. Indicators must be independent of one another and each attach to exactly one level; "objectively verifiable" means different people measuring would get the same result; and "the trap of including too many indicators should be avoided". A source of verification must state how the information is collected, by whom, and how often – listing "project reports" without that is named as bad practice. ### Assumptions: an algorithm, not intuition Assumptions are external factors capable of influencing or determining success but outside management's direct control. They are written as positive statements of a desired state, not as risks. The Commission gives a decision tree. Is the assumption important? If not, leave it out. If yes – will it hold? Almost certainly: leave it out. Possibly: include it. Very unlikely: can the project be redesigned to influence the factor? If yes, add activities or results and reformulate the purpose if needed. If no, the guidelines conclude without euphemism: the project may not be feasible. The term "killer assumption" appears nowhere in the Commission's documents or the OECD-DAC glossary. It is practitioner jargon for that last branch, not methodology. ### The most common wording mistake The Commission names it directly: the purpose is written as a restatement of the sum of the results rather than as a higher-level achievement. Bad: "Water treatment is improved and levels of direct discharge into the river reduced". Good: "Improved quality of river water". Other listed failures: reducing objectives to a simplistic linear chain; setting unrealistic targets too early; using the matrix as top-down control; and preparing it "mechanistically as a bureaucratic box-filling requirement", detached from the problem analysis – at which point it "becomes a fetish rather than a help". ### "4×4" is USAID's phrasing, not the Commission's The European Commission has never called the matrix "4×4". Its guidelines say "four columns and a number of rows (usually three or four)", and a footnote actively encourages adding levels where a user has good reason. It is USAID that calls its own version "the basic 4 x 4 matrix". The current EU template has seven columns: results chain, indicator, baseline, target, current value, source and means of verification, assumptions. Levels have been Impact – Outcome – Output since 2015, with intermediary outcomes added in 2016. Activities live in a separate Activity Matrix with means and costs. Two details of the current template are easy to miss. At Impact level the assumptions cell reads "not applicable" – by design. And renaming Results to Outputs was substantive: that row now expects output indicators only. Note the asymmetry: the methodology is still the 2004 edition (no published successor), while the application template is from 2019. Use the template attached to your call. ### Who asks for one EU external action requires it: the logframe is an annex to the application and then forms part of the description of the action in the contract, updated with every report. FCDO (formerly DFID) is the strictest major donor: since January 2011 a logframe is an integral part of the Business Case for every project at any value, in Excel, with impact weightings per output summing to 100%. Horizon Europe does not: the word does not occur once in the standard application template. It uses an impact pathway and Impact canvas in Part B instead. USAID – the most widespread false claim. The phrase "logical framework" appears zero times in ADS 201 and ADS 303: what is mandatory is a Results Framework in the country strategy, with the logframe named only as one permitted kind of logic model. Where a specific call asked for one, that was a mission decision, not agency policy. And USAID ceased to operate as an independent agency on 1 July 2025. UN agencies work with results frameworks under results-based management rather than the classic 4×4. ### The matrix and theory of change The matrix records what will change and how it will be verified; a theory of change explains why. The OECD-DAC glossary treats theory of change not as an alternative to the logframe but as a term of the same family, alongside intervention logic and results framework. The familiar contrast – logframe linear and static, theory of change non-linear and explanatory – comes from academic and training literature, not from donor requirements. No side-by-side official comparison exists. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Which cell do you start filling in first? Answer: The top left one, then straight down the whole first column: overall objective, project purpose, outputs, activities. Then the assumptions – from the bottom up. Indicators and sources of verification are filled in last. Anyone who starts with indicators rewrites them after every change of wording. - Question: How many levels of results should the matrix have? Answer: One overall objective, one project purpose, several outputs. Two “project purposes” almost always means that two projects have been crammed into one proposal. - Question: Why does the “Activities” row have no indicators? Answer: Because in the European Commission's layout that row optionally shows means and costs: activities are measured by budget and schedule, not by indicators. The activities row itself is optional in the matrix – it can be moved into a separate schedule. If the template for your call does require indicators there, follow the donor's template. - Question: How does an assumption differ from a risk? Answer: By wording and by placement. An assumption is a positive statement about an external condition that has to hold (“the partner's funding will continue”), while a risk is the same condition framed as a threat. Only those assumptions that are likely to hold but still need monitoring go into the matrix. Anything almost certain to hold is not entered at all; anything almost certain to fail calls for a redesign of the project, not an entry in a cell. - Question: What if the source of verification does not exist? Answer: Either build the creation of that source into the project – a survey, a register, an external evaluation – with its own budget and a person responsible, or replace the indicator with an indirect one. The Commission states this outright as a criterion: an indicator has to be available at an acceptable cost, otherwise it is unusable, however apt it may seem. - Question: Is a logframe required for Horizon Europe? Answer: No, there is no mandatory template there – the proposal is structured through objectives, work packages and indicators in Part B. But a matrix filled in for your own use remains the fastest way to find gaps in the vertical logic before an evaluator finds them. Sources: - EC, Project Cycle Management Guidelines (Aid Delivery Methods Vol. 1), 2004 (https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-12/methodology-aid-delivery-methods-project-cycle-management-200403_en.pdf) - OECD-DAC Glossary of Key Terms in Evaluation and RBM, 2023 (https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2023/06/glossary-of-key-terms-in-evaluation-and-results-based-management-for-sustainable-development-second-edition_2767e14e/632da462-en-fr-es.pdf) - Practical Guide (PRAG), EU external action (https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-technical-assistance/guidelines/contract-award-procedures-european-union-external-action-practical-guide-prag_en) ## NRFU (National Research Foundation of Ukraine) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/nfdu/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The National Research Foundation of Ukraine is a state institution that has funded research projects competitively since 2019. The applicant here is always an institution rather than an individual researcher, and the Foundation also hosts Ukraine's Horizon Europe office. Key facts: - Established: 2018, first grants in 2019 - Applicant: The institution, not the researcher - Reviewers per proposal: At least 3 - Appeals: Not provided for The NRFU is a state budget institution created by government decision in July 2018, with its first grants awarded in 2019. It is Ukraine's main national instrument for competitive research funding. ### The applicant is an institution, not a researcher This is the first thing to understand. The competition participant is always a legal entity – a higher education institution or a research organisation. The project leader applies on behalf of the institution, not in a personal capacity. The rule holds even in the individual projects call, where the leader is the sole author and performer: the application still goes through an institution. One nuance on ownership: higher education institutions may be of any form of ownership, while research organisations must be state or municipal. ### 2026 calls Frontier fundamental research – up to UAH 800m for the call, up to UAH 8m per project, up to three years. Applied research for Ukraine's resilience and recovery – up to UAH 310.8m, up to UAH 7m per project, up to two years. Individual research projects – up to UAH 100m, up to UAH 1m per project, two years, with the leader as sole performer. An important caveat the Foundation states itself: all amounts are subject to budget appropriations actually being available. These are not guaranteed funds. ### Presidential grants are not the Foundation's grants The NRFU administers the annual Presidential grants for young scientists, and they are often attributed to the Foundation. In fact the Foundation only runs the competition and produces a ranked list: the grants are awarded by presidential decree on the ministry's proposal. ### How proposals are assessed Applications are submitted in Ukrainian and English through an electronic system with a qualified electronic signature. Each is read by at least three independent experts from a base of over four thousand researchers, including foreign ones. Three weighted criteria: quality of the research and fit with the theme, significance of the project, and realism of the plan. Each is scored 0 to 5 with mandatory reasoning, and the total is converted to a 100-point scale. There is a specific divergence mechanism: where the spread between experts exceeds 20%, the panel additionally rates how well-founded each score is, and the result is a weighted average. A single outlying score does not by itself decide the outcome. ### There is no appeal Worth knowing in advance: decisions on formal rejection, the ranked list and the list of winners are not subject to appeal. There is no equivalent of the European review procedure. ### The wartime gap In March 2022 the Foundation's funds were sequestered and grant support suspended. Formally there were no "years without calls", but the gap was real: after the 2021 call the next announcements came only at the end of 2022, and in 2023 there were effectively no national calls of its own. Funding recovered gradually: about UAH 230m in 2020, a little over UAH 560m in 2024, more than UAH 900m in 2026. ### The Horizon Europe office Since December 2023 the Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine has operated as a structural unit of the Foundation. Notably, it is the only framework programme office funded entirely by the European Commission, and it also coordinates the national contact point network. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can a researcher apply alone, without an institution? Answer: No. The participant in a call is always a legal entity, a higher education institution or a research organisation, and the project leader submits the application on its behalf. This holds even for the call for individual projects, where the leader is the sole person carrying out the work. - Question: Can the result be appealed? Answer: No. A decision to reject on formal grounds, the ranking list and the list of winners are not subject to appeal. But the applicant does receive the reviewers' comments, and the project can be reworked for the next call. - Question: Are the President's grants for young scientists NRFU grants? Answer: No. The Foundation runs the competition and draws up the ranking list, but the grants are awarded by the President by decree, on a submission from the Ministry of Education and Science. These are different things, even though applications go through the Foundation's system. Sources: - Постанова КМУ № 528 від 04.07.2018 та нормативна база НФДУ (https://nrfu.org.ua/about-us/legal-basis/) - Умови конкурсів НФДУ 2026 (https://nrfu.org.ua/category/contests-posts/) - Офіс «Горизонт Європа» в Україні (https://horizon-europe.org.ua/en/heo-in-ua/) ## Organisational capacity assessment before a grant (Organisational capacity assessment (pre-award assessment)) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/capacity-assessment/ Updated: 2026-10-11 An organisational capacity assessment checks whether an organisation can deliver the project and handle the money properly: governance, financial system, internal control, staff, experience. The donor runs it before signing the agreement, and the result affects the terms: the size of the advance, extra requirements, or a refusal. Prepare policies and documents well in advance. Key facts: - When: Before the agreement is signed - EU legal basis: Article 201 of Regulation 2024/2509 - No EU check: Public bodies, grants up to EUR 60,000 - EU assessment validity: 18 months from closure of the accounting period Before handing over money a donor wants to know two things: whether the organisation can do what it promised, and whether the money will get lost along the way. The first is called operational capacity, the second financial and management capacity. A capacity assessment (pre-award assessment) answers both questions. Do not confuse it with due diligence. Due diligence establishes who you are: whether the legal entity exists, who controls it, whether there are grounds for exclusion. A capacity assessment establishes how you work: what systems, procedures and people you have. In practice donors often run both checks as one package, but the questions and documents differ. ### What is checked - Governance: statutes, composition of governing bodies, division of powers, minutes. - Financial system: accounting policy, separate accounting per project, budgeting, report preparation. - Internal control: who approves expenses, who signs payments, whether these roles are separated. - Procurement: a written procedure and examples of it being applied. - Staff: employment contracts, job descriptions, time recording. - Experience: previous projects of comparable size, audit results. ### How the EU does it Article 201 of Financial Regulation 2024/2509 requires the applicant to have stable and sufficient sources of funding (financial capacity) and the necessary competencies and qualifications (operational capacity). Operational capacity is assessed from the application: team profiles, previous projects, an activity report. Financial capacity (the Financial Capacity Assessment) is checked through the portal's Participant Register, to which the PIC is linked. Under version 5.0 of the portal rules: - the check is not done for public bodies and international organisations, nor for low-value grants. In call documents this usually means a requested amount of not more than EUR 60,000; - the profit and loss account and the balance sheet for the last two closed financial years are requested; - an audit report is required where more than EUR 750,000 is requested for an action grant or more than EUR 100,000 for an operating grant. Where no report is available and no statutory audit is required, a declaration on the validity of the accounts is submitted; - the assessment is valid for 18 months from the closure date of the most recent assessed accounting period. ### Other donors and operators Foundations, UN agencies and regranting operators use their own questionnaires. A common format is a scored self-assessment across several areas, known as OCA (Organizational Capacity Assessment), followed by a development plan. UN agencies register partners through the UN Partner Portal. Each donor has its own list of questions, but the areas are almost the same. ### What to prepare in advance - an accounting policy and the order adopting it; - a procurement procedure; - an anti-corruption policy and a conflict of interest policy; - a policy on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and a code of conduct; - a record-keeping procedure; - financial statements for two years, and an audit report if there is one. A typical mistake is adopting policies a week before the check. The assessor asks not only for the document but for evidence that it works: tender committee minutes, a completed conflict of interest declaration, timesheets. ### What follows from the result A weak result does not always mean a refusal. EU call documents provide that where financial capacity is unsatisfactory the granting authority may ask for further information, pay pre-financing in instalments, require a guarantee for it, offer no pre-financing at all, or reject the proposal. Other donors write special conditions into the agreement: a remediation plan, more frequent reporting, smaller tranches. Where institutional support is available, it is exactly what lets an organisation close the gaps found. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Do we have to pass the EU financial capacity check before applying? Answer: No. The documents are requested during grant agreement preparation through the portal's Participant Register. But it is worth having financial statements for the last two closed years ready in advance. - Question: Our organisation was registered less than a year ago. Is that a refusal? Answer: Not necessarily. The EU portal rules allow recently created entities to be assessed on one closed year. Other donors may require a minimum period of activity, and the call conditions will say so explicitly. - Question: Is an audit mandatory for a small organisation? Answer: In the EU an audit report is required only above a certain requested amount and where an audit is available or required by law. Otherwise a declaration on the validity of the accounts is submitted. Still, a voluntary audit makes any capacity assessment noticeably easier. - Question: What should we do if the assessment finds weak spots? Answer: Agree a remediation plan with deadlines with the donor and carry it out. A donor cares more about seeing that the organisation knows its gaps and is closing them than about receiving a perfect questionnaire. Sources: - Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, стаття 201 «Selection criteria» (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj/eng) - Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, V5.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/rules-lev-lear-fca_en.pdf) - Call document LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-FPA, розділ 7 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/life/wp-call/2026/call-fiche_life-2026-ngo-og-fpa_en.pdf) - UN Partner Portal (https://www.unpartnerportal.org/landing/) ## Partner Search for a Consortium (Partner Search) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/partner-search/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Partner search means finding the organisations you will apply with to a call that requires a consortium. The main free channels are Partner Search on the Funding & Tenders Portal, National Contact Points, the Enterprise Europe Network, brokerage events and the CORDIS project database. For a newcomer, joining a consortium that is already forming is usually more realistic than building one. Key facts: - Main tool: Partner Search on the EU portal - Ukrainian NCPs: Listed on the Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine website - EEN: Contact points in Kyiv and Kharkiv - COST: Ukraine is a Full Member Most collaborative EU calls require a consortium from several countries, so partners are sought before anyone sits down to write the proposal. Start several months ahead of the deadline: strong consortia form early, and a few weeks before submission there are hardly any open roles left in them. ### Where to look - Partner Search on the Funding & Tenders Portal. A search across registered organisations by keyword, geography and funding type. An organisation profile shows the list of its funded projects. On the page of every open or forthcoming topic you can publish your own partnership offer or request and browse those of others. For this the organisation needs a PIC. - National Contact Points (NCPs). The NCP network is set up and funded by the participating countries themselves. The tasks of the Ukrainian NCPs include help with choosing a call, advice on procedures and assistance in finding partners. The list of NCPs by area and a page with partner search announcements are maintained by the Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine. - Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). A database of cooperation profiles, one type of which is the Research & Development Request, that is, requests for partners for research projects. The network has contact points in Ukraine. - Brokerage events and info days. They are organised around specific calls. The format is short pre-booked meetings with potential partners. - CORDIS. The database of projects under the EU framework programmes. It shows who has already won in your field, in what role and with whom. - COST. Networking projects that fund meetings and exchanges rather than research. Ukraine is a COST Full Member, and taking part in such a network is often the first step towards a joint proposal. ### Why joining is easier than building your own consortium The coordinator is responsible for the whole proposal, for communication with the funder and for distributing the funds. Without a track record in similar projects it is hard to persuade strong partners to work under your lead. The role of a partner with a clearly defined task is more realistic: you gain experience, a project history in your portal profile and contacts for the next proposals. ### Organisation profile and partnership offer The profile is one page: who you are, what exactly you can do, what infrastructure, data or access to target groups you have, which projects you have taken part in, who the contact person is. A letter to a coordinator must be tied to a specific topic: give its identifier, propose the task or the part of a work package you are ready to take on, and explain what the consortium lacks without you. A generic letter along the lines of "we are looking for partners to cooperate" usually goes unanswered. ### How to check a potential partner - Look at its projects in CORDIS and in its portal profile: topics, roles, whether it has been a coordinator. - Ask who is writing the proposal, what the preparation schedule is and what share of the budget is planned for you. - From the first conversation, find out the terms of the consortium agreement, especially on intellectual property. - Be wary when you are invited in the final week "for geography" with no task and no budget, or asked to pay for being included in a consortium. ### Common mistakes Looking for partners after the call opens rather than before. Sending the same letter to dozens of organisations. Having no PIC and no completed profile at the moment of the request. Agreeing to take part without tasks and a budget fixed in writing. Promising in the proposal a contribution the organisation cannot deliver. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Do I have to pay to find partners? Answer: No. Partner Search on the EU portal, CORDIS and the Enterprise Europe Network database are open free of charge. A demand to pay for being included in a consortium is a reason to walk away. - Question: Can I publish a partnership request without a PIC? Answer: Announcements on a topic page are published on behalf of a registered organisation, so you first need to register it on the portal and obtain a PIC. Registration is free. - Question: When should the search start? Answer: As soon as a draft work programme or a call announcement appears. On the portal, partnership requests can be published for forthcoming topics that are not yet open. Sources: - Online Manual: Apply with partners or as individuals (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/spaces/OM/pages/1867925/Apply+with+partners+or+as+individuals) - Офіс Горизонт Європа в Україні: національні контактні пункти (https://horizon-europe.org.ua/uk/heo-in-ua/ncp/) - Офіс Горизонт Європа в Україні: пошук партнерів (https://horizon-europe.org.ua/uk/participate/looking-for-partners/) - Enterprise Europe Network: Partnering opportunities (https://een.ec.europa.eu/partnering-opportunities) - COST: Members (https://www.cost.eu/about/members/) ## Eligible and Ineligible Costs URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/eligible-costs/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Eligible costs are the costs a donor agrees to cover with the grant because they meet the conditions of the agreement: actually incurred during the project, foreseen in the budget, necessary for its implementation and backed by documents. Anything that fails these conditions, or is expressly excluded by the agreement, is rejected at the check, and the organisation covers that money itself. Key facts: - Where to look: Article 6 of the EU grant agreement - Indirect costs: 25% in Horizon Europe - VAT: Ineligible if recoverable - Consequence: Costs rejected at the check A grant does not cover everything an organisation has spent on a project, only the eligible costs. The eligibility rules are written into the grant agreement, and the financial report is checked against them. Below is the logic of EU grants under Article 6 of the model grant agreement, which most donors apply in a similar form. ### General conditions for actual costs Article 6.1 requires costs to be, all at once: - actually incurred by the beneficiary, not estimated and not borne by someone else; - incurred during the action duration (the exception being the preparation of the final report); - declared under one of the budget categories of the agreement; - connected to the action as described in the agreement and necessary for its implementation; - identifiable and verifiable: recorded in the accounts under the accounting standards of the beneficiary's country and its usual practices; - compliant with national law on taxes, labour and social security; - reasonable and economical. ### Cost categories The Horizon Europe model grant agreement has five: A – personnel, B – subcontracting, C – purchases (travel and subsistence, equipment, other goods, works and services), D – other categories where the call provides for them, E – indirect costs. Indirect costs are not supported by documents: they are a flat 25% of eligible direct costs, the base for which excludes, among other things, subcontracting and financial support to third parties. Under the default option, equipment is declared as depreciation for the time and share of use in the action, not at full cost. Tasks to be subcontracted must be named in the description of the action. Personnel costs are supported by time records, which is why timesheets are kept. More detail is in the article on Horizon Europe budget rules. ### What is ineligible Article 6.3 expressly lists as ineligible: - return on capital and dividends, debt and debt service charges, provisions for future losses, interest owed; - currency exchange losses and fees charged by the beneficiary's bank for transfers from the granting authority; - excessive or reckless expenditure; - deductible or refundable VAT. In Horizon Europe non-recoverable VAT is eligible, but in some EU programmes VAT is always ineligible; - costs incurred during suspension of the agreement; - costs already declared under another EU grant (double funding). The AGA adds that entertainment and gifts are generally ineligible, as are the costs of preparing the proposal before the action starts. ### Lump sum and other donors In lump sum grants actual costs are not checked: payment depends on the work being carried out as described in the agreement. Evidence that it was done is still required. Ukrainian state funds and other donors follow the same logic with their own details: the list of permitted budget lines, the indirect cost rate, procurement requirements and the treatment of VAT are set by the call conditions and the contract. Where a grant comes from a state budget, the rules on the use of budget funds apply on top. EU rules cannot be carried over to another grant automatically. ### Typical reasons for rejecting costs - The date of the source document falls outside the project period. - Timesheets are missing or do not match attendance and leave records. - A purchase made without comparing prices or from a related party. - Subcontracting that was not in the description of the action. - The same cost declared under two grants. - Documents were not kept: the requirements are described in the article on record keeping. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can VAT be paid from the grant? Answer: In Horizon Europe only VAT that the beneficiary cannot recover is eligible. Recoverable VAT is always ineligible. In some EU programmes and with other donors VAT is not eligible at all, so check the conditions of your call. - Question: Is an invoice paid after the end of the project eligible? Answer: According to the AGA, yes, if the debt arose during the action duration, this is supported by documents, and the final amount is known at the time of the final report. Services or equipment supplied after the end are normally ineligible. - Question: Can funds be moved between budget lines? Answer: In EU grants the budget is largely flexible: funds can be transferred between participants and categories without amending the agreement, provided the action is implemented as described. New tasks or subcontracting need approval. With other donors the transfer limits are set by the contract. - Question: What happens if costs are found ineligible? Answer: They are rejected and the grant amount goes down. If the money has already been paid, the granting authority may recover it. The organisation bears the cost itself. Sources: - Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement, V1.2 (01.06.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - EU Grants: AGA – Annotated Grant Agreement, V2.0 (01.04.2025) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - Регламент (ЄС) 2021/695 про Horizon Europe (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/695/oj/eng) ## Regranting: grants through intermediary organisations (Regranting (sub-granting, financial support to third parties)) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/regranting/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Regranting means a donor awards one large grant to an operator organisation, which then runs its own calls and passes smaller grants on to local organisations. For an applicant it is the most accessible way into grant funding: a simpler application, smaller amounts, the local language. But your contract is with the operator, and the original donor's rules usually reach you through that contract. Key facts: - EU term: Financial support to third parties (FSTP) - Legal basis: Article 207 of Regulation 2024/2509 - EU ceiling: EUR 60,000 per recipient, with exceptions - Contract: With the operator, not the donor Regranting (sub-granting, cascade funding) is an arrangement in which a donor does not distribute money to hundreds of small organisations directly but awards one large grant to an operator. The operator announces its own calls, selects projects, signs contracts and collects reports. In EU terms this is financial support to third parties (FSTP); in US federal grants the related concept is the subaward, which has its own specifics. ### Why donors use an intermediary For a large donor it is costly and risky to administer hundreds of small agreements in a country where it has no team. The operator knows the local context, works in the local language, can check an organisation on the ground and support it during implementation. The donor gets one accountable counterpart, and small organisations get access to money they could not have applied for themselves. For EU grants the conditions are set by Article 207 of Financial Regulation 2024/2509. The grant agreement must define in advance the maximum amount per recipient, a fixed list of activity types, and the categories of recipients with the criteria for selecting them. The amount per recipient may not exceed EUR 60,000. The threshold may be exceeded for humanitarian aid, emergency support, civil protection operations, crisis management aid, or where the objectives of the action would otherwise be impossible or overly difficult to achieve. The actual ceiling is stated in each operator's call. ### What it looks like in Ukraine The operators are large Ukrainian foundations and programmes that receive money from the EU, governments and private foundations. Examples of operator types running calls in 2026: ISAR Ednannia, East Europe Foundation, the International Renaissance Foundation, and in culture the House of Europe programme, funded by the EU and implemented by the Goethe-Institut. The list is not exhaustive: sectoral and regional organisations run regranting schemes too. An operator's call works like any other call for proposals: announcement, conditions, application form, evaluation, contract. Under the EU scheme the recipient is not a party to the grant agreement with the Commission, so registering on the EU portal and obtaining a PIC is normally not needed for such a grant. ### How the terms differ from a direct grant - The application is simpler, often in Ukrainian, with no consortium and no complex budget forms. - Amounts are smaller, durations shorter, and decisions usually faster. - The original donor's rules do not go away. The operator answers to the donor for every euro, so it carries the donor's requirements into your contract: which costs are eligible, how to procure, how to acknowledge the donor, how long to keep records, who has the right to audit. - You cannot pass the money further on. Under EU rules the support goes from the beneficiary directly to the final recipient unless the call conditions allow otherwise. ### What to look for in the call conditions - Who may apply: legal form, time since registration, geography, experience. - Which costs are eligible: whether salaries, administrative costs and equipment are covered, and whether an own contribution is required. - How payment works: in advance, in instalments, or as reimbursement of costs already incurred. - Whether the organisation is checked before the contract. Operators often run a capacity assessment and may change the terms based on its result. - Whether this is a project grant or institutional support: that decides what exactly can be funded. ### Reporting to the operator You report to the operator, which consolidates your data into its own report to the donor. That is why the requirements for supporting documents are as strict as in a direct grant, even when the amount is small. Typical mistakes: costs outside the contract period, purchases without comparing offers, budget changes without approval, no acknowledgement of the donor in materials. Read the reporting forms and deadlines before signing the contract, not before the first report. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Do we need to register on the EU portal if the grant is EU-funded through an operator? Answer: Normally not. Under EU rules the recipient of the support is not a party to the grant agreement with the Commission and does not have to be in the Participant Register. You apply under the operator's procedure and sign a contract with the operator. If a call requires otherwise, the conditions will say so explicitly. - Question: Can an operator give us more than EUR 60,000? Answer: The EUR 60,000 threshold per recipient is set by Article 207 of the EU Financial Regulation, which also allows exceptions, for instance for humanitarian aid and where the objectives of the action could not otherwise be achieved. Whether an exception applies is visible in the conditions of the specific call. Other donors have their own rules and their own ceilings. - Question: Who checks our report: the operator or the donor? Answer: The operator accepts the report. But the contract usually keeps the right of the original donor and its auditors to check your documents, so keep them for as long as the contract requires. - Question: Can we hold a grant from an operator and a direct grant from the same donor at once? Answer: The combination is not prohibited as such, but the same costs cannot be funded twice. Check the conditions of both calls and declare other funding sources honestly in the application. Sources: - Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, стаття 207 «Financial support to third parties» (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj/eng) - ІСАР Єднання – грантові конкурси, що тривають (https://ednannia.ua/tryvaiut-hrantovi-konkursy) - Фонд Східна Європа – конкурси грантів (https://eef.org.ua/konkursy-grantiv/) - Міжнародний фонд «Відродження» – конкурси (https://www.irf.ua/contest/) - Дім Європи – можливості (https://houseofeurope.org.ua/opportunities) ## Registering an international technical assistance project in Ukraine (State registration of an international technical assistance project) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/mtd-registration/ Updated: 2026-10-11 State registration of a technical assistance project is an entry in the register kept by the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, confirmed by a registration card. Without it the grant can still be received and spent, but tax and customs exemptions are unavailable and a foreign implementer cannot be accredited. The recipient then reports twice a year. Key facts: - Registrar: Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers - Review: 10 working days - Card issued: 5 working days after the decision - Recipient reports: by 10 July and by 10 January International technical assistance (known in Ukraine by the abbreviation MTD) means financial and other resources and services that development partners provide to Ukraine free of charge and on a non-repayable basis under international treaties of Ukraine. That last condition is what separates such a project from an ordinary grant: money from a private foundation operating without an intergovernmental agreement is not technical assistance and is not registered. The rules are set by the Procedure approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 153 of 15 February 2002, and it should be read in its current wording: the latest amendments date from May and September 2026. ### Who is who in a project - Development partner (in everyday speech the donor) – a foreign state, its authorised body or an international organisation providing assistance under an international treaty. - Implementer – any person, resident or non-resident, that has a written agreement with the development partner and delivers the project. - Recipient – a resident that directly receives the assistance. If you signed the grant agreement, you are the recipient. - Beneficiary – the public authority responsible for the sector or territory of the project, including an executive body of local self-government. It has an interest in the results and supervises the project. For projects aimed at supporting civil society institutions no beneficiary is designated: a ministry support letter is not needed, and the organisation reports directly to the Secretariat. ### When registration is needed and when people do without it The Procedure calls registration of such projects mandatory and at the same time explains its purpose: it is the basis for accrediting implementers and for the exemptions, privileges and immunities provided by legislation and international treaties. The donor transfers the money under the grant agreement, and the validity of that agreement does not depend on Ukrainian registration. The practical conclusion for EU grants, Horizon Europe included, follows from this. The European Commission does not require registration in Ukraine, and you will receive the grant without it. But the VAT exemption under the 2006 Framework Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Commission operates through the registration card and the procurement plan. Without them you buy with VAT, and whether that cost is eligible is decided by the budget rules of the programme. A non-profit organisation pays no corporate income tax on the grant in any case, because that follows from its status rather than from a project exemption. The Procedure does not cover humanitarian aid, international military assistance, budget support grants from international financial organisations, or projects funded by NATO. ### Documents and time limits The documents are filed by the recipient and the development partner or a person it has authorised, in electronic and paper form, in the original language with a Ukrainian translation: - a request with details of the development partner, implementer, recipient and beneficiary, and the project number assigned by the donor; - a certified copy of the contract between the development partner and the implementer, or the part of it stating the objectives, the volume of assistance, the estimated cost and the timeline, plus a support letter from the beneficiary; - a document confirming that objectives and activities have been agreed, or a certified copy of the grant agreement if the recipient has concluded one; - a procurement plan in the form of Annex 5, certified by the development partner or the implementer, if tax exemptions are needed; - a report on results if the documents are filed more than six months after the project started. The Secretariat reviews the package within 10 working days and issues the registration card within a further five working days of its decision. It sends copies of the card and the procurement plan to the tax and customs services itself. Registration can be refused because of an incomplete package, inaccurate information or the expiry of the project period, so it should not be left to the final months. A change of recipient, implementer, cost or duration, or the filing of a procurement plan, means re-registration. Keep this in mind every time the donor approves an amendment to the agreement. ### Monitoring and reporting The recipient submits half-year monitoring results to the beneficiary by 10 July and annual results by 10 January in the form of Annex 3, and final monitoring results at the end of the project. The implementer reports to the Secretariat separately, by 30 July and by 30 January. Failure to submit is treated as unsatisfactory implementation: the Secretariat raises the suspension of the project with the donor, and the exemptions do not apply for that period. Two more duties are easy to miss: property received in the project must be put on the balance sheet within 10 calendar days, and information about that property and about the grant agreement must be published on your own website or in the media within the same period. This reporting runs alongside reporting to the donor and does not replace it. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Does a Horizon Europe grant have to be registered as a technical assistance project? Answer: Not in order to receive the money: the European Commission does not require it. Registration is needed if you want to buy goods and services in Ukraine without VAT and import equipment without customs charges under the Framework Agreement with the EU. Resolution No. 153 formally calls registration of such projects mandatory, so a decision not to register should be agreed with your institution’s lawyer. - Question: Who files the documents, the donor or the organisation? Answer: Both: the recipient and the development partner or a person it has authorised. In practice the recipient or the implementer prepares the package, while the donor certifies the copy of the contract and the procurement plan. - Question: What happens if the half-year report is not submitted? Answer: Failure to submit monitoring documents is treated as unsatisfactory implementation of the project. The Secretariat informs the donor and raises the question of suspending the project, and tax and customs exemptions cannot be used while it is suspended. - Question: Does a civil society organisation need a support letter from a ministry? Answer: If the project is aimed at supporting civil society institutions, no beneficiary letter is filed, and the register records the beneficiary as not designated. In other cases the letter is required. Sources: - Постанова КМУ від 15.02.2002 №153 «Про створення єдиної системи залучення, використання та моніторингу міжнародної технічної допомоги» (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/153-2002-%D0%BF) - Рамкова угода між Урядом України і Комісією Європейських Співтовариств від 12.12.2006 (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/994_763) - Реєстрація проєктів МТД в Україні – Урядовий портал (https://www.kmu.gov.ua/diyalnist/mizhnarodna-dopomoga/reiestratsiia-proektiv-mtd) - Податковий кодекс України (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2755-17) ## Co-financing (co-financing / matching funds) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/co-financing/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The principle whereby an EU grant covers only part of the project cost, while the beneficiary funds the rest from its own resources, from income generated by the action or from third-party contributions. In Horizon Europe the rate depends on the type of action: 100% for research and coordination actions, 70% for innovation actions. Key facts: - RIA / CSA: 100% - Innovation actions (IA): 70%, non-profits up to 100% - Proof of sources: Usually not required - Another EU grant: Not allowed An EU grant usually does not cover everything: the rest must come from your own resources, income generated by the action, or financial or in-kind contributions from third parties such as national or private programmes. ### Horizon Europe funding rates 100%: research and innovation actions, coordination and support actions, training and mobility actions, pre-commercial procurement. 70%: innovation actions and innovation-and-market-deployment actions. The exception most often forgotten: non-profit legal entities may receive up to 100% even in an innovation action. 50%: public procurement of innovative solutions. 30–70%: programme co-fund actions. The rate applies per participant, not per project: an affiliated entity may have a different rate from its beneficiary and is funded at its own. For lump sum and unit grants the rate is already built into the methodology and does not appear in the agreement. ### What the Commission does not ask for In Horizon Europe you normally do not have to evidence your sources of co-financing – there is no separate co-financing report unless the action specifically requires one. This differs sharply from EU external action procedures, where the beneficiary must declare the co-financing actually provided in the final report and volunteer work may count for up to half of it. ### What you may not cover your share with The prohibition on double funding is categorical: an action may receive only one grant from the EU budget, and the same costs may under no circumstances be declared to two different EU actions. The trap: double funding covers not only direct EU grants but also funds managed by a Member State yet co-financed from the EU budget – structural funds, recovery facility money, joint undertaking grants. So closing your 30% in an innovation action with a national grant that itself draws on European funds does not work. Two exceptions: actions under jointly coordinated Synergy calls (where combined funding stays within 100% of declared costs), and combination with an operating grant provided the accounts separate the items clearly. ### The no-profit rule A grant may not produce a profit, and this is checked at the end. But Horizon Europe grants an important relief: income from exploiting the project's results is not treated as revenue. Commercialising results does not reduce your grant. Frequently asked questions: - Question: We are a non-profit organisation in an innovation action. What is our rate? Answer: Up to 100%, despite the general 70% for innovation actions. This is set out directly in the list of funding rates and applies specifically to non-profit legal entities. - Question: Can we cover our own share with a national grant? Answer: Only if that grant is not funded from the EU budget. Funds that are managed by a Member State but co-financed by the EU, such as the structural funds or the Recovery Fund, count as EU funding, and this would be double funding. - Question: We sell the results of the project. Will that reduce the grant? Answer: In Horizon Europe, no. Income from exploiting the results is not treated as receipts for the purposes of the no-profit rule. Sources: - General Annexes WP2026-2027 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - Annotated Grant Agreement V2.0 (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) ## Non-profit status of a civil society organisation URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/non-profit-status/ Updated: 2026-10-11 Non-profit status is an entry in the Register of Non-Profit Institutions and Organisations kept by the tax service, with a non-profit code assigned. It exempts the organisation from corporate income tax, including on grants, and is almost always a donor requirement. It can be lost through spending outside the statutory purposes or a non-compliant statute, which puts the grant itself at risk. Key facts: - Code provision: Tax Code, para 133.4 - Application: form 1-RN - Tax office decision: 3 working days - Annual report: 60 days after year end A civic organisation does not become non-profit automatically because its name or statute says so. For tax purposes a non-profit is an organisation that simultaneously meets the requirements of paragraph 133.4 of the Tax Code of Ukraine and is entered in the Register of Non-Profit Institutions and Organisations. Until it is entered, it is an ordinary corporate income tax payer, and a grant can become taxable income for it. ### The three requirements of paragraph 133.4 - The organisation is formed and registered in the manner set by the law governing its activity. - The founding documents prohibit the distribution of income or any part of it among founders, members, employees (apart from wages and the single social contribution), members of governing bodies and persons related to them. - The founding documents provide that on dissolution the assets are transferred to another non-profit organisation of the same type or credited to the budget. If either of the two clauses is missing from the statute in so many words, the tax office will refuse. The statute is therefore checked against the text of the Code before it goes to state registration. ### How to get into the Register The procedure for keeping the Register is approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 440 of 13 July 2016. The organisation files a registration application in form 1-RN with the tax office where it is registered, with copies of the founding documents unless they are published on the electronic services portal. It can be filed in person, by post or electronically. The simpler route is to request inclusion in the Register in the application for state registration of the organisation, in which case no separate application is needed. Under the current wording of the procedure the tax office decides within three working days. The period was shortened by amendments at the end of 2024, so older guides may give a different figure. An organisation that files during state registration or within 10 days of it and is entered in the Register is treated as non-profit from the day it was created. The decision states the non-profit code, a four-digit code for the type of organisation: 0032 for civic associations, 0036 for charitable organisations, 0034 for creative unions, 0031 for budgetary institutions. A donor asking for the "non-profit code" means exactly this. Changes to the statute that affect the status are notified to the tax office with an application marked as changes within 10 calendar days. ### Why donors require it For a donor the Register entry is quick proof of three things: the money will not go to founders as dividends, no corporate income tax will be paid out of the grant, and the organisation is under tax supervision as regards the use of funds. An extract from the Register is usually part of the due diligence package and of a capacity assessment, and in regranting programmes its absence is a formal ground for rejecting an application. The Register data are open on the tax service web portal. ### What has to be done every year The income of a non-profit organisation is used exclusively for its upkeep and for the aims and lines of activity set out in the statute. It reports on this by filing a report on the use of income (profits) of a non-profit organisation together with annual financial statements. The reporting period is a year, and the report is due within 60 calendar days after the year ends. It is filed even when there were no receipts. ### Grounds for exclusion and what happens to the grant - Using income for purposes not provided for in the statute. Classic examples: a loan to a founder, paying the director’s personal expenses. - Distributing income among founders, members or employees beyond wages. - The organisation or its statute not meeting the requirements of paragraph 133.4. In the event of a breach the organisation files a report for the period from the start of the year to the end of the month of the breach and pays corporate income tax on the amount of the non-compliant transaction, and the non-profit code is cancelled from the first day of the following month. For a grant the consequences go beyond tax: current agreements often allow the donor to suspend payments, and in new calls the organisation fails the eligibility check. The best protection is separate record keeping for each grant and a rule of checking any unusual expense against the statute before paying. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can we apply for a grant before the organisation is in the Register? Answer: Formally that depends on the call conditions, but most donors ask for a Register extract at the application stage or before signing. If the documents are filed within 10 days of state registration and the organisation is entered, it is treated as non-profit from the day it was created. - Question: How long does inclusion in the Register take? Answer: Under the current wording of Resolution No. 440 the tax office decides within three working days of receiving the application and documents, or the data from the Unified State Register. The most common reason for refusal is that the statute lacks the mandatory clauses of paragraph 133.4. - Question: Can a non-profit organisation pay salaries from a grant? Answer: Yes. The ban on distributing income expressly does not cover employees’ wages and the single social contribution. Salaries have to match the employment contracts and the project budget. - Question: What if the organisation is removed from the Register during a project? Answer: It becomes a corporate income tax payer and has to inform the donor. The consequences are set by the grant agreement, from a request for explanations to suspension of payments. Once the breaches are remedied, documents can be filed for re-inclusion in the Register. Sources: - Податковий кодекс України (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2755-17) - Постанова КМУ від 13.07.2016 №440 «Про затвердження Порядку ведення Реєстру неприбуткових установ та організацій» (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/440-2016-%D0%BF) - Наказ Мінфіну від 17.06.2016 №553 «Про затвердження форми Звіту про використання доходів (прибутків) неприбуткової організації» (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0932-16) ## Timesheets (time records) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/timesheet/ Updated: 2026-10-11 A project timesheet is the evidence of how much time a specific person spent on the grant itself. The amount of personnel costs depends on it. In Horizon Europe hourly timesheets can be replaced by a monthly declaration of days, and costs are calculated as a daily rate multiplied by the number of days worked on the action. Key facts: - Formula: Daily rate × days on the action - Daily rate: Annual personnel costs / 215 - Ceiling: 215 days a year across EU grants - Signatures: Employee and supervisor, monthly Personnel costs are usually the largest line in a grant budget, and they are what auditors examine most closely. The payroll shows that a person was paid. Time records show that the person worked on the project. Without the second, the first proves nothing to the donor. ### What changed in Horizon Europe In the 2021–2027 programmes costs are counted in days, not hours. Under the Model Grant Agreement the daily rate equals the annual personnel costs for the person divided by 215, and the amount declared is the daily rate multiplied by the number of days worked on the action. The rate is calculated for the reporting period, and the denominator is reduced pro rata if the person did not work the whole period or works part-time. The second rule is a ceiling: across all EU grants together no more than 215 days a year can be declared for one person. Instead of an hourly timesheet, a monthly declaration of days worked on the action is enough: the template is on the Portal, and it is signed by the employee and the supervisor. The requirement covers everyone working on the action, including those assigned to it full-time: there is no separate exemption from time recording for them in 2021–2027. The only choice is between the declaration and your own reliable time recording system. ### If you record time in hours That is allowed, but the hours have to be converted into days. The agreement gives three options: a day equals 8 hours, the average working day under the contract, or the standard that follows from your usual accounting practice. The chosen option is applied consistently to a group of staff, not picked per person for the best result. If both hours and declarations of days are kept in parallel, they must agree: where they differ, the lower figure is accepted. ### Fitting it to Ukrainian HR records - The standard attendance sheet (form P-5) records attendance, leave and sick days but does not show which project a person worked on. It does not replace the project declaration, yet it must not contradict it: a day of leave or sick leave cannot be a day worked on the action. - Secondary part-time employment. If a separate part-time contract is signed with the person for the project, the denominator of the daily rate is reduced in proportion to the working time share. - Civil-law contract. A contractor can be treated as personnel only when working under conditions similar to those of an employee. Otherwise it is a purchase of services or subcontracting, with rules of their own. Days still have to be recorded. Under the Ukrainian retention list an attendance sheet is kept for one year, which is not enough for an EU grant: the periods are explained in the article on record-keeping. ### Errors that audits find - Declarations signed retroactively, all at once before the report. - The declaration shows days when the person was on leave, on sick leave or travelling for another project. - The total days across all grants exceed 215 a year. - Time in the monthly declaration is rounded to half days. Rounding is allowed only when calculating the amount for the report. - Days in the financial statement do not match the declarations. ### How other donors do it Most donors that reimburse actual costs still require hourly timesheets showing how time is split across all of a person's projects. In lump sum grants actual costs are not checked, but evidence of the work done is needed. Ukrainian state funds are usually satisfied with orders, contracts and acceptance certificates. One rule holds: read what exactly the agreement calls eligible personnel costs. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Does a person working on one project only need a timesheet? Answer: In EU grants for 2021–2027, yes: a monthly declaration of days or an entry in a time recording system is required for everyone working on the action, whether full-time or part-time. - Question: Can timesheets be kept in an electronic system? Answer: Yes. The Annotated Grant Agreement accepts electronic signatures if the system links the action to a specific user, user rights are managed through a documented process, and all transactions remain in an auditable log. - Question: Why is the denominator 215 days? Answer: It is a fixed number of days per year that the grant agreement sets for all beneficiaries, so that no individual annual working time has to be calculated. It is also the ceiling: more than 215 days a year per person cannot be declared across EU grants. - Question: What happens if there are no time records? Answer: Personnel costs not supported by time records are ineligible and are rejected. If the error is systemic, the findings may be extended to your other EU grants. Sources: - Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement (Multi & Mono), V1.2 (01.06.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - EU Grants: AGA – Annotated Grant Agreement, V2.0 (01.04.2025) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - Наказ Держкомстату від 05.12.2008 № 489 про типові форми первинної облікової документації зі статистики праці (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/rada/show/v0489202-08) - Перелік типових документів із зазначенням строків зберігання, наказ Мін'юсту від 12.04.2012 № 578/5 (редакція від 16.04.2025) (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0571-12) ## Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (UCF) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/ucf/ Updated: 2026-07-27 The Ukrainian Cultural Foundation is a state institution funding cultural and artistic projects competitively since 2018. Conditions are set per lot rather than for the Foundation as a whole, and its main difference from European donors is reporting on actual costs with a mandatory audit. Key facts: - Established: By a 2017 law - Co-financing: 0–30%, depending on the lot - Experts per project: 5, scores added up - Audit: Mandatory, not paid from the grant The UCF was created by a 2017 law as a budget institution and a legal entity of public law. Its work is steered and coordinated by the Ministry of Culture, but it is not a ministry department: the model is built so that support decisions rest with experts. ### Conditions are set by the lot, not by the Foundation This is the central misunderstanding in material about the UCF. The sentence "the UCF requires N% co-financing" is wrong by construction: the requirement is set per lot and ranges from zero to 30%. Eligibility is likewise defined per programme. There is no Foundation-wide list of who may apply. The practical conclusion: read the applicant instructions for your lot, not the general pages. ### Co-financing means money only Another departure from European practice. The UCF counts as co-financing only monetary resources from sources other than the Foundation. In-kind contributions – equipment, premises, volunteer work – appear in some lots as a partner contribution but are not co-financing. Where co-financing is optional it works as a tie-breaker: on equal scores, a project with at least 5% of its own contribution wins. ### Who may apply Legal entities of all forms of ownership – NGOs, municipal institutions, state bodies, private companies – and sole traders. Individuals only in certain lot types, primarily fellowships, and only Ukrainian citizens. Limits apply: one application package per competitive programme per applicant, extending to legal entities sharing a founder. Even where several of your projects win, the Foundation supports at most three. All projects are implemented in the state language. ### How proposals are assessed The number of experts depends on the size of the lot: up to UAH 500,000 – three; above that – five, and in that case the highest and lowest scores are discarded, so a single hostile review does not sink a project. One expert scores up to 100 points and a package up to 300, of which 15 points go specifically to the quality of planning and transparency of costs. There is no fixed pass mark: selection runs down the ranking until the lot budget is exhausted. The same score can pass in one lot and fail in another. Expert decisions are final and not subject to review, except in cases of conflict of interest. ### Reporting: the main difference from European donors Expectations need resetting here if you are used to EU logic. Reporting is on actual costs with primary documents – no lump sums, unit costs or flat indirect rates as in Horizon Europe. An independent auditor's report is mandatory. And here is a trap that costs real money: audit costs may not be paid from the grant. They must come from elsewhere – so you need your own resource even in lots where co-financing is not formally required. Formal presentation requirements that European donors do not have at all: pages numbered throughout, laced and sealed; volumes over 250 sheets split into parts; materials submitted as hard copies plus a flash drive or external disk, which the Foundation does not return. Cost ceilings: remuneration of one person capped at UAH 50,000 a month; fixed assets up to UAH 50,000 per unit. Prohibited items include capital repairs and construction, mobile phones and household appliances, catering for project participants and, as noted, the audit itself. Payments run through the State Treasury, and the Foundation expressly disclaims responsibility for delays on the Treasury's side. ### Scale The Foundation's 2026 budget is around UAH 410.8m, up from UAH 250.7m in 2025. Over eight seasons it has supported more than 2,900 projects across seven sectors. Frequently asked questions: - Question: How much co-financing does the UCF require? Answer: The question is put the wrong way round: the requirement is set separately for each lot and ranges from zero to 30%. Look at the applicant guidelines for your own lot. And remember that the Foundation counts only cash as co-financing, not equipment or volunteer work. - Question: Can the audit be built into the project budget? Answer: No, and this is the most expensive trap. An independent auditor's report is mandatory, but paying for it out of the grant is prohibited. So you need your own resources for the audit even where co-financing is not formally required. - Question: What is the passing score? Answer: There is no fixed one. Selection follows the ranking until the lot's budget is used up, so the same score can be enough in one lot and not enough in another. Sources: - Закон України «Про Український культурний фонд» № 1976-VIII (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/1976-19) - Програми та лоти УКФ 2026 (https://ucf.in.ua/programs) - Документи УКФ: методика оцінювання і вимоги до звітності (https://ucf.in.ua/docs/27) ## Final payment and closing the grant (Final payment (payment of the balance)) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/final-payment/ Updated: 2026-10-11 The final payment is the closing settlement of a grant: the donor determines the final amount from accepted costs and deducts everything already paid. The difference can be positive or negative, in which case part of the advance has to be repaid. In Horizon Europe the payment is due within 90 days of receipt of the final report. Key facts: - Final report: 60 days after the project ends - Time to pay: 90 days from receipt of the report - Before the final: No more than 90% of the grant - MIM contribution: 5–8%, released at final payment The last payment (payment of the balance) differs from interim ones in that it is not another instalment but a settlement. The granting authority recalculates the whole grant from the start and compares the result with what it has already transferred to the consortium. Until that moment the money in the account formally remains an advance. ### How the final amount is calculated - Accepted contribution. The funding rate is applied to each beneficiary's accepted costs for all periods. This step also takes in the cap for a missing CFS and any grant reduction for improper implementation or breach of obligations. - Ceiling. The result cannot exceed the maximum grant amount in the agreement, even if costs were higher. - No-profit rule, if the Data Sheet provides for it: the grant together with the project's revenues must not exceed the eligible costs. - Balance. Pre-financing and interim payments are deducted from the final amount. Interim payments together with pre-financing are capped at 90% of the maximum amount, so at least a tenth of the grant reaches the consortium only after the final report is approved. That gap has to be financed from your own funds. ### Deadlines, mutual insurance and recoveries The final periodic report, with the financial statements of all participants, is submitted within 60 days of the end of the last period. The granting authority has 90 days from receipt of the report to pay, but that deadline is suspended while questions and corrections are pending. Horizon Europe uses the Mutual Insurance Mechanism (MIM) provided for in the programme regulation. A contribution, 5–8% of the maximum grant amount in the model agreement, is retained from the first pre-financing and transferred to a fund that covers participants' debts to the EU budget. At the final payment the contribution is released and returned to the consortium. If the balance is negative, the debt is first set off against this contribution. If more was received than the final grant amount, the granting authority sends a pre-information letter with the calculation. There are 30 days for observations, after which the amount is confirmed and claimed. In Horizon Europe each beneficiary is liable only for its own debt. Recovery is also possible after closure if a later audit rejects costs. Any payment may be offset, without the beneficiary's consent, against its debt to the granting authority. ### What continues after closure - Record-keeping: 5 years after the final payment, 3 years for grants of up to EUR 60,000. - Reviews and audits: in Horizon Europe they can be started within 2 years of the final payment. - Exploitation of results: best efforts for up to 4 years after the end of the action. If results are not exploited within a year, they go on the Horizon Results Platform. - Confidentiality and taking part in the programme's impact evaluation: 5 years. - Obligations on open access to publications arising from the project. ### Why the payment gets delayed - A partner has not submitted its financial statement, or the CFS is not ready in time. - Deliverables are still outstanding or milestones are left open in continuous reporting. - The granting authority asks for clarifications and the payment deadline is suspended. - The coordinator's bank details have changed and have not been validated. - The coordinator is slow to distribute what it received among the partners. ### How other donors do it Most donors likewise hold back the last instalment until the final report is approved and ask for any unspent balance to be returned. In Ukrainian state funds settlements are tied to the budget year, so the project usually has to be closed and reported before it ends. Check the exact deadlines in your own contract. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Can the final payment be zero or negative? Answer: Yes. If accepted costs are lower than what was already paid as pre-financing and interim payments, the balance is negative and the difference must be repaid. In Horizon Europe it is first set off against the contribution to the Mutual Insurance Mechanism. - Question: When do we get the MIM contribution back? Answer: The retained contribution is released at the final payment and paid to the coordinator, who distributes it among the participants. If the consortium owes money to the granting authority, the contribution is first used to cover that debt. - Question: Our costs exceeded the budget. Will the difference be paid? Answer: No. The final amount is capped at the maximum grant amount in the agreement. Declaring the overrun is still worthwhile: it offsets costs that the granting authority may reject. - Question: Can repayment be demanded after the grant is closed? Answer: Yes. If an audit after the final payment rejects costs, or findings from another grant are extended to this one, the final amount is recalculated and the excess is recovered from the beneficiary concerned. Sources: - Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement (Multi & Mono), V1.2 (01.06.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - EU Grants: AGA – Annotated Grant Agreement, V2.0 (01.04.2025) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Online Manual, V1.3 (01.05.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/om_en.pdf) - Регламент (ЄС) 2021/695 про Horizon Europe (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/695/oj/eng) ## Financial statement for a grant (Financial statement (financial report)) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/wiki/terms/financial-report/ Updated: 2026-10-11 A financial statement is the part of the periodic report in which each participant declares its eligible costs for the reporting period. In EU grants it is filled in on the Portal in euros, signed by an authorised person of the organisation, and due within 60 days of the end of the period. The interim or final payment depends on its acceptance. Key facts: - Deadline: 60 days after the reporting period - Currency: Euro, converted under the agreement rule - Payment: 90 days from receipt of the report - Signed by: Financial signatory (PFSIGN) A financial statement answers one question from the donor: how much did you spend on the project in the reporting period, and can those costs be accepted. In EU grants it is part of the periodic report alongside the technical part, and there is no payment without it. ### Who submits, when and where Each beneficiary fills in an individual financial statement on the Funding & Tenders Portal, signs it and passes it to the coordinator. The coordinator collects the partners' statements and submits the whole periodic report as one package. The Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement allows 60 days after the end of the reporting period, and the periods themselves are set in the Data Sheet of your agreement. The statement is signed by a person holding the financial signatory role: the FSIGN is nominated in the organisation by the LEAR and is then assigned to a specific project as PFSIGN. Sort the roles out early, because the submit button is unavailable without an assigned signatory. If a participant misses the deadline, its costs for that period are treated as zero, but they can be declared in the next one. ### What is inside - Costs by budget category: personnel, subcontracting, purchases (travel, equipment, other goods and services), other categories and indirect costs. What may be included is explained in the article on eligible costs. - Explanation of the use of resources: who worked and how much, what was bought and why. It must match the figures in the statement and the technical part. - Certificate on the financial statements, if the threshold is reached. It has its own article: CFS. The consolidated statement for the consortium is generated by the system. The Commission advises declaring all eligible costs even when they exceed the budget: the grant is capped at the maximum amount anyway, and the margin helps if some costs are rejected. ### Converting hryvnia into euros The statement is drawn up in euros. A beneficiary keeping its accounts in another currency converts costs at the average of the daily exchange rates published in the C series of the Official Journal of the EU (the ECB rates) over the whole reporting period. If no daily rate exists for the currency, the average of the Commission's monthly accounting rates (InforEuro) over the same period is used. The ECB does not publish a reference rate for the hryvnia, so the second rule is the one that applies to Ukrainian organisations. The rate on the date of each payment or the National Bank of Ukraine rate is not used here. ### After submission and common mistakes The granting authority either accepts the report or sends it back for changes. The payment should reach the coordinator within 90 days of receipt of the report, but that deadline is suspended while questions and corrections are pending. Interim payments together with pre-financing are capped at 90% of the maximum grant amount, and the rest is paid as part of the final payment. A mistake in a statement already submitted is fixed by an adjustment in the next period. Common mistakes that get a report sent back: - Days worked in the statement do not match the time records. - Costs paid outside the reporting period are declared, or VAT that the organisation can recover. - The rate on the payment date is used instead of the period average. - The explanation of the use of resources contradicts the technical report. ### How other donors do it The logic is the same everywhere: costs against the approved budget plus supporting documents. What differs is the volume of evidence. In EU grants source documents are not submitted but kept for checks. Many donors and Ukrainian state funds require a register or copies of source documents with the report, and the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation also requires an independent auditor's report. Frequently asked questions: - Question: Which rate do I use to convert hryvnia costs into euros? Answer: The rule in Article 21.3 of the grant agreement: the average of the daily rates from the Official Journal of the EU over the reporting period, and if no such rate exists for the currency, the average of the monthly InforEuro rates over the same period. The second option applies to the hryvnia. Check the "Conversion into euros" line in the Data Sheet of your agreement. - Question: What if a partner misses the deadline for its financial statement? Answer: The coordinator may submit the periodic report without it. That partner's costs for the period are treated as zero, but it can declare them in the next reporting period. - Question: Do invoices and contracts have to be attached to the report? Answer: Not in EU grants: they are not attached but are kept and produced on request or during a check. Other donors and Ukrainian funds often require a register or copies of documents with the report, so read the terms of your own agreement. - Question: Can a mistake in a submitted statement be corrected? Answer: Yes. A closed financial statement is not edited, but in the next reporting period you can submit an adjustment, positive or negative, to any earlier period. Sources: - EU Grants: AGA – Annotated Grant Agreement, V2.0 (01.04.2025) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/aga_en.pdf) - Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement (Multi & Mono), V1.2 (01.06.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_horizon-euratom_en.pdf) - EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Online Manual, V1.3 (01.05.2026) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/om_en.pdf) - Exchange rate (InforEuro) – European Commission (https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/procedures-guidelines-tenders/information-contractors-and-beneficiaries/exchange-rate-inforeuro_en) # Catalogue of open grants (111) Each entry: title, GetGrant URL, facts and a short summary. The full description is on the page. The catalogue is updated every day: last update 2026-10-12, last call added 2026-10-12, 17 new calls in the last 7 days. Every entry is checked before it goes live, and deadlines and terms are verified against the funder's announcement. Applications are submitted directly on the funder's site: GetGrant neither receives applications nor acts as an intermediary. ## ZMINA:Resilience: grants of up to €50,000 for showcasing Ukrainian art projects in Europe URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/zmina-resilience-showcasing-grants/ - Amount: up to €50,000 - Deadline: 2026-12-14 - Funder: IZOLYATSIA Foundation, Malý Berlín, Trans Europe Halles - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-11 IZOLYATSIA Foundation, Maly Berlin, and Trans Europe Halles are running a continuous open call under the ZMINA:Resilience project to support the dissemination of international cooperation projects. The call funds public presentations of co-created artistic works addressing the theme of resilience across Creative Europe countries and Ukraine, excluding the audiovisual sector. Each project must involve at least one partner from Ukraine and one from another Creative Europe country to deliver at least six presentation events. Grants provide up to 50,000 euros covering up to 90 percent of the total project costs. - donor: IZOLYATSIA Foundation, Maly Berlin, Trans Europe Halles - amount: up to €50,000 (covers up to 90% of costs) - deadline: 14 December 2026 (round 2) - who: Cultural and arts non-governmental organizations - geography: Ukraine and Creative Europe countries - Question: What are the co-financing requirements for this grant? Answer: The grant covers up to 90% of total project costs up to 50,000 euros. Applicants must contribute the remaining 10% as a monetary contribution reflected in accounting records. - Question: What event requirements must funded projects meet? Answer: Projects must organize at least six public presentation events, with a minimum of three events in each of at least two countries, one of which must be Ukraine. Events cannot take place in the home cities of the applicant organizations. - Question: Which creative sectors are excluded from the call? Answer: All creative and cultural sectors are eligible except for the audiovisual sector. ## Sida: call for concept notes on mine action in Ukraine for non-state demining operators URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/sida-mine-action-ukraine-concept-notes-2026/ - Amount: Not stated - Deadline: 2026-10-26 - Funder: Sida - Country: Sweden - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-11 The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has launched a call for concept notes to expand support for mine action in Ukraine. Aligned with Sweden's reconstruction and reform strategy for Ukraine for 2023-2027, the call aims to strengthen non-state Ukrainian demining organisations and develop the Mine Action Management System. Sida plans to select at least one concept note for potential development into a full project proposal. - donor: Sida - amount: Not stated - deadline: 26 October 2026 - who: Non-governmental organization (NGO) / non-state Ukrainian mine action organisations - geography: Ukraine, Sweden - Question: What are the key objectives of this call? Answer: The objectives are to strengthen non-state Ukrainian mine action organisations with a focus on land release and to further develop Ukraine's Mine Action Management System. - Question: Who was consulted in the development of this call? Answer: The call was developed in consultation with the Ministry of Economy and Environment and the Center for Humanitarian Demining in Ukraine. - Question: How many concept notes will be selected? Answer: Sida intends to select at least one concept note for possible development into a full project proposal. ## Ukrainian Women’s Fund travel grants: up to CAD 4,000 for activists to attend international events URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/ukrainian-womens-fund-travel-grants/ - Amount: up to CAD 4,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Ukrainian Women's Fund - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, individuals, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-10 The Ukrainian Women's Fund offers travel grants under the Women's Voice and Leadership project to support Ukrainian activists and women's rights organizations. Grants provide up to CAD 4,000 in hryvnia equivalent for attending international conferences and seminars. The initiative aims to enhance international networking, advocacy, and partnerships for gender equality in Ukraine. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the planned travel. - donor: Ukrainian Women's Fund - amount: up to CAD 4,000 in UAH equivalent - deadline: continuous (at least three weeks before travel) - who: officially registered women's NGOs and feminist activists - geography: Ukraine - Question: How often can an individual receive travel grant support? Answer: An activist or expert can use support under the program no more than twice a year. - Question: What expenses are covered by the grant? Answer: Eligible costs include economy class tickets, moderate accommodation, event registration fees, and travel insurance. - Question: What are the main assessment criteria for proposals? Answer: Applications are assessed based on call alignment, event importance, belonging to the women's movement, active participation during the event, and expected advocacy results. ## Ukraine Partnership Facility (UPF4): grants of EUR 500,000 to 4 million for Ukraine’s reconstruction in partnership with Dutch companies URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/ukraine-partnership-facility-upf4-2026/ - Amount: EUR 500,000 to 4 million, up to 90% of costs - Deadline: 2026-12-03 - Funder: Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, SMEs - Status: upcoming - Updated: 2026-10-11 The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) launched the fourth round of the Ukraine Partnership Facility (UPF4) with a total budget of EUR 26.5 million. The initiative funds joint partnerships of Dutch and Ukrainian businesses and civil society organisations to support long-term recovery and reconstruction. Subsidies range from EUR 500,000 to 4 million, covering up to 90% of eligible project costs. Projects must target one of four priority sectors: healthcare, water, sustainable energy, or agriculture and agrifood. - donor: Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) - amount: EUR 500,000 to 4 million (up to 90% of eligible costs) - deadline: 2026-12-03 (mandatory quick scan) - who: Partnerships of 2 to 6 businesses and civil society organisations (SMEs and NGOs) - geography: Ukraine - Question: What sectors are supported under UPF4? Answer: Eligible projects must focus on at least one of four sectors: agriculture and agrifood, sustainable energy, water, or healthcare. - Question: Who can apply for the grant? Answer: Partnerships of 2 to 6 businesses and civil society organisations can apply, requiring at least one Dutch registered entity as the lead applicant and at least one Ukrainian registered organisation. - Question: What is the co-financing requirement? Answer: The grant covers up to 90% of eligible costs, and the partnership must finance at least 10% using its own resources or third-party funding. ## NED grants for nongovernmental organisations: next deadline 27 January 2027 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/ned-grants-for-ngos-2027/ - Deadline: 2027-01-27 - Funder: National Endowment for Democracy (NED) - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The National Endowment for Democracy provides grants to independent nongovernmental organisations working to advance democratic goals and institutions. The program supports nonpartisan initiatives that focus on human rights, freedom of information, accountability, civil society strengthening, and civic education. Applications are submitted through the online portal and decisions are made three times per year by the Board of Directors. - donor: National Endowment for Democracy (NED) - amount: the donor sets no fixed limit per project - deadline: 27 January 2027 - who: Nongovernmental organizations, civic associations, and independent media - geography: Ukraine and more than 100 other countries - Question: Who is eligible to apply for NED grants? Answer: Only nongovernmental organizations such as civic associations and independent media are eligible. Individuals, governmental bodies, and state-supported institutions cannot apply. - Question: What thematic priorities does NED support? Answer: NED funds projects that promote human rights, rule of law, independent media, accountability, transparency, civic education, and democratic processes. - Question: What happens if a proposal is submitted after the 27 January 2027 deadline? Answer: Proposals submitted after the deadline will be considered at the subsequent Board of Directors meeting scheduled for September 2027. ## Compensation for hiring internally displaced persons in Ukraine: one minimum wage a month per employee URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/compensation-for-hiring-idps-ukraine/ - Amount: one minimum wage a month - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: State Employment Service of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The State Employment Service of Ukraine compensates employers for labour costs when hiring internally displaced persons during martial law. Employers receive monthly support equal to the minimum wage for up to three months, or up to six months for employees with disabilities or businesses operating in combat zones. The programme is open to legal entities and individual entrepreneurs who pay the unified social contribution and submit tax reports. Applications can be submitted online via Diia or directly to an employment centre. - donor: State Employment Service of Ukraine - amount: one minimum wage a month per employee - deadline: ongoing (submit between 5 days and 6 months after hiring) - who: employers (legal entities and sole proprietors), excluding budget-funded institutions - geography: Ukraine - Question: What is the compensation amount for hiring an IDP? Answer: Employers receive the equivalent of one minimum wage per month for each hired internally displaced person. - Question: What is the duration of the compensation? Answer: Compensation is paid for up to 3 months under general rules, and up to 6 months if the hired employee has a disability or the business operates in designated combat zones. - Question: When must employers submit the application? Answer: The application must be filed no earlier than 5 calendar days and no later than 6 months after the employee is hired. ## CIVICUS digital resiliency grants: up to USD 20,000 for civil society organisations URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/civicus-digital-resiliency-grants/ - Amount: up to USD 20,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: CIVICUS - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund and Digital Democracy Initiative offer digital resiliency grants to local civil society organisations facing civic space restrictions and threats. Single organisations can receive up to USD 10,000, while joint applications between two or more groups can secure up to USD 20,000. Funded activities must be implemented within six months to address digital or broader civic space barriers using technology. Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed on a rolling basis. - donor: CIVICUS (Crisis Response Fund and Digital Democracy Initiative) - amount: up to USD 10,000 for single applications; up to USD 20,000 for joint applications - deadline: ongoing, rolling basis throughout the year - who: local civil society organisations, formal or informal groups, and social movements - geography: Ukraine and other countries eligible for Official Development Assistance - Question: What is the funding limit for single and joint applications? Answer: A single organisation applying alone can receive up to USD 10,000, while joint applications from two or more organisations can receive up to USD 20,000. - Question: What is the maximum duration for funded projects? Answer: The grant funds must be used in under six months. - Question: Can individuals apply for this grant call? Answer: No, the grants are not awarded to individuals. Applicants must be local civil society organisations, groups, or social movements. ## Culture Helps Solidarity, second call: collaboration grants of up to €30,000 for Ukrainian and European cultural organisations URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/culture-helps-solidarity-second-call-collaboration-grants/ - Amount: up to €30,000 - Deadline: 2026-11-10 - Funder: European Cultural Foundation - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The European Cultural Foundation has launched the second and final Culture Helps Solidarity call for collaboration grants. The fund supports cross-border partnerships between at least one Ukrainian organisation and at least one organisation based in a Creative Europe country. Supported projects use arts and culture to aid the integration of displaced Ukrainians, focusing on mental well-being, vulnerable groups, and veterans. Grants provide up to €20,000 for two organisations and up to €30,000 for three or more partners. - donor: European Cultural Foundation - amount: up to €30,000 (up to €20,000 for two partners, up to €30,000 for three or more) - deadline: November 10, 2026, at 13:00 Amsterdam time - who: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and cultural partnerships - geography: Ukraine and Creative Europe countries - Question: What is the maximum grant amount available? Answer: Partnerships consisting of two organisations can receive up to €20,000, while partnerships of three or more organisations can receive up to €30,000. - Question: Who is eligible to participate in the partnership? Answer: Partnerships must include at least one Ukrainian-led organisation operating in Ukraine or in exile, alongside at least one organisation based in a Creative Europe country. - Question: When is the application deadline? Answer: The final deadline to submit collaborative proposals is November 10, 2026, at 13:00 Amsterdam time (14:00 Kyiv time). ## Civil Society Cooperation Platforms: grants of up to UAH 1 million for Ukrainian NGOs, apply by 28 December URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/civil-society-cooperation-platforms-grants-2026/ - Amount: up to UAH 1,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-12-28 - Funder: ISAR Ednannia - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 ISAR Ednannia is accepting applications for the second wave of the Civil Society Cooperation Platforms grant call in Ukraine. The initiative funds collaborative formats, including at least one major open public event alongside follow-up activities, across three priorities: capacity building, community recovery, and advocacy. Grants of up to UAH 1,000,000 are allocated to eligible non-profit organisations with at least one year of relevant experience. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until 28 December 2026. - donor: ISAR Ednannia - amount: up to UAH 1,000,000 - deadline: 28 December 2026 - who: Non-governmental organizations, public associations, charitable organisations, and associations of local self-government bodies - geography: Ukraine - Question: What is the maximum grant amount available under this call? Answer: Eligible applicants can receive grant funding of up to UAH 1,000,000. - Question: Who is eligible to apply for the grant? Answer: Applicants must be officially registered Ukrainian public associations, charitable organisations, or associations of local self-government bodies listed in the Register of Non-Profit Organisations with appropriate non-profit codes (0032, 0036, 0038, 0039) and at least one year of work in the priority fields. - Question: What are the priority areas funded by the call? Answer: The grant supports three priorities: platforms for strengthening civil society organisation capacity, cooperation platforms for recovery, and advocacy platforms. ## Compensation for adapting a workplace for an employee with a disability in Ukraine: up to 15 minimum wages URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/workplace-adaptation-compensation-ukraine/ - Amount: up to 15 minimum wages - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: State Employment Service of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The State Employment Service of Ukraine offers non-repayable compensation to legal entities, sole proprietors, and self-employed individuals for workplace adaptations made for employees with disabilities. The financial support covers actual costs up to 15 minimum wages for disability group I and up to 10 minimum wages for disability group II. Eligible expenses include purchased furniture, mobility aids, specialized software, and office equipment. Applications must be submitted online through the Diia portal or offline at an employment center within 180 calendar days of hiring. - donor: State Employment Service of Ukraine - amount: up to 15 minimum wages - deadline: ongoing (within 180 calendar days of hiring) - who: legal entities, sole proprietors and self-employed individuals - geography: Ukraine - Question: What is the maximum compensation amount? Answer: Compensation covers actual expenses up to 15 minimum wages for employees with disability group I and up to 10 minimum wages for disability group II, based on the statutory rate as of January 1 of the decision year. - Question: How can employers submit an application? Answer: Applications can be submitted online through the Diia portal using an electronic signature or offline at a regional employment centre within 180 calendar days of hiring. - Question: Does the compensation need to be repaid? Answer: No, the funds do not need to be repaid unless an additional verification reveals non-compliance with the program requirements. ## Loan for condominium associations in Ukraine: up to UAH 3 million for generators, solar and heat pumps, state covers up to 70% URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/energy-loan-condominiums-ukraine/ - Amount: up to UAH 3,000,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Government of Ukraine, Affordable Loans 5-7-9% programme - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The Government of Ukraine offers subsidised energy loans under the Affordable Loans 5-7-9% programme for condominium associations and housing cooperatives. Eligible applicants can secure up to UAH 3 million for up to three years to install generators, solar power stations, and heat pumps. The state compensates 50% of the loan principal for generators and 70% for solar installations or heat pumps. Financing is distributed through 43 participating partner banks. - donor: Government of Ukraine, Affordable Loans 5-7-9% programme - amount: up to UAH 3,000,000 - deadline: none (permanent programme) - who: Condominium associations (OSBB) and housing cooperatives (ZhBK) - geography: Ukraine - Question: What interest rates apply to the loan? Answer: The loan rate is 0% for up to 1 year, 5% for up to 2 years, and 7% for up to 3 years. - Question: How much of the loan principal does the state compensate? Answer: The state compensates 50% of the principal for a generator and 70% for a solar power plant or heat pump. - Question: What are the equipment limits under the programme? Answer: Each association can finance one generator, one solar power plant, and one heat pump, including necessary auxiliary equipment and installation works. ## Energy independence for households in Ukraine: loan of up to UAH 480,000 with up to 30% compensation URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/energy-independence-households-ukraine-loan/ - Amount: up to UAH 480,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: National Development Institution, Government of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The National Development Institution and the Government of Ukraine offer subsidised loans ranging from UAH 10,000 to UAH 480,000 for private household owners to install autonomous and backup power equipment. State support compensates interest rates down to 0% in the first year, 5% in the second year, and 7% in the third year. Borrowers also receive principal compensation between 20% and 30% depending on the chosen equipment package. Financial assistance is administered through authorised commercial banks with no fixed deadline. - donor: National Development Institution, Government of Ukraine - amount: up to UAH 480,000 - deadline: Ongoing (no deadline) - who: Individual owners of private households - geography: Ukraine - Question: What loan amounts and equipment are covered under the programme? Answer: Loans range from UAH 10,000 to UAH 480,000 to purchase and install generators, hybrid power supply systems, or combined equipment sets. - Question: What compensation rates does the state provide? Answer: The state subsidises interest rates down to 0% in the first year, 5% in the second year, and 7% in the third year, plus principal debt compensation of 20% for package G, 25% for package GB, and 30% for package SGB. - Question: What are the eligibility requirements for household properties? Answer: The support is available to individual property owners or their first-degree relatives for private households with a total real estate area not exceeding 300 square meters. ## Grants of the President of Ukraine for young artists for 2027: apply by 1 November URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/presidential-grants-young-artists-ukraine-2027/ - Deadline: 2026-11-01 - Funder: State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education has announced a competition for the 2027 annual Grants of the President of Ukraine. The program supports individuals aged 14 to 35 working in theatre, music, circus, visual arts, literature, and folk art. Applicants must submit a creative project package including a budget, recommendations, and a guarantee letter from an enterprise. Submissions are processed through the electronic cabinet of the state register for cultural support before 1 November 2026. - donor: State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education - amount: not stated in the announcement, defined by the project budget - deadline: 1 November 2026 - who: Individuals aged 14 to 35 in theatre, music, circus, visual arts, literature, and folk art - geography: Ukraine - Question: Who is eligible to apply for the grant? Answer: Individual artists, writers, and folk art masters aged 14 to 35 at the time of application are eligible. - Question: What is the application deadline? Answer: The required package of documents must be submitted by 1 November 2026. - Question: What documents are required for the application? Answer: Applicants must provide an application form, project budget, ID copy, profile of key performers, at least two recommendations, personal data consent, and a guarantee letter from an enterprise or sole proprietor ensuring project delivery. ## Grants for coal communities in Ukraine: UAH 3 to 5 million for just transition projects URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/grants-for-coal-communities-ukraine-2026/ - Amount: UAH 3,000,000 - 5,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-28 - Funder: East Europe Foundation - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, communities, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 East Europe Foundation has launched the second grant call under the ROOTS programme to support just transition initiatives in Ukrainian coal communities. Up to six projects will receive between UAH 3,000,000 and UAH 5,000,000 for implementation periods spanning 6 to 12 months. To qualify, projects must support just transition goals and be included in the local Just Transformation Action Plan or Programme. All submissions must be completed online through the foundation Grant Portal by October 28, 2026. - donor: East Europe Foundation - amount: UAH 3,000,000 - 5,000,000 - deadline: October 28, 2026, 18:00 - who: Local self-government bodies, municipal institutions and enterprises, regional development agencies, and non-profit civil society organizations - geography: Ladyzhyn territorial community in Vinnytsia oblast and nine specific territorial communities in Dnipropetrovsk oblast, Ukraine - Question: What is the required duration for winning projects? Answer: Supported projects must run for a duration of 6 to 12 months. - Question: Can multiple organizations submit a joint application? Answer: Yes, several applicants may submit a joint project proposal if the project is envisaged in the local Just Transformation Action Plan. - Question: Which entities are ineligible to apply? Answer: Applications from private individuals, commercial businesses, state government authorities, political parties, and religious organizations will not be considered. ## Towards Life: Country in Action. Up to UAH 2.5 million for national recovery solutions URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/towards-life-country-in-action-recovery-grants/ - Amount: up to UAH 2,500,000 - Deadline: 2026-12-01 - Funder: Askold and Dir Fund, ISAR Ednannia - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The Askold and Dir Fund, administered by ISAR Ednannia with funding from Norway and Sweden, invites experienced national-level civil society organizations in Ukraine to submit projects under the Towards Life: Country in Action call. The initiative supports sustainable models, policies, services, and tools across sectors like education, social welfare, healthcare, energy resilience, and security. Up to approximately 15 grants with budgets up to UAH 2.5 million will be awarded across two selection rounds. All supported projects must end no later than 30 November 2027. - donor: Askold and Dir Fund, administered by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden - amount: up to UAH 2,500,000 - deadline: 19 October 2026 (first wave) and 1 December 2026 (second wave) - who: experienced national-level civil society organizations with at least 3 completed projects in the past 3 years and an annual budget of at least UAH 5,000,000 in 2023, 2024, or 2025 - geography: Ukraine (excluding temporarily occupied territories) - Question: What types of activities can be funded under this call? Answer: Funding can support designing, piloting, and documenting solutions, preparing for scaling, analytics, advocacy, mentoring regional and local CSOs, establishing coalitions, and organizational development up to 15 percent of the budget. - Question: What are the project duration requirements for each wave? Answer: First-wave projects can last up to 11 months starting no earlier than 15 December 2026, while second-wave projects can last up to 9 months starting no earlier than 1 March 2027. All projects must conclude by 30 November 2027. - Question: Can an applicant submit a rejected proposal again? Answer: Yes, proposals that do not receive support during the first wave can be revised and resubmitted during the second wave. ## EBRD Star Venture: programme for tech startups in Ukraine, apply by 30 October URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/ebrd-star-venture-tech-startups-ukraine-2026/ - Amount: Advisory support - Deadline: 2026-10-30 - Funder: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, startups - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is accepting applications from high-potential startups in Ukraine and Moldova for its Star Venture programme. The initiative supports pre Series A stage teams led by technical founders demonstrating product-market fit, commercial traction, and strong growth potential. Selected participants receive tailored advisory projects from local and international experts, as well as connections to investors and mentors. - donor: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) - amount: no cash funding, support comes as advisory projects and investor connections - deadline: 30 October 2026 - who: tech startups at pre Series A stage led by technical founders - geography: Ukraine, Moldova - Question: What support does the EBRD Star Venture programme offer? Answer: The programme provides tailored advisory projects from local and international experts, alongside connections to mentors and investors. - Question: Which startups are eligible for this call? Answer: The call targets pre Series A startups led by technical founders with proven product-market fit, early traction, and development operations in Ukraine or Moldova. - Question: Are there any sector restrictions? Answer: Yes, the programme is sector agnostic with the exception of military products or services, gambling, and tobacco. ## Advocacy Support, fifth wave: grants of up to UAH 2.5 million for Ukrainian civil society organisations URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/advocacy-support-grants-ukrainian-csos-fifth-wave/ - Amount: up to UAH 2,500,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-19 - Funder: Askold and Dir Fund, ISAR Ednannia - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-07 The Askold and Dir Fund, administered by ISAR Ednannia with funding from Norway and Sweden, has announced the fifth wave of the Advocacy Support grant call for civil society organisations. The competition funds initiatives that strengthen CSO influence on reforms required for EU accession across four distinct thematic lots. Grants provide up to UAH 2,500,000 for projects lasting up to 12 months. Applications are accepted until 17:00 on 19 October 2026. - donor: Askold and Dir Fund, ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden - amount: up to UAH 2,500,000 depending on the lot - deadline: 19 October 2026, 17:00 - who: Registered Ukrainian non-governmental organisations and charitable organisations with non-profit status 0032 or 0036 and at least two years of advocacy experience - geography: Ukraine - Question: What are the funding amounts across the four lots? Answer: Lot 1 provides up to UAH 1,000,000; Lot 2 and Lot 3 offer up to UAH 1,500,000 each; and Lot 4 offers up to UAH 2,500,000. - Question: Who is eligible to apply for Lot 4? Answer: Applicants for Lot 4 can be media CSOs or specialised advocacy CSOs applying in partnership with an independent media outlet. - Question: Can an organisation receive funding for more than one project? Answer: An applicant may submit multiple project proposals across different lots, but only one project can be supported. ## 7 programmes for Ukrainian businesses and veterans URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/business-veteran-grants-ukraine-autumn-2026/ - Deadline: roundup of several calls, see the text for dates - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-04 eRobota, a veterans grant up to UAH 1m, machinery compensation, GIZ support for MSMEs, DOVIRA and payroll relief. ## EUREKA Network Projects: up to UAH 199,000 for Ukrainian participants in international R&D consortia URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/eureka-network-projects-up-to-uah-199-000-for-ukrainian-participants-in-international-r-d-consortia/ - Amount: up to UAH 199,000 of the Ukrainian share, up to 100% - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: EUREKA Network, national funding of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-01 EUREKA Network Projects provide funding for Ukrainian organisations participating in international collaborative research and development. Ukrainian partners can receive up to UAH 199,000, covering up to 100% of their eligible share from the national budget. Projects must involve at least two independent legal entities from two different EUREKA countries and focus on civilian products, processes, or services. The call accepts applications continuously from 1 January 2025 until 1 January 2030. - donor: EUREKA Network, national funding of Ukraine - amount: up to UAH 199,000 per Ukrainian participant (up to 100% of costs) - deadline: open all year round from 1 January 2025 to 1 January 2030 - who: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Research Institutes (RnD), Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) - geography: Ukraine and EUREKA member countries - Question: What are the consortium requirements for this call? Answer: The consortium must include at least two independent legal entities from two different EUREKA countries, with at least one established in a full member country. No single organisation or country may represent more than 70% of the project budget. - Question: What project themes and objectives are eligible? Answer: The project must be aimed at researching or developing a product, process, or service and must have an exclusively civilian purpose. - Question: How does the application and funding process work for Ukrainian participants? Answer: Applications are submitted through the EUREKA portal and reviewed continuously on a rolling basis. If successful, projects receive the EUREKA label, and Ukrainian participants access up to UAH 199,000 funded from the national budget of Ukraine. ## NIAS Safe Haven Fellowship: EUR 3,500 a month for scholars who have lost the conditions to work URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/nias-safe-haven-fellowship-eur-3-500-a-month-for-scholars-who-have-lost-the-conditions-to-work/ - Amount: EUR 3,500 a month - Deadline: 2026-12-14 - Funder: NIAS, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: research institutions, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-01 The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study, alongside the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, offers the Safe Haven Fellowship for scholars, writers, journalists, and artists at risk due to conflict or war. Fellows receive a five-month temporary relocation to Amsterdam with a monthly stipend of EUR 3,500, a workplace, and housing or commuting support. The programme provides an opportunity to continue professional work within the NIAS community. Applications for the first semester of 2027/28 close on 14 December 2026. - donor: NIAS, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) - amount: EUR 3,500 a month - deadline: 14 December 2026 at noon (CET) - who: Accomplished researchers with PhD and 3 years postdoc experience, or artists, writers, and journalists with a bachelor's degree and 7 years experience - geography: Ukraine, relocation to the Netherlands - Question: What support is provided during the fellowship? Answer: Fellows receive a monthly stipend of EUR 3,500, an office, access to research facilities, communal lunches, subsidized housing or commuting costs, and reimbursement for travel to and from Amsterdam. - Question: What are the eligibility criteria for applicants? Answer: Scholarly applicants must hold a PhD with at least three years of postdoctoral experience. Literary, journalistic, or artistic applicants require a bachelor's degree and at least seven years of professional experience, alongside academic-level English proficiency (C1). - Question: How long does the fellowship last? Answer: The fellowship lasts for five months, covering one semester either from September to January or from February to June. ## President’s PhD Scholarships at Imperial College: full doctoral funding and GBP 27,036 a year URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/presidents-phd-scholarships-at-imperial-college-full-doctoral-funding-and-gbp-27-036-a-year/ - Amount: GBP 27,036 a year plus tuition fees - Deadline: 2026-11-02 - Funder: Imperial College London - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-01 Imperial College London offers the President's PhD Scholarships providing funding for 3.5 years of doctoral study. The award covers full tuition fees, an annual stipend of GBP 27,036, and GBP 2,000 a year for research consumables during the first three years. Fifty scholarships are granted annually across the entire institution with no nationality restrictions. Candidates require a first-class undergraduate qualification or a master's degree with distinction. - donor: Imperial College London - amount: Full tuition fees, GBP 27,036 annual stipend, and GBP 2,000 per year for consumables - deadline: 2026-11-02 - who: Individual, Higher Education Institutions (HEI), Research Institute or Organization (RnD) - geography: Ukraine and worldwide (no nationality restrictions) - Question: How many scholarships are available each year? Answer: Fifty scholarships are awarded each year across Imperial College London. - Question: What are the academic entry requirements? Answer: Applicants must have a first-class bachelor's or integrated master's degree or equivalent, or a master's degree with distinction. - Question: What is the duration of the scholarship funding? Answer: The scholarship supports 3.5 years of doctoral study. ## 7 startup grants and accelerators: up to USD 220,000 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/startup-grants-accelerators-autumn-2026/ - Deadline: roundup of several calls, see the text for dates - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-03 7 startup grants: EIT Food, EIC, FIERCE, Techstars, AI Entrepreneurs Lab and cloud credits. Deadlines from October 2026 to January 2027. ## 7 research grants and scholarships open until March 2027 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/research-grants-scholarships-autumn-2026/ - Deadline: roundup of several calls, see the text for dates - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-03 7 research grants: Fulbright, DAAD, BAYHOST, COST, ERC and two Horizon Europe calls. Deadlines from October 2026 to March 2027 ## Vlasna Sprava for young people aged 18-25: microgrant of up to UAH 150,000 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/vlasna-sprava-for-young-people-aged-18-25-microgrant-of-up-to-uah-150-000/ - Amount: up to UAH 150,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-03 The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine offers the Vlasna Sprava microgrant initiative for young individuals aged 18 to 25 to start a business. Eligible individuals, entrepreneurs, and start-ups can receive funding of up to UAH 150,000. The program is administered by the State Employment Service, with applications accepted on a rolling basis in waves through the Diia portal. - donor: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine - amount: up to UAH 150,000 - deadline: rolling basis, in waves - who: Individual, Entrepreneurs, Start-Up aged 18 to 25 - geography: Ukraine - Question: Who is eligible to apply for this grant? Answer: Individuals, entrepreneurs, and start-up founders aged 18 to 25 are eligible to apply. - Question: What is the maximum microgrant amount? Answer: Successful applicants can receive a microgrant of up to UAH 150,000. - Question: How are applications submitted? Answer: Applications are submitted through the Diia portal and are processed on a rolling basis in waves. ## Organisational development grants for CSOs: up to UAH 45,000 to build capacity URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/organisational-development-grants-for-csos-up-to-uah-45-000-to-build-capacity/ - Amount: up to UAH 45,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-12 - Funder: ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-03 ISAR Ednannia offers organisational development grants for Ukrainian civil society and charitable organisations under the Civil Society Home ecosystem. Funded by Norway and Sweden, the call supports capacity building, staff training, strategic planning, and expert consultancy services. Organisations must conduct a self-assessment and select certified service providers to implement their development plans. - donor: ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden - amount: up to UAH 45,000 - deadline: 12 October 2026 - who: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and charitable organisations - geography: Ukraine - Question: What activities can be funded under this grant? Answer: Grant funds cover organisational development services such as consultations, coaching, mentoring, training, facilitation, and external capacity assessments. - Question: What is the application deadline for the upcoming selection round? Answer: The nearest application intake closes on 12 October 2026, with the selection committee meeting scheduled for 21 October 2026. - Question: What preliminary steps are required before submitting a proposal? Answer: Applicants must register on the ISAR Ednannia platform, conduct an internal self-assessment to identify a high-priority area, and prepare an organisational development plan. ## Affordable Loans 5-7-9%: the state programme that cuts borrowing costs for business URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/affordable-loans-5-7-9-the-state-programme-that-cuts-borrowing-costs-for-business/ - Amount: 5-9% annual rate - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Entrepreneurship Development Fund - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-03 Affordable Loans 5-7-9% is a state financial support programme implemented by the Entrepreneurship Development Fund in Ukraine. Under this mechanism, eligible businesses receive loans from authorized partner banks while the state compensates part of the interest costs. Borrowers pay reduced annual rates of 5%, 7%, or 9%. This is a loan facility that requires repayment rather than a non-repayable grant. - donor: Entrepreneurship Development Fund - amount: 5-9% annual rate - deadline: Not specified - who: Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Entrepreneurs - geography: Ukraine - Question: Is the Affordable Loans 5-7-9% programme a grant? Answer: No, it is not a grant. Borrowers must repay the principal loan amount, but they benefit from below-market interest rates compensated by the state. - Question: What interest rate do participating businesses pay? Answer: Participating businesses pay an annual interest rate of 5%, 7%, or 9%, depending on the specific terms under the state programme. - Question: How is the loan programme delivered to entrepreneurs? Answer: The programme is implemented through participating authorized banks that partner with the Entrepreneurship Development Fund. ## Veteran business in Khmelnytskyi: the city reimburses 50% of the own contribution to an eRobota grant URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/veteran-business-in-khmelnytskyi-the-city-reimburses-50-of-the-own-contribution-to-an-erobota-grant/ - Amount: 50% of the own contribution - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Khmelnytskyi City Council, Department of Economy - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-03 Khmelnytskyi City Council offers a local financial reimbursement mechanism for combat veterans and their families who participate in the state eRobota grant programme. The municipal budget reimburses 50% of the mandatory co-financing share that recipients must invest in their business project. To receive the reimbursement, eligible participants must submit an application package to the Department of Economy of Khmelnytskyi City Council. - donor: Khmelnytskyi City Council, Department of Economy - amount: 50% of the own contribution - deadline: not specified - who: combat veterans, persons with disabilities resulting from war, and eligible family members registered as individuals or entrepreneurs who receive eRobota grants - geography: Ukraine (Khmelnytskyi) - Question: What cost does Khmelnytskyi City Council reimburse? Answer: The city council reimburses 50% of the participant's own contribution required under the state eRobota grant project. - Question: Who is eligible for this municipal support? Answer: Combat veterans, individuals with war-related disabilities, and eligible family members who receive funding via the state eRobota programme can apply. - Question: Where should applicants submit their documents? Answer: Applicants must submit their document package to the Department of Economy of the Khmelnytskyi City Council. ## Digital Booster4SME: voucher of up to UAH 35,000 to digitalise a small business URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/digital-booster4sme-voucher-of-up-to-uah-35-000-to-digitalise-a-small-business/ - Amount: up to UAH 35,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Kharkiv IT Cluster, funded by the UK Government (UK aid) - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-03 Kharkiv IT Cluster launched the Digital Booster4SME pilot project under the BLOOM programme funded by the UK Government through UK aid. The initiative provides 150 small and medium-sized enterprises in Kharkiv region with vouchers of up to UAH 35,000 alongside expert guidance to deploy digital solutions. Supported priorities include boosting sales, automating internal processes, and replacing Russian software with Ukrainian alternatives. - donor: Kharkiv IT Cluster, funded by the UK Government (UK aid) under the BLOOM programme - amount: up to UAH 35,000 - deadline: not specified - who: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Entrepreneurs - geography: Kharkiv region, Ukraine - Question: What financial support is offered under Digital Booster4SME? Answer: Participants receive a voucher of up to UAH 35,000 to implement a selected digital solution with a Ukrainian IT partner. - Question: Who is eligible to participate in the first wave? Answer: The first wave is open to 150 small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Kharkiv region. - Question: Which business needs can be addressed through the voucher? Answer: Vouchers can be used for sales and customer relationship tools, internal process automation, and replacing Russian software with Ukrainian digital products. ## Institutional support from the Ukrainian Youth Fund: up to UAH 1 million URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/institutional-support-from-the-ukrainian-youth-fund-up-to-uah-1-million/ - Amount: up to UAH 1,000,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Ukrainian Youth Fund - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-03 The Ukrainian Youth Fund offers an institutional support competition for all-Ukrainian youth and children's public associations. Eligible organizations can receive grant funding of up to UAH 1,000,000 to cover operational needs. The financial support focuses on strengthening organizational capacity, team expenses, and administration rather than single-event activities. - donor: Ukrainian Youth Fund - amount: up to UAH 1,000,000 - deadline: not specified - who: national youth and children's civic associations (NGOs) - geography: Ukraine - Question: What is the maximum grant amount available under this call? Answer: Eligible organizations can receive institutional support grants of up to UAH 1,000,000. - Question: Who is eligible to apply for this funding? Answer: The call is open to all-Ukrainian youth and children's civic associations (NGOs). - Question: What types of expenses does the institutional support cover? Answer: The grant funds the organization itself rather than a standalone event, covering administration, team costs, and organizational capacity building. ## 0% loan for power generation equipment for business URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/0-loan-for-power-generation-equipment-for-business/ - Amount: 0% annual rate on energy equipment - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Entrepreneurship Development Fund, Government of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-10-03 The Entrepreneurship Development Fund, in cooperation with the Government of Ukraine, provides a financial support programme for commercial energy resilience. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises can receive loans at a 0% annual interest rate to purchase power generation equipment. The initiative operates permanently through partner banks without a fixed application deadline. - donor: Entrepreneurship Development Fund, Government of Ukraine - amount: 0% annual rate on energy equipment - deadline: no deadline set (runs permanently) - who: Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Entrepreneurs, micro-businesses - geography: Ukraine - Question: Who is eligible for the 0% energy loan? Answer: The loan is available to Ukrainian micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises as well as entrepreneurs. - Question: What is the interest rate for the equipment loan? Answer: The programme provides loans at a 0% annual interest rate for power generation equipment. - Question: How can businesses apply for the programme? Answer: Applications are submitted directly through participating partner banks, with phone consultations available from the Entrepreneurship Development Fund. ## Minigrants of up to UAH 300,000 for human rights initiatives URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/minigrants-of-up-to-uah-300-000-for-human-rights-initiatives/ - Amount: up to UAH 300,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-20 - Funder: Kherson Human Rights House - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 Kherson Human Rights House announces the second wave of minigrants for human rights initiatives. Ukrainian registered non-profit civil society organizations can receive funding of up to UAH 300,000 for projects lasting 8 to 12 months. Supported activities include human rights education, community building, legal aid for vulnerable groups, and thematic research. The application deadline is October 20, 2026, at 15:00. - donor: Kherson Human Rights House - amount: up to UAH 300,000 - deadline: October 20, 2026, at 15:00 - who: registered non-profit Ukrainian civil society and charitable organizations - geography: Ukraine (Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts) - Question: Who is eligible to apply for this grant? Answer: Charitable organizations and public associations registered as non-profit legal entities in Ukraine are eligible, provided their legal address is not in temporarily occupied territories. - Question: What project activities are eligible for funding? Answer: Eligible activities include educational events, civic equality programs, public discussions, legal aid for vulnerable populations, community development around human rights, and relevant research. - Question: What is the expected project duration? Answer: Projects must have an implementation period of 8 to 12 months, with an estimated launch date in January 2027. ## INDEX Fellowship: EUR 1,300 a month for servicemembers documenting the war URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/index-fellowship-eur-1-300-a-month-for-servicemembers-documenting-the-war/ - Amount: EUR 1,300 per month - Deadline: 2026-11-01 - Funder: INDEX (Institute for Documentation and Exchange) - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The INDEX Fellowship provides non-residential support for active servicemembers of the Defense Forces of Ukraine who document wartime experiences. Selected fellows receive a monthly stipend of 1,300 euros for two months, along with remote mentorship, rehabilitation opportunities, and production assistance. The initiative is open to media professionals, creative practitioners, and researchers who continue their military service. Fellows are expected to produce a draft documentary work and an essay for the INDEX Narysy publication. - donor: INDEX (Institute for Documentation and Exchange), supported by IM Swedish Development Partner - amount: EUR 1,300 per month for two months, plus production, editorial, and rehabilitation support - deadline: October 12, 2026 - who: Active servicemembers of the Defense Forces of Ukraine from creative, media, or academic fields - geography: Ukraine - Question: Who is eligible to apply for this fellowship? Answer: Eligible applicants are active servicemembers of the Defense Forces of Ukraine who work as media specialists, creative professionals, or researchers in the humanities and social sciences. - Question: Does the programme require taking leave from military duties? Answer: No, the fellowship is entirely non-residential and conducted remotely, meaning it does not excuse participants from performing their official military duties. - Question: What deliverables are expected from the fellows? Answer: Fellows must prepare a draft of a new documentary work focused on the experience of the war against Ukraine, as well as an essay or column for the INDEX Narysy journal. ## Fulbright Research and Development Program 2027-2028: research at US universities URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/fulbright-research-and-development-program-2027-2028-research-at-us-universities/ - Amount: full funding - Deadline: 2026-11-01 - Funder: Fulbright Ukraine, Institute of International Education and the US Department of State - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The Fulbright Research and Development Program 2027-2028 provides full funding for Ukrainian researchers and scholars to conduct 6 to 9 months of research at US universities and research centers. The initiative is organized by Fulbright Ukraine, the US Department of State, and the Institute of International Education. The award includes a stipend, airfare, and insurance. Eligible applicants include Ukrainian citizens residing in Ukraine or displaced abroad after February 24, 2022. - donor: Fulbright Ukraine, Institute of International Education, US Department of State - amount: Full funding covering stipend, airfare, and insurance - deadline: 2026-11-01 - who: Higher Education Institutions, Research Institutes, individual researchers, lecturers, candidates and doctors of sciences, and specialists - geography: Ukraine (with research conducted in the United States) - Question: What expenses are covered by the program? Answer: The award provides full funding covering a stipend, round-trip flight, and health insurance for a duration of six to nine months. - Question: Who is eligible to participate in the research grant? Answer: Ukrainian candidates and doctors of sciences, university lecturers, researchers, and specialists residing in Ukraine or displaced after February 24, 2022, are eligible to apply. - Question: What is the application deadline? Answer: The application deadline for the 2027-2028 academic cycle is November 1, 2026. ## DAAD scholarships for 2027/2028: study and research in Germany URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/daad-scholarships-for-2027-2028-study-and-research-in-germany/ - Amount: scholarship and travel - Deadline: 2026-11-16 - Funder: DAAD, German Academic Exchange Service - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) office in Ukraine has announced 18 scholarship programmes for the 2027/2028 academic year. The opportunities support Ukrainian students, postgraduates, researchers, and lecturers undertaking study and research in Germany. Funding typically covers a monthly stipend, travel costs, and insurance, varying by specific programme. Each programme maintains its own timeline, with the earliest deadlines set for November 16, 2026. - donor: DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) - amount: Depends on programme; typically covers a monthly stipend, travel, and insurance - deadline: 2026-11-16 - who: Individuals, Higher Education Institutions, and Research Organisations (students, postgraduates, researchers, lecturers from Ukraine) - geography: Ukraine - Question: What support is provided by DAAD scholarships? Answer: The grant amount depends on the selected programme and generally includes a monthly scholarship stipend, travel allowance, and insurance. - Question: Who is eligible to apply? Answer: Eligible applicants include students, postgraduates, researchers, and university lecturers from Ukraine, subject to the conditions of each specific programme. - Question: What is the application deadline? Answer: Deadlines vary across the 18 available programmes, with the earliest deadlines scheduled for November 16, 2026. ## EIT Food Proof of Concept: up to EUR 60,000 to test agrifood innovation URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/eit-food-proof-of-concept-up-to-eur-60-000-to-test-agrifood-innovation/ - Amount: up to EUR 60,000 - Deadline: 2026-11-30 - Funder: EIT Food (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: research institutions, SMEs, startups - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 EIT Food provides the Proof-of-Concept Co-Financing Instrument to financially de-risk collaborations between agrifood innovators and corporate clients. The mechanism funds proof-of-concept activities and small-scale pilot tests with total project budgets below €100,000. Eligible participants include startups, SMEs, and research organisations from Horizon Europe countries, including Ukraine. The instrument provides up to €60,000 in co-financing to test innovative solutions in real-world commercial conditions. - donor: EIT Food - amount: up to €60,000 co-financing - deadline: 2026-11-30 - who: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Start-Ups, and Research Institutes or Organizations - geography: Ukraine and Horizon Europe participating countries - Question: What activities are eligible for funding? Answer: Eligible projects focus on proof-of-concept and small-scale pilot activities with a corporate partner, including sample creation, field trials, property tests, functionality tests, and efficiency assessments. - Question: Do collaborations with universities or research organisations qualify? Answer: No, the call strictly requires collaboration with a corporate partner that exceeds the European Commission SME definition in size, rather than a university or research and technology organisation. - Question: Is there an equity or repayment requirement for startups? Answer: No, the startup is the sole beneficiary of a sub-grant, and there is no requirement for equity commitment, repayment, or startup co-funding. ## 25% compensation for Ukrainian machinery, up to 40% for frontline farms URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/25-compensation-for-ukrainian-machinery-up-to-40-for-frontline-farms/ - Amount: 25-40% of machinery cost - Deadline: 2026-12-10 - Funder: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The Ministry of Economy under the Made in Ukraine programme provides 25% compensation for purchasing Ukrainian-made agricultural machinery, rising to 40% for farms with over 80% of their land in combat zones. Buyers can receive up to 86 million UAH in 2026, with an unlimited number of applications allowed per year. Eligible applicants are agricultural producers registered in the State Agrarian Register with farming revenue representing at least 75% of income and having no tax debts or sanctions. - donor: Ministry of Economy under the Made in Ukraine programme - amount: 25% compensation, 40% for frontline farms; up to 86 million UAH per buyer - deadline: 2026-12-10 - who: Small and medium enterprises, entrepreneurs registered in the State Agrarian Register with agricultural products comprising at least 75% of income - geography: Ukraine - Question: What compensation rates are available under this programme? Answer: The programme covers 25% of the machinery cost, and up to 40% for farms where more than 80% of land is located in combat zones. - Question: Who is eligible to apply for machinery compensation? Answer: Eligible applicants are enterprises registered in the State Agrarian Register whose agricultural products account for at least 75% of income, without tax arrears or sanctions. - Question: What are the application deadlines? Answer: Applications for machinery purchased during the year must be submitted by December 10, 2026, while purchases made between December 10 and December 31 can be submitted until April 1 of the following year. ## BAYHOST: EUR 992 a month for a master’s degree or research in Bavaria URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/bayhost-eur-992-a-month-for-a-masters-degree-or-research-in-bavaria/ - Amount: EUR 992 per month - Deadline: 2026-12-01 - Funder: BAYHOST, Government of Bavaria - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: universities, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The Free State of Bavaria and BAYHOST offer one-year scholarships for graduates from Ukraine and other Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European countries for the 2027/28 academic year. The funding is intended for postgraduate studies, including master's programs, PhDs, or one-year research stays at state or state-funded higher education institutions in Bavaria. Monthly allowances provide €992, with an increased rate of €1,152 for scholars with at least one child. Applications must be completed online via the StipSys platform before the deadline. - donor: Free State of Bavaria, BAYHOST - amount: €992 per month (€11,904 per year), or €1,152 per month (€13,824 per year) for students with at least one child - deadline: December 1, 2026 for first-time applications; February 28, 2027 for extension applications - who: Graduates with citizenship from Ukraine and specified Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European states - geography: Bavaria, Germany; Ukraine and eligible CESEE countries - Question: What types of academic programs does the BAYHOST scholarship cover? Answer: The scholarship finances postgraduate master's programs, doctoral studies (PhDs), or one-year research stays at state or state-funded higher education institutions in Bavaria. - Question: Can the one-year scholarship be extended? Answer: Yes, the one-year scholarship can generally be extended twice for a total duration of up to 3 years. - Question: How must applications be submitted? Answer: Applications must be submitted fully online through the StipSys-form before the closing date. Late or incomplete applications are not considered. ## Grant for veterans and their families: UAH 250,000 to 1 million for business URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/grant-for-veterans-and-their-families-uah-250-000-to-1-million-for-business/ - Amount: UAH 250,000 - 1,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-12-31 - Funder: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The Ministry of Economy together with the State Employment Service offers business grants ranging from UAH 250,000 to 1,000,000, covering up to 70 percent of project costs. Eligible applicants include veterans, their family members, and relatives of individuals killed or missing due to the war. Selection is based on business plan evaluation, reputation screening, and an interview. Beneficiaries must create designated jobs, operate the business for at least three years, and pay taxes. - donor: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine - amount: UAH 250,000 to 1,000,000 (up to 70% of project costs) - deadline: 2026-12-31 - who: Individuals, entrepreneurs, and SMEs (veterans and their families) - geography: Ukraine - Question: Who is eligible to apply for this business grant? Answer: Eligible applicants include military veterans, their family members, and family members of those killed or missing due to the war. - Question: What is the funding amount available per project? Answer: Funding ranges from UAH 250,000 to UAH 1,000,000, covering up to 70 percent of the project cost. - Question: What obligations must grant recipients fulfill? Answer: Recipients must create jobs corresponding to the grant category, operate the business for at least three years, and pay taxes. ## Training voucher of up to UAH 33,280: the state pays for a new profession URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/training-voucher-of-up-to-uah-33-280-the-state-pays-for-a-new-profession/ - Amount: up to UAH 33,280 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: State Employment Service of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The State Employment Service of Ukraine provides training vouchers of up to UAH 33,280 to cover vocational education, retraining, or skill advancement. Eligible recipients include veterans, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and individuals over 45 years old. The state pays tuition within the established limit, while the applicant pays any difference exceeding this amount. Application processing takes up to three working days, and applications are accepted continuously. - donor: State Employment Service of Ukraine - amount: up to UAH 33,280 (maximum limit for 2026) - deadline: ongoing - who: Individual (veterans, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, individuals over 45) - geography: Ukraine - Question: What training costs are covered by the voucher? Answer: The voucher covers vocational training, retraining, or qualification enhancement for professions and specialties approved by the employment service, up to UAH 33,280. - Question: Who pays if the training cost exceeds the voucher amount? Answer: The applicant pays the difference exceeding the maximum voucher amount independently. - Question: How long does it take to process an application? Answer: Application processing takes up to 3 working days. ## Hotuisia!: up to UAH 1 million for civil society organisations URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/hotuisia-up-to-uah-1-million-for-civil-society-organisations/ - Amount: up to UAH 1,000,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Askold and Dir Fund, administered by ISAR Ednannia - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The Hotuisia! grant call is implemented by the Askold and Dir Fund under the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine project operated by ISAR Ednannia with funding from Norway and Sweden. The call aims to strengthen the operational, coordination, and institutional capacity of civil society organisations responding to emergency situations caused by attacks on energy and heating infrastructure. Funding supports emergency service delivery, communication, coordination, and operational continuity rather than direct humanitarian aid distributions. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the grant pool is exhausted. - donor: Askold and Dir Fund, operated by ISAR Ednannia (funded by Norway and Sweden) - amount: up to UAH 1,000,000 (typically UAH 400,000 - 600,000) - deadline: rolling basis (until funds are exhausted) - who: officially registered Ukrainian non-profit civil society and charitable organizations (codes 0032, 0036, 0038, 0039) - geography: Ukraine (government-controlled areas) - Question: What is the primary objective of the Hotuisia! grant competition? Answer: The competition aims to strengthen the program, coordination, and institutional capacity of civil society organizations to respond to wartime emergencies, power outages, and winter crises while supporting community recovery. - Question: Can grant funds be used to purchase and distribute humanitarian aid? Answer: No, the direct purchase and delivery of food, clothing, medicine, or direct material assistance to households is explicitly excluded from this grant call. - Question: How can eligible organizations submit their project proposals? Answer: Proposals must be submitted electronically via the ISAR Ednannia website through an organization profile in the personal user account. ## GreenDIM: up to UAH 4 million for solar plants and heat pumps URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/greendim-up-to-uah-4-million-for-solar-plants-and-heat-pumps/ - Amount: up to UAH 4,000,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Energy Efficiency Fund - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The Energy Efficiency Fund provides equipment cost reimbursement under the GreenDIM program in Ukraine. Homeowners associations and housing cooperatives can receive up to 70 percent compensation for solar power plants, energy storage units, and heat pumps, as well as 50 percent for generators. Financial support covers up to UAH 4 million depending on the installed equipment. Applications are submitted electronically and processed on an ongoing basis with a review time of up to five days. - donor: Energy Efficiency Fund - amount: up to 70% equipment cost reimbursement: up to UAH 4 million for solar plants or storage systems, up to UAH 2 million for heat pumps, and 50% up to UAH 1 million for generators - deadline: ongoing - who: officially registered Condominium Associations (OSBB) and Housing Construction Cooperatives (ZHBK) with an account in a partner bank - geography: Ukraine - Question: Who is eligible to apply for the GreenDIM program? Answer: Eligible applicants are legally registered condominium associations (OSBB) and housing construction cooperatives (ZHBK) in Ukraine that hold an account in a partner bank of the Fund. - Question: What types of equipment are eligible for compensation? Answer: The program reimburses solar power stations or energy storage systems up to UAH 4 million (70%), heat pumps up to UAH 2 million (70%), and generators up to UAH 1 million (50%). - Question: How long does it take for the Fund to approve an application? Answer: The Energy Efficiency Fund reviews the application package within up to 5 days. ## eRobota: grant of up to UAH 16M for processing production URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/erobota-grant-of-up-to-uah-16m-for-processing-production/ - Amount: up to UAH 16,000,000 - Deadline: 2027-02-26 - Funder: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine offers eRobota grants of up to UAH 16 million for the creation and development of processing industry production. Funding covers up to UAH 16 million to restore equipment damaged by Russian aggression or up to UAH 8 million subject to creating at least five jobs. Standard co-financing requires 50% from the applicant, with preferential rates of 80/20 for de-occupied or combat zones and 70/30 when buying Ukrainian-made equipment. - donor: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine - amount: up to UAH 16,000,000 - deadline: 2027-02-26 - who: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Entrepreneurs - geography: Ukraine - Question: What can the grant funds be spent on? Answer: Grant funds can cover purchasing, delivering, and commissioning production equipment and machinery, as well as working capital replenishment for businesses with NACE code 30.30. - Question: What are the key obligations for grant recipients? Answer: Recipients must create at least 5 jobs, operate the business for a minimum of 3 years, and pay required taxes to the budget. - Question: How does co-financing work under this call? Answer: The general rate is 50% grant and 50% own funds. An 80/20 ratio applies to combat or de-occupied areas, specific NACE codes, or damaged asset restoration, while 70/30 applies when purchasing Ukrainian-manufactured equipment. ## EIT Food Seedbed: up to EUR 30,000 for agrifood startups URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/eit-food-seedbed-up-to-eur-30-000-for-agrifood-startups/ - Amount: up to EUR 30,000 - Deadline: 2027-01-27 - Funder: EIT Food (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The EIT Food Seedbed Venture Catalyst programme provides up to EUR 30,000 in financial support along with an acceleration programme for early-stage agrifood startups. The funding is intended to help founders overcome barriers such as novel ingredient batch testing, IP security, contract negotiations, or equipment purchases. Eligible candidates include startup teams and researchers from Horizon Europe countries, including Ukraine, connected to the seven Venture Catalyst partners. Applications must be submitted through the EIT Food portal before the deadline on 27 January 2027. - donor: EIT Food - amount: up to EUR 30,000 plus acceleration programme - deadline: 27 January 2027 - who: Startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs linked to the seven Venture Catalyst partners - geography: Ukraine, EU countries, and Horizon Europe participating countries - Question: What is the available funding amount for participants? Answer: Selected teams can receive up to EUR 30,000 alongside an acceleration programme with mentorship and customer business model validation. - Question: What activities can be funded under this call? Answer: Eligible uses include producing test batches of novel ingredients, negotiating contracts, securing IP, hiring or paying co-founders, and purchasing equipment for test lab facilities. - Question: Which partners must startup teams be affiliated with to qualify? Answer: Only startup teams created by the seven Venture Catalyst partners are eligible: Carbon13, Enviu, FOOD FOUNDERS, Fresh Ventures, Ivoro, Kost Studio, and Zinc. ## SvitloDIM: up to UAH 300,000 for backup power in apartment buildings URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/svitlodim-up-to-uah-300-000-for-backup-power-in-apartment-buildings/ - Amount: UAH 100,000 - 300,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The SvitloDIM government program provides partial financial compensation from the state budget to make apartment buildings resilient against power outages. The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine and Diia administer the initiative, offering between UAH 100,000 and UAH 300,000 depending on the building's height and specifications. Eligible entities can use the funds to purchase generators, inverters, batteries, solar panels, and battery management units. Approved funding is transferred within 48 hours following the decision. - donor: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine - amount: UAH 100,000 - UAH 300,000 depending on building floor count and specifications - deadline: open during the energy state of emergency (by decision of TEB and NS) - who: Homeowners associations (OSBB), building managers, housing and construction cooperatives - geography: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kyiv Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine - Question: How is the funding amount determined under SvitloDIM? Answer: Buildings up to 6 floors receive UAH 100,000, buildings with 7 to 16 floors receive UAH 200,000, and buildings with 17 or more floors receive UAH 300,000. The UAH 300,000 amount also applies to buildings with integrated or rooftop boiler rooms, as well as buildings from 4 to 16 floors with 3 or more entrances. - Question: What equipment can be purchased with the grant funds? Answer: Beneficiaries can acquire gasoline, diesel, or gas generators, inverters, batteries, solar panels, and high-voltage battery control units. - Question: What reporting is required after purchasing the equipment? Answer: A brief report on the purchased equipment must be submitted via the Diia application within 30 working days after procurement. ## MSMEs: a grant of up to EUR 30,000 alongside an investment loan URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/msmes-a-grant-of-up-to-eur-30-000-alongside-an-investment-loan/ - Amount: up to EUR 30,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: GIZ, German Sparkassenstiftung and the Entrepreneurship Development Fund - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-26 The Access to Finance and Resilience Support for MSMEs in Ukraine program offers grant funding alongside bank investment loans. Funded by the German Government via GIZ, DSIK, and the Business Development Fund, it covers up to 20% of an investment project for standard enterprises and up to 30% for relocated businesses. Grants are disbursed in Ukrainian Hryvnia through partner banks Oschadbank and Bank Lviv after verification of project implementation. - donor: GIZ, German Sparkassenstiftung (DSIK), and Business Development Fund (BDF) - amount: 20% of investment project up to €20,000; 30% up to €30,000 for relocated MSMEs (maximum project sum €240,000 without VAT) - deadline: not specified - who: micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises registered as legal entities - geography: Ukraine - Question: Can sole proprietors (FOP) apply for this grant? Answer: No, at this stage of the program, grant support is provided exclusively to legal entities. - Question: Which banks participate in the program? Answer: Enterprises can apply and secure investment loans through partner banks JSC Oschadbank and JSC JSB Lviv. - Question: What additional non-financial support is available? Answer: Participants can access professional management consulting from CMC-Ukraine and advisory sessions on financing options from DSIK experts. ## Protection Grants: up to EUR 7,500 for defenders at risk URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/protection-grants-up-to-eur-7-500-for-defenders-at-risk/ - Amount: Up to EUR 7,500 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Front Line Defenders - Who can apply: NGOs, individuals, other - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-22 Front Line Defenders supports human rights defenders at risk. Protection Grants: ongoing intake, no country restrictions. ## Incident Response Fund: up to $5,000 within two weeks URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/digital-defenders-incident-response-fund/ - Amount: Up to USD 5,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Digital Defenders Partnership - Who can apply: NGOs, individuals, other - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-22 Incident Response Fund: A rapid response fund for digital attacks. Legal registration not required, response within 14 days. ## House of Europe: up to EUR 4,000 for a personal project URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/house-of-europe-individual-project-grants/ - Amount: EUR 1,000 to 4,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: House of Europe - Who can apply: NGOs, communities, other - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-22 Grants for personal projects featuring the EU or UK. For culture, education, media and social entrepreneurship. ## Horizon Europe: EUR 4.5m for geothermal assessment URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/horizon-cl5-2026-11-d3-06-geothermal-assessment/ - Amount: Around EUR 4.5 million per project, topic budget EUR 18 million - Deadline: 2026-12-01 - Funder: Horizon Europe - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, NGOs, SMEs, public authorities and municipalities, communities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-22 Horizon Europe: EUR 4.5m for geothermal assessment, deadline 1 December. RIA action, up to 4 projects, Ukraine applies on equal terms. ## NSF astronomy grants: what is open to Ukraine URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/nsf-astronomy-astrophysics-research-grants/ - Deadline: 2026-11-16 - Funder: NSF - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-22 Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants, window to 16 November. U.S. applicants only, Ukrainians as collaborators. ## “DOVIRA” Project: grants to support veteran businesses in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/dovira-project-grants-to-support-veteran-businesses-in-kherson-and-mykolaiv-oblasts/ - Amount: up to 216 000 UAH - Deadline: 2026-10-15 - Funder: People in Need - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 The DOVIRA project, organized by People in Need with financial support from the United States government, provides microgrants to support veteran-led micro and small enterprises. Funding aims to enhance the economic capacity and resilience of war-affected communities in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts by restoring and developing businesses. Eligible applicants include veterans discharged after February 24, 2022, their family members, and relatives of deceased or missing defenders. - donor: People in Need with financial support from the United States Government - amount: up to 216,000 UAH - deadline: 2026-10-15 - who: micro and small businesses led by veterans discharged after February 24, 2022, their family members, or families of deceased/missing defenders - geography: Ukraine (Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts, excluding specified high-risk communities) - Question: Who is eligible to apply for the grant? Answer: Eligible applicants are micro and small enterprises led by veterans discharged from military service after February 24, 2022, their family members (spouses, adult children, parents), and family members of deceased or missing defenders. - Question: What is the maximum grant amount available? Answer: Applicants can receive up to 216,000 UAH depending on the submitted application and financial plan. - Question: Which locations are covered by the project? Answer: The project covers Mykolaiv Oblast (excluding Ochakiv, Kutsurub, and parts of Halitsynove communities) and specific communities in Kherson Oblast, including Muzykivka, Kochubeivka, Velyka Oleksandrivka, Vysokopillia, and Kalynivske. ## eRobota: Own Business – Starting a Business up to UAH 500,000 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/ierobota-own-business-starting-a-business-up-to-uah-500-000/ - Amount: 100 000 – 500 000 UAH - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine offers non-repayable grants under the eRobota initiative for the creation and development of micro and small businesses. Funding ranges from 100,000 to 500,000 UAH, covering up to 100 percent of eligible project costs across various sectors. Applicants must submit a business plan via the Diia portal and commit to creating new jobs. - donor: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine - amount: 100,000 - 500,000 UAH (up to 100% funding) - deadline: not specified - who: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Start-Ups, Entrepreneurs, Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older - geography: Ukraine - Question: What is the funding amount available under this program? Answer: Grants provide between 100,000 and 500,000 UAH, covering up to 100 percent of funding. - Question: Who is eligible to apply for the grant? Answer: Eligible applicants are Ukrainian citizens aged 18 or older registered as individual entrepreneurs or legal entities who complete free online training. - Question: What is the primary requirement for grant recipients? Answer: The grant recipient is required to create at least one new job. ## Advanced materials: a call on critical raw material substitution URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/advanced-materials-a-call-on-critical-raw-material-substitution/ - Amount: €6,000,000 – €7,500,000 - Deadline: 2027-02-02 - Funder: Horizon Europe - Country: EU - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, SMEs - Status: upcoming - Updated: 2026-09-18 A Horizon Europe call on critical raw material substitution: EUR 6-7.5m per project, roughly 6 grants. Ukraine is eligible. ## Excellence Hubs: a WIDERA call for Widening countries URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/excellence-hubs-a-widera-call-for-widening-countries/ - Amount: €1,500,000 – €4,500,000 - Deadline: 2027-03-04 - Funder: Horizon Europe - Country: EU - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, SMEs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-18 A WIDERA call for Widening countries, Ukraine included. Open since 2 September, six months to build a quadruple-helix consortium. ## Gaude Polonia 2026: PLN 5,000 a month for artists URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/gaude-polonia-2026-pln-5-000-a-month-for-artists/ - Amount: PLN 5,000 per month - Deadline: 2026-10-15 - Funder: Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland - Country: Poland - Who can apply: individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-18 A Polish Minister of Culture scholarship: six months in Poland, deadline 15 October. An individual applies, with no partner needed. ## AI Entrepreneurs Lab URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/ai-entrepreneurs-lab-2/ - Amount: up to €10 000 - Deadline: 2026-10-21 - Funder: EIT Community AI & Robotics - Country: European Union - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 The AI Entrepreneurs Lab is an intensive five-day bootcamp operated under the EIT Community AI & Robotics for early-stage AI and robotics talent. Selected participants travel across Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam to validate their venture concepts with real customers, founders, and investors. Up to five prizes of €10,000 are awarded to winning teams at Demo Day based on evidence and venture progress. - donor: EIT Community AI & Robotics - amount: up to €10,000 - deadline: 2026-10-21 - who: Start-Up, Entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Individual - geography: European Union - Question: Who is eligible to apply for the bootcamp? Answer: Master's and PhD students and graduates with strong AI or robotics ideas can apply individually or in teams of up to two, whether holding an early concept or a pre-launch startup. - Question: What is the structure of the bootcamp? Answer: The five-day in-person programme runs across Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam from 9 to 13 November 2026, concluding with a Demo Day. - Question: What application materials are required? Answer: Applicants must submit an application form through the platform, one CV per team member, and a short, creative presentation of their idea. ## Techstars London Accelerator URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/techstars-london-accelerator-2/ - Amount: up to $220 000 - Deadline: 2026-11-18 - Funder: Techstars - Country: United States - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-20 The Techstars London Accelerator supports early-stage technology startups across all verticals with up to $220,000 in funding and intensive mentorship. The three-month program connects founders with investors, specialized expertise, and talent in the London ecosystem. Eligible applicants must be teams of at least two founders with an early-stage product showing initial user demand and readiness to join the program in London. The final deadline to apply is November 18, 2026. - donor: Techstars - amount: up to $220,000 - deadline: 2026-11-18 - who: Early-stage technology startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs with at least two co-founders - geography: United States, London, and global founders - Question: What is the funding amount for the accelerator? Answer: Selected startups receive up to $220,000 in support and capital. - Question: What are the eligibility criteria for applicants? Answer: Applicants must be early-stage technology startups with at least two co-founders, verified market demand or initial users, and readiness to participate in London. - Question: What are the key dates for the accelerator program? Answer: Applications close on November 18, 2026, the accelerator officially starts on March 8, 2027, and Demo Day takes place on June 3, 2027. ## Visualise 2026: up to UAH 1.5m for exhibitions abroad URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/visualise-2026-up-to-uah-1-5m-for-exhibitions-abroad/ - Amount: up to UAH 1,500,000 - Deadline: 2026-11-01 - Funder: Ukrainian Institute - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs, SMEs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-17 The Ukrainian Institute supports exhibition projects abroad. Deadline 1 November, with a foreign institutional partner required. ## eRobota: Grant for Veterans and Their Family Members up to UAH 1,000,000 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/ierobota-grant-for-veterans-and-their-family-members-up-to-uah-1-000-000/ - Amount: up to 1 000 000 UAH - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 The eRobota grant initiative supports veteran businesses, microbusinesses, and small enterprises in Ukraine. Eligible participants include war veterans, combatants, individuals with disabilities due to war, and their family members who are registered as individual entrepreneurs or legal entities. The program offers funding up to 1,000,000 UAH, requiring an own contribution of at least 30%. The grant call is administered by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. - donor: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine - amount: up to UAH 1,000,000 (with at least 30% own contribution) - deadline: not specified - who: War veterans, combatants, persons with disabilities due to war, and their family members (individual entrepreneurs or SMEs) - geography: Ukraine - Question: Who is eligible to apply for this funding? Answer: Eligible applicants include war veterans, combatants, persons with disabilities due to war, spouses, parents, adult children of veterans, and family members of fallen defenders registered as individual entrepreneurs or legal entities. - Question: What is the maximum grant amount and co-funding requirement? Answer: Funding is available up to 1,000,000 UAH, with a mandatory applicant contribution of at least 30%. - Question: Which organization administers this grant program? Answer: The grant is managed by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. ## Prize of up to €50,000 for young female founders of innovative companies URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/prize-of-up-to-e50-000-for-young-female-founders-of-innovative-companies/ - Amount: up to €50 000 - Deadline: 2026-12-01 - Funder: European Innovation Council (EIC) - Country: European Union - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 The European Innovation Council provides a prize of up to €50,000 to recognize young female founders of innovative businesses. Eligible applicants must be women aged up to 35 who are founders or co-founders of companies registered in the EU or a Horizon Europe country. The prize targets innovations that have demonstrated proven market impact. Submissions must be completed in English through the EU Funding & Tenders portal by December 1, 2026. - donor: European Innovation Council (EIC) - amount: up to €50,000 (up to 100% funding) - deadline: 2026-12-01 - who: Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Start-Up, Entrepreneurs (women founders up to 35 years of age) - geography: European Union and Horizon Europe countries (including Ukraine) - Question: Who is eligible to apply for this prize? Answer: Applicants must be women founders or co-founders aged up to 35 years at application time, leading a company registered in the EU or a Horizon Europe country with an innovation showing market impact. - Question: What is the funding amount offered? Answer: The program provides a prize of up to €50,000, offering up to 100% funding. - Question: What documents are required to apply? Answer: Applicants must submit an application in English on the EU Funding & Tenders portal with a description of the innovation and its impact, proof of the founder role, a CV, and proof of age. ## Compensation of up to 100% of the single social contribution for employing the unemployed URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/compensation-of-up-to-100-of-the-single-social-contribution-for-employing-the-unemployed/ - Amount: up to 100% of the unified social contribution - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: State Employment Service of Ukraine - Country: Not applied - Who can apply: SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 The State Employment Service of Ukraine offers compensation of up to 100% of the Unified Social Contribution to eligible businesses. This support is directed at micro, small, and medium enterprises in the service and manufacturing sectors that create new jobs. To qualify, employers must hire registered unemployed individuals and maintain no debt on unified social contribution payments. - donor: State Employment Service of Ukraine Ukraine - amount: up to 100% of the Unified Social Contribution (unified social contribution) - deadline: not specified - who: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Entrepreneurs - geography: Ukraine - Question: What expenses are covered under this program? Answer: The program covers up to 100% of the Unified Social Contribution for employers who hire registered unemployed individuals. - Question: Who is eligible to receive this support? Answer: Small business entities and entrepreneurs in the service and manufacturing sectors who create new jobs and have no debt on unified social contribution payments are eligible. - Question: How can an employer apply for the compensation? Answer: Employers must submit an application to the employment center along with an agreement with the center, hiring orders, and reporting on unified social contribution payments. ## D-Prize: grant up to $20,000 for scaling existing solutions for social projects URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/d-prize-grant-up-to-20-000-for-scaling-existing-solutions-for-social-projects/ - Amount: up to $20 000 - Deadline: 2026-11-15 - Funder: D-Prize - Country: United States - Who can apply: SMEs, startups - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 D-Prize funds new organizations and early-stage teams aiming to distribute proven poverty solutions. The grant provides up to $20,000 to launch pilot initiatives that connect underserved populations with high-impact interventions. Eligible models can span various sectors, including health, education, and agriculture, with the potential to scale to thousands or millions of beneficiaries. - donor: D-Prize - amount: up to $20,000 (up to 100% funding) - deadline: 2026-11-15 - who: Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Start-Up, early-stage teams, and entrepreneurs - geography: United States - Question: What types of organizations are eligible for the D-Prize grant? Answer: The grant is open to new organizations, early-stage teams, startups, and small to medium enterprises with a model for distributing proven poverty solutions. - Question: What is the maximum funding amount available? Answer: Applicants can receive up to $20,000, covering up to 100% of the funding needed to launch and run a pilot. - Question: How can applicants submit their proposals? Answer: Applications must be prepared in English and submitted through the D-Prize online platform. ## Fueling Circularity and Green Business with Space Data – FIERCE 2nd Open Call for Financial Support URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/fueling-circularity-and-green-business-with-space-data-fierce-2nd-open-call-for-financial-support-2/ - Amount: up to €50 000 - Deadline: 2026-11-09 - Funder: FIERCE (Horizon Europe) - Country: European Union - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 The FIERCE project, funded under Horizon Europe, has launched its 2nd Open Call for Financial Support titled Fueling Circularity and Green Business with Space Data. The call provides lump-sum vouchers up to 50,000 euros to finance specialized services from External Service Providers across ideation, scale-up, and commercialisation pathways. Eligible applicants include self-employed individuals and SMEs legally registered in EU Member States, OCTs, or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Selected beneficiaries join a structured six-month support programme starting in February 2027 to deploy space-enabled environmental solutions. - donor: FIERCE (Horizon Europe) - amount: Up to €50,000 - deadline: 2026-11-09 (17:00 Brussels Time) - who: Self-employed individuals, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (fewer than 250 employees, turnover up to €50M) - geography: EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT), and Horizon Europe Associated Countries (including Ukraine and Switzerland) - Question: What types of activities are supported by the vouchers? Answer: The vouchers fund external services covering technical services such as feasibility studies and pilot testing, business services, social and environmental services including Life Cycle Assessment, and funding readiness services. - Question: What are the funding pathways available under this call? Answer: Applicants can apply under three pathways: Ideation Projects up to 25,000 euros, Scale-Up Projects up to 50,000 euros, or Commercialisation Projects up to 25,000 euros. - Question: What space technologies must be used in the projects? Answer: Proposals must demonstrate the potential to leverage downstream space data, such as Earth Observation, remote sensing, or satellite navigation, to advance green and circular solutions. ## CERV-DAPHNE 2026: up to EUR 2.5m, deadline 3 November URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/cerv-daphne-2026-up-to-eur-2-5m-deadline-3-november/ - Amount: up to €2,500,000 - Deadline: 2026-11-03 - Funder: European Commission, CERV - Country: EU - Who can apply: NGOs, public authorities and municipalities, universities, research institutions - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-11 EU call CERV against gender-based violence and violence against children: 5 priorities, EUR 21 million, Ukraine is eligible. ## Cloud credits for startups 2026: AWS, Google, Microsoft and Cloudflare compared URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/cloud-credits-startups-2026/ - Amount: $1,000 – $350,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Cloudflare - Country: USA - Who can apply: startups, SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 Cloud credits for startups 2026: AWS, Google, Microsoft and Cloudflare compared, plus who qualifies without investors, how to stack ~$18k. ## EIC Accelerator 2026: €2.5M grants, last cut-off 4 November URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/eic-accelerator-2026/ - Amount: up to €2,500,000 - Deadline: 2026-11-04 - Funder: European Innovation Council (EIC) - Country: EU - Who can apply: SMEs, startups - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-08 EIC Accelerator 2026: up to €2.5M grant plus €10M equity for deep-tech SMEs. Cut-offs, 2026 Challenges, Ukrainian eligibility. ## German grants for Ukraine: what changed by September 2026 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/german-grants-ukraine-autumn-2026/ - Amount: up to €250,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: DAAD, DFG, Humboldt Foundation, Engagement Global - Country: Germany - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, individuals, NGOs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-08 German grants for Ukraine, autumn 2026: DFG's window closed, Humboldt reopens 15 November, Böll's next round in January. Verified dates. ## Cloudflare for Startups: up to $350,000 in credits for tech startups URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/cloudflare-for-startups-up-to-350-000-in-credits-for-tech-startups/ - Amount: $10,000 – $350,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Cloudflare - Country: USA - Who can apply: startups, SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-08 Cloudflare for Startups gives early-stage companies $10,000–$350,000 in platform credits for one year: tiers, eligibility and how to apply in 2026. ## COST Open Call 2026: two network composition rules URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/cost-open-call-2026-two-network-composition-rules/ - Amount: ≈€690,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-28 - Funder: COST - Country: EU - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-08-31 New for COST: 40% of proposers must be under 40. Plus 50% from ITC countries, Ukraine included. Deadline 28 October, up to 80 Actions. ## Veteran Business Grants in Ukraine 2026: The Complete Guide URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/veteran-business-grants-ukraine-2026/ - Amount: 20,000–2,500,000 UAH - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, State Employment Service of Ukraine, Ukrainian Veterans Fund - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: individuals, SMEs, startups - Status: open - Updated: 2026-08-28 Veteran business grants in Ukraine 2026: five grant providers, up to UAH 2.5m, spending limits, refusal grounds and business plan advice. - Amount: 20,000–2,500,000 UAH - Funder: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, State Employment Service of Ukraine, Ukrainian Veterans Fund - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: Individuals, SMEs, Startups - Status: Open - Question: Can a veteran and their spouse apply separately? Answer: Yes. Family members may submit separate applications, provided it is the spouse rather than any relative. They also take on the job creation obligation. - Question: Can a state grant be combined with a donor programme? Answer: Yes, provided they do not finance the same cost line. A state grant for equipment plus mentoring or training support from international partners is a common and permitted combination. - Question: Does the grant have to be repaid? Answer: Under normal conditions no, it is non-repayable aid. Repayment is required for misuse of funds, failure to meet contract conditions including job creation, and, for veteran entrepreneurship entities, if the status is revoked or terminated. - Question: Can you reapply after a refusal? Answer: Yes, with no cap on attempts. The most effective approach is to establish the reason for refusal and fix precisely that. - Question: Is sole trader registration required before applying? Answer: The veteran grant accepts a sole trader or an individual who only plans to open a business. Requirements are stricter for some UVF competitions and for legal entities, including a registration age of at least one year. - Question: How long does the whole process take? Answer: In the state programme, several weeks pass from application to decision, of which 10 to 15 days follow the interview. UVF competitions and Traiektoriia run longer because of expert scoring or the training stage. ## Innovate Cities & Infrastructure: ETH Zurich Grants Open to Ukrainian Partners URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/innovate-cities-infrastructure-eth-zurich-2026/ - Amount: up to CHF 350,000 - Deadline: 2026-11-15 - Funder: ETH Zurich, ETH4D, SECO - Country: Ukraine, Switzerland - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, NGOs, SMEs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-08-28 ETH Zurich and SECO open Innovate Cities & Infrastructure: up to CHF 350,000, deadline 15 November 2026. How Ukrainian organisations join a consortium. - Amount: up to CHF 350,000 - Deadline: 2026-11-15 - Funder: ETH Zurich, ETH4D, SECO - Country: Ukraine, Switzerland - Eligible applicants: Higher education institutions, Research institutions, NGOs, SMEs, Public authorities - Status: Open ## REMARKET: cash-back grants up to CHF 10,000 for business URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/remarket-cashback-grants-ukrainian-business-2026/ - Amount: up to CHF 10,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: SDC, If Foundation, Caritas Switzerland - Country: Ukraine, Switzerland - Who can apply: SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-08-25 REMARKET compensates up to 10% of an investment loan, capped at CHF 10,000. Conditions, sectors, partner bank and how to apply in 2026. - Amount: up to CHF 10,000 - Funder: SDC, If Foundation, Caritas Switzerland - Country: Ukraine, Switzerland - Eligible applicants: SMEs - Status: Open ## Lithuania: CPVA business partnership grants for Ukraine URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/lithuania-cpva-business-partnership-grants-for-ukraine/ - Deadline: 2026-12-31 - Funder: CPVA, Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Fund (Lithuania) - Country: Ukraine, Lithuania - Who can apply: SMEs, NGOs, universities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-08-20 CPVA accepts applications for the Lithuania-Ukraine Business Partnerships Programme to 31 December 2026. Two stages, 3 years of trading. - Deadline: 2026-12-31 - Funder: CPVA, Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Fund (Lithuania) - Country: Ukraine, Lithuania - Eligible applicants: SMEs, NGOs, Higher education institutions - Status: Open ## Vlasna Sprava 2026: full guide to the updated programme URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/vlasna-sprava-2026-full-guide-to-the-updated-programme/ - Amount: 100,000–2,500,000 UAH - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: upcoming - Updated: 2026-08-19 From 1 September the ceiling rises to UAH 2.5m and start-ups need no jobs. Two tracks, 4 bonus tiers, points-based scoring. - Amount: 100,000–2,500,000 UAH - Funder: Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: SMEs, Startups, Individuals - Status: Upcoming ## European Cultural Foundation: donor analysis 2026 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/european-cultural-foundation-donor-analysis-2026/ - Amount: €1,200 – €30,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: European Cultural Foundation, Creative Europe, EU - Country: Ukraine, Netherlands, EU - Who can apply: NGOs, individuals, other - Status: open - Updated: 2026-08-14 The foundation that ran Erasmus until 1994: structure, Culture Helps Solidarity, grant amounts and what is open right now. - Amount: €1,200 – €30,000 - Funder: European Cultural Foundation, Creative Europe, EU - Country: Ukraine, Netherlands, EU - Eligible applicants: NGOs, Individuals, Other - Status: Open ## ETAG grants: EUR 1,500 for travel and visits to Estonia URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/etag-travel-collaboration-grant-ukraine-era-2026/ - Amount: up to €1,500 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Estonian Research Council (ETAG), ESTDEV - Country: Ukraine, Estonia - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-08-13 Estonian Research Council: up to EUR 1,500 for Horizon Europe matchmaking and visits to Estonia. Applications open on a rolling basis. - Amount: up to €1,500 - Funder: Estonian Research Council (ETAG), ESTDEV - Country: Ukraine, Estonia - Eligible applicants: Higher education institutions, Research institutions, Individuals - Status: Open ## NRFU: donor analysis, history and call statistics URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/nrfu-donor-analysis-history-call-statistics/ - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: National Research Foundation of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-07-31 NRFU donor analysis: history since 2018, call statistics, governance, review process, the 2026 line-up and the spring 2027 calendar. - Funder: National Research Foundation of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: Higher education institutions, Research institutions, Individuals - Status: Open ## DeepRAP: EIC Pathfinder 2026 grant for cognitive AI URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/deeprap-eic-pathfinder-challenge-2026-cognitive-ai/ - Amount: up to €4,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-28 - Funder: European Innovation Council, Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-07-28 EIC opened DeepRAP: up to EUR 4M per project for cognitive AI research, deadline 28 October 2026. Scope, eligibility, Ukraine access. - Amount: up to €4,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-28 - Funder: European Innovation Council, Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: Higher education institutions, Research institutions, SMEs, Individuals - Status: Open ## ERC Starting Grant 2027: EUR 1.5M for PhD URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/erc-starting-grant-2027-eur-1-5m/ - Amount: up to €1,500,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-14 - Funder: European Research Council, Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: research institutions, universities, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-07-23 The ERC Starting Grant 2027 call is open. Up to EUR 1.5M over 5 years, deadline 14 October 2026, PhD window widened to 10 years. - Amount: up to €1,500,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-14 - Funder: European Research Council, Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: Research institutions, Higher education institutions, Individuals - Status: Open ## Netherlands Grants for Ukraine 2026: What Is Open Now URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/netherlands-grants-ukraine-2026/ - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Free Press Unlimited, Digital Defenders Partnership, Cultural Emergency Response, Nuffic, RVO, Netherlands Helsinki Committee, Prince Claus Fund, Justice & Peace Netherlands, European Cultural Foundation - Country: Ukraine, Netherlands - Who can apply: NGOs, individuals, SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-07-22 Open Netherlands grants for Ukraine: media, human rights, culture and education. Deadlines verified on 22 July 2026, plus recurring ones. - Funder: Free Press Unlimited, Digital Defenders Partnership, Cultural Emergency Response, Nuffic, RVO, Netherlands Helsinki Committee, Prince Claus Fund, Justice & Peace Netherlands, European Cultural Foundation - Country: Ukraine, Netherlands - Eligible applicants: NGOs, Individuals, SMEs - Status: Open ## Grants for Craft Producers and Small Business 2026 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/grants-for-craft-producers-and-small-business/ - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, House of Europe, Creative Europe, MHP for Communities - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-07-21 Open Craft grants for makers and SMEs: amounts from UAH 100K to 16M, terms, co-financing, and how to apply. Ongoing intake. - Funder: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, House of Europe, Creative Europe, MHP for Communities - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: SMEs, Startups, Individuals - Status: Open - Question: How does grant funding work for a small or craft producer? Answer: A grant funds a specific goal: equipment, raw materials, rent, marketing, or new jobs. The money is non-repayable, yet it comes with conditions. The state expects the business to run for at least 3 years, hire the workers you declared, and pay taxes. Donors, in turn, look at social impact and sustainable growth. For a craft producer, the logic splits into three levels by business size. - Question: How much does the base "Vlasna Sprava" grant give? Answer: "Vlasna Sprava" gives from UAH 100K to 350K to start or grow a small or craft business. The amount depends on the number of jobs: UAH 100K with no hires, UAH 200K for one job, UAH 350K for two. You apply online through the Diia portal together with a business plan. Each applicant receives the grant once. - Question: What do craft producers get in the creative industries track? Answer: The creative industries track of "Vlasna Sprava" gives up to UAH 1M with 70% of the project cost covered. It includes artistic craft producers, design, photography, game development, media, advertising, and PR. For a maker who works with a handmade or author product, this is the largest state grant from launch. - Question: When does the "Novyi Riven" processing grant fit? Answer: "Novyi Riven" gives up to UAH 8M to expand processing, or up to UAH 16M to restore capacity damaged by the war. It suits a maker who has grown from a workshop into a plant: food, woodworking, textile, or furniture processing. The money goes only to equipment and production lines, so you cannot pay rent or marketing from it. - Question: What agrarian grants exist for food craft producers? Answer: If a craft producer grows raw materials in-house, two agrarian eRobota tracks apply. "Svii Sad" gives UAH 140K to 400K per hectare (up to UAH 10M total) to plant an orchard, berry field, or vineyard of 1 to 25 hectares. "Svoia Teplytsia" covers building a greenhouse of 0.4 to 2.4 hectares with up to UAH 7M. Both programs require 30% co-financing and land you own or lease for at least 7 years. - Question: Which private and international programs are open now? Answer: Beyond the state, donors and private funds support makers too. Here the deadlines shift, so always confirm the status on the organizer's site before you apply. CraftUP Ukraine. An education and grant project by AgroPortal.ua with support from the government of the Netherlands, aimed at craft food producers. ## Energy grants for Ukrainian business in 2026 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/energy-independence-grants-ukrainian-business-2026/ - Amount: up to €300,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: EBRD, EU, Government of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-07-16 EBRD, EU and state schemes for energy: a 10-30% grant for solar, cogeneration and efficiency . Terms, amounts and a document checklist. - Amount: up to €300,000 - Funder: EBRD, EU, Government of Ukraine - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: SMEs, Startups, Individuals - Status: Open ## EIC STEP Scale Up Defence: up to €30M for defence firms URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/eic-step-scale-up-defence-ukraine/ - Amount: €10,000,000–€30,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-28 - Funder: European Innovation Council, Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: SMEs, startups - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 The EIC opened its defence call: up to €30M in equity, Ukrainian companies apply directly. Deadline 28 October 2026. - Amount: €10,000,000–€30,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-28 - Funder: European Innovation Council, Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: SMEs, Startups - Status: Open ## Brave International: over €100M in defense grants URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/brave-international-defense-grants-ukraine/ - Amount: up to €1,000,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Brave1, NATO - Country: Ukraine, Norway, France, Germany, Lithuania - Who can apply: SMEs, startups - Status: upcoming - Updated: 2026-09-19 Ukraine launched Brave International: joint 50/50 funds with Norway, France, Germany, Lithuania and NATO. Over €100M for defense tech. - Amount: up to €1,000,000 - Funder: Brave1, NATO - Country: Ukraine, Norway, France, Germany, Lithuania - Eligible applicants: SMEs, Startups - Status: Upcoming ## The Black Sea Trust: Grantor analysis URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/the-black-sea-trust-grantor-analysis/ - Amount: $5,000 – $60,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-15 - Funder: Black Sea Trust, German Marshall Fund, Transatlantic Foundation - Country: Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, EU - Who can apply: NGOs, individuals, research institutions - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 Black Sea Trust (GMF) funds Ukrainian NGOs with grants from $5,000. Rolling applications, Ukraine-specific priorities, open calls in 2026. - Amount: $5,000 – $60,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-15 - Funder: Black Sea Trust, German Marshall Fund, Transatlantic Foundation - Country: Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, EU - Eligible applicants: NGOs, Individuals, Research institutions - Status: Open ## EDIP USI: €300M EU grants for Ukraine’s defence industry URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/edip-ukraine-support-instrument-defence-industry-grants-2026/ - Amount: €2,000,000–30,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-13 - Funder: EU, EDIP - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: SMEs, startups, other - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 EDIP USI: €300M for Ukraine's defence industry. Grants €2–30M, up to 100% coverage. Call 1 deadline: 13 October 2026. - Amount: €2,000,000–30,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-13 - Funder: EU, EDIP - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: SMEs, Startups, Other - Status: Open ## King Baudouin Foundation: Grantor analysis URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/king-baudouin-foundation-donor-analysis-ukraine-2026/ - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: King Baudouin Foundation - Country: Belgium, Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: NGOs, research institutions, other - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 King Baudouin Foundation – Belgian foundation. Analysis for NGOs and media: what they fund, Ukraine support track record, how to apply. - Funder: King Baudouin Foundation - Country: Belgium, Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: NGOs, Research institutions, Other - Status: Open ## MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026: €593M for Doctoral Consortia URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/msca-doctoral-networks-2026-horizon-europe/ - Deadline: 2026-11-24 - Funder: Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, SMEs, public authorities and municipalities, NGOs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 opens €593M for international PhD consortia. Ukrainian universities are fully eligible as beneficiaries. - Deadline: 2026-11-24 - Funder: Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: Higher education institutions, Research institutions, SMEs, Public authorities, NGOs - Status: Open ## Oak Foundation: $383 million a year and still unknown in Ukraine. Donor analysis and how to apply URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/oak-foundation-donor-analysis-ukraine-2026/ - Amount: $25,000 – $10,000,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Oak Foundation - Country: Global - Who can apply: NGOs, research institutions, universities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 Oak Foundation (Geneva): $383M in 2025, human rights, environment, women. How to submit, what to include, and what to expect. - Amount: $25,000 – $10,000,000 - Funder: Oak Foundation - Country: Global - Eligible applicants: NGOs, Research institutions, Higher education institutions - Status: Open ## COST Open Call 2026: up to €690,000 per research network – full programme overview and application guide URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/cost-open-call-2026-cost-actions-ukraine-guide/ - Amount: up to €690,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-28 - Funder: COST, Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: universities, research institutions, NGOs, SMEs, public authorities and municipalities - Status: upcoming - Updated: 2026-05-16 COST Open Call 2026: up to 80 Actions, €690,000 budget each. Ukraine is a full member. What COST Actions are and how to apply. - Amount: up to €690,000 - Deadline: 2026-10-28 - Funder: COST, Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: Higher education institutions, Research institutions, NGOs, SMEs, Public authorities - Status: Upcoming ## European Endowment for Democracy (EED): donor analysis and how to apply in 2026 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/eed-european-endowment-for-democracy-analysis-2026/ - Amount: €40,000 – €60,000 - Deadline: 2027-02-20 - Funder: USAID, EED, EU - Country: Ukraine, EU, USA - Who can apply: NGOs, universities, research institutions, SMEs, individuals - Status: open - Updated: 2026-05-08 Within 24 hours of Russia's full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, EED established a €2.2 million emergency fund for its Ukrainian partners. Over the first 60 days – an average of one grant per day. This is the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) – an independent Brussels-based fund that from its founding in 2013 to the end of 2024 provided nearly €250 million in grants to approximately 3,000 initiatives. - Amount: €40,000 – €60,000 - Deadline: 2027-02-20 - Funder: USAID, EED, EU - Country: Ukraine, EU, USA - Eligible applicants: NGOs, Higher education institutions, Research institutions, SMEs, Individuals ## Horizon Europe Grants 2026: Open Calls URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/horizon-europe-2026-grants-ukraine-open-calls/ - Amount: up to €6,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-11-26 - Funder: Horizon Europe, EU - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-04-01 Active Horizon Europe 2026 grants for Ukraine – budgets, deadlines & eligibility. From AI to agriculture, from €600K to €307M. - Amount: up to €6,000,000 - Deadline: 2026-11-26 - Funder: Horizon Europe, EU - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: SMEs ## Horizon Europe BIODIV-05: Up to €8 Million to Integrate Biodiversity into Business URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/horizon-europe-biodiv-05-nature-positive-economy-business-2027/ - Amount: Up to €8 - Deadline: 2027-09-22 - Funder: Horizon Europe, EU - Country: EU - Who can apply: SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-03-27 Horizon Europe funds projects on nature positive economy transition. BIODIV-05. Deadline 22 September 2027. SMEs, R&D, NGOs eligible - Amount: Up to €8 - Deadline: 2027-09-22 - Funder: Horizon Europe, EU - Country: EU - Eligible applicants: SMEs - Question: Why Is the EU Funding This Area? Answer: Current economic systems prioritise short-term profits over the long-term health of ecosystems. Moreover, they fail to account for environmental externalities, making nature positive solutions appear less affordable than they truly are. - Question: What Must the BIODIV-05 Proposal Include? Answer: Proposals must address several key activity areas. Specifically: Decision-Support and Metrics Support decision-making for a nature positive economy by addressing knowledge gaps, advancing transparent and standardised biodiversity metrics, improving accessibility of assessment methods and data, and integrating biodiversity-related risks into corporate strategies and reporting. - Question: Who Can Apply? Answer: The call requires a multi-actor approach – engaging researchers, businesses, financial institutions, public authorities, policymakers, and civil society to co-develop and apply solutions. Consequently, proposals should bring together diverse partners from across sectors. ## How to Find Business Grants Without the Chaos: A Review of FundingHub by GetGrant URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/how-to-find-business-grants-fundinghub-getgrant-review/ - Deadline: roundup of several calls, see the text for dates - Country: EU - Who can apply: SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-03-27 FundingHub by GetGrant offers systematic grant discovery for SMEs and startups – AI matching, concept validation, and smart business filtering - Country: EU - Eligible applicants: SMEs ## Mini-Grants up to €3,000: Support for Local EU Integration Initiatives URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/mini-grants-eu-integration-local-level-2026/ - Amount: up to €3,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: NGOs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-02-27 Mini-grants up to €3,000 support local civil society initiatives advancing Ukraine’s EU integration. Apply via ANTS platform. - Amount: up to €3,000 - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: NGOs ## Brave Students: Pitch Drive by mono – Call for Student Defence and Dual-Use Startups URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/brave-students-pitch-drive-2026-defence-dual-use/ - Deadline: 2027-03-14 - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: universities - Status: open - Updated: 2026-02-25 Brave Students Pitch Drive 2026 invites student defence and dual-use startups to pitch to industry and investors. Deadline: 2 March. - Deadline: 2027-03-14 - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: Higher education institutions ## International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Current Grants and Opportunities for Women Researchers from Ukraine URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/women-science-grants-opportunities-ukraine-2026/ - Deadline: 2027-02-11 - Funder: Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: research institutions - Status: open - Updated: 2026-02-11 International Day of Women in Science: current grants and international opportunities for women researchers in 2026. - Deadline: 2027-02-11 - Funder: Horizon Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: Research institutions ## Science at Risk expands its database of verified Ukrainian researchers URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/science-at-risk-expands-verified-ukrainian-researchers-database/ - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Horizon Europe - Country: International - Who can apply: research institutions - Status: open - Updated: 2026-02-10 Science at Risk expands its verified database of Ukrainian researchers, opening new opportunities for international cooperation. - Funder: Horizon Europe - Country: International - Eligible applicants: Research institutions ## Current Grants in the Cultural Sector: a House of Europe Selection URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/current-cultural-grants-house-of-europe-2026/ - Deadline: 2027-02-03 - Funder: House of Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: NGOs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-02-02 A curated overview of current cultural grants, residencies and programmes by House of Europe with key deadlines and application links. - Deadline: 2027-02-03 - Funder: House of Europe - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: NGOs ## “Grant Opportunities for Business”: grant digest URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/grant-digest-business-opportunities-chernihiv-rsa/ - Amount: UAH 50,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-01-22 Overview of grant digest: funding for business, agribusiness, processing, relocation, and training. PDF download link. - Amount: UAH 50,000 - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: SMEs ## APS International Research Travel Award for Ukraine: support for international research mobility URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/aps-international-research-travel-award-ukraine-2026/ - Deadline: roundup of several calls, see the text for dates - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: research institutions - Status: open - Updated: 2026-01-19 APS International Research Travel Award supports Ukrainian physicists with funding for research visits and continued collaboration. - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: Research institutions ## Grant competition for CSOs: advocacy support to strengthen the role and impact of civil society URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/advocacy-support-civil-society-grant-ukraine/ - Deadline: roundup of several calls, see the text for dates - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-01-09 Advocacy grant competition supporting civil society organisations in Ukraine to strengthen policy influence and democratic institutions. - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: NGOs ## “Culture During Wartime”: Ukrainian Cultural Foundation Launches New Grant Call URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/innovative-cultural-product-ucf-grant-2026/ - Amount: up to UAH 3,000,000 - Deadline: 2027-02-01 - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: NGOs - Status: open - Updated: 2026-09-19 Culture During Wartime: UCF’s grant supports creative wartime cultural projects, funding new artistic formats and resilient narratives - Amount: up to UAH 3,000,000 - Deadline: 2027-02-01 - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: NGOs ## European Endowment for Democracy (EED) Grants for Civil Society and Independent Media URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/european-endowment-for-democracy-grants-2026/ - Amount: up to €50,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: EED - Country: EU - Who can apply: NGOs - Status: open - Updated: 2025-12-01 Flexible European Endowment for Democracy grants supporting civil society, activists, and independent media advancing democracy, human rights. - Amount: up to €50,000 - Funder: EED - Country: EU - Eligible applicants: NGOs ## Grant Program for Firefighting Robots and Drones in Ukraine URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/firefighting-robots-drones-grant-ukraine-usf-2026/ - Deadline: roundup of several calls, see the text for dates - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2025-12-01 Grant programme for Ukrainian teams developing firefighting robots and drones to support SES work in high-risk environments. - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: SMEs ## Solar Power Installations for Schools and Hospitals by Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/solar-power-schools-hospitals-energy-act-ukraine/ - Deadline: roundup of several calls, see the text for dates - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: public authorities and municipalities - Status: open - Updated: 2025-10-09 The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation installs turnkey solar power systems with energy storage for schools and hospitals in Ukraine. - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: Public authorities ## How Lump Sum Funding Works in the Horizon Europe Programme URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/horizon-europe-lump-sum-funding-model-2025/ - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Horizon Europe, National Research Foundation of Ukraine, EU - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: research institutions - Status: open - Updated: 2025-10-08 Understand how the Lump Sum funding model works in Horizon Europe. Learn its benefits, budgeting principles. - Funder: Horizon Europe, National Research Foundation of Ukraine, EU - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: Research institutions ## Startup EDGE: New Grant Program by the Ukrainian Startup Fund URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/startup-edge-new-grant-program-by-the-ukrainian-startup-fund/ - Amount: up to €20,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2025-09-29 Startup EDGE by the Ukrainian Startup Fund: €1M in grants for Deep Tech, GreenTech, and EdTech. Pre-seed – €20k, Seed – €40k. - Amount: up to €20,000 - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: SMEs ## Civic Tech Competition “Act to Drive Change” by East Europe Foundation and the EU URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/civic-tech-competition-act-to-drive-change-by-east-europe-foundation-and-the-eu/ - Amount: up to €35,000 - Deadline: rolling call - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: NGOs - Status: open - Updated: 2025-09-25 “Act to Drive Change”: up to €35,000 for civic tech projects in Ukraine by East Europe Foundation and the EU. - Amount: up to €35,000 - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: NGOs ## Talents For Ukraine by KSE Foundation: $5,000 for Ukrainian Innovators in Science and Technology URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/talents-for-ukraine-by-kse-foundation-5-000-for-ukrainian-innovators-in-science-and-technology/ - Amount: $5,000– - Deadline: rolling call - Country: Ukraine - Who can apply: research institutions, individuals, communities - Status: open - Updated: 2025-05-19 Talents For Ukraine: $5,000 and expert support from KSE Foundation. This grant supports scientists, technologists, and change-makers. - Amount: $5,000– - Country: Ukraine - Eligible applicants: Research institutions, Individuals, Communities ## Horizon Europe 2025: New Opportunities for Projects URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/grants-and-funding/horizon-europe-2025-new-opportunities-for-projects/ - Deadline: rolling call - Funder: Horizon Europe, EU - Country: Ukraine, EU - Who can apply: SMEs - Status: open - Updated: 2025-04-29 New Horizon Europe 2025 opportunities for teams: grants for science, business, IT, innovation, and education. - Funder: Horizon Europe, EU - Country: Ukraine, EU - Eligible applicants: SMEs # Blog posts (50 most recent) ## eRobota in 2026–2027: what changed in Ukraine’s state business grants and what the budget sets aside URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/erobota-2026-2027-what-changed-ukraine-business-grants/ Published: 2026-10-12, updated: 2026-10-11 An analytical overview of changes to Ukraine's eRobota state grant programmes for business in 2026 and their funding for 2027. Since 9 September 2026 Vlasna Sprava 2.0 has been in force: two tracks (start UAH 100,000–300,000, with bonuses up to 500,000; scale-up UAH 0.5–1.5 million, with bonuses up to 2.5 million), a bonus system from +5% to +50%, a choice of project term of 2, 3 or 5 years and an obligation to pay taxes and social contributions of at least the grant amount. Processing grants of up to UAH 8 million and grants of up to UAH 16 million for restoring production are accepted until 30 October 2026. The draft 2027 budget raises the "Support for the economy and business" section to UAH 96 billion, but 61% of the increase goes to the eOselia mortgage programme, while active business programmes receive UAH 9.4 billion. ## Grant or a 5-7-9 loan for energy independence: what pays off for homeowner associations and businesses in Ukraine in 2026 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/grant-or-5-7-9-loan-energy-independence-ukraine-2026/ Published: 2026-10-10, updated: 2026-10-10 An analytical overview of instruments for financing energy independence for homeowner associations and businesses in Ukraine as of October 2026. The GreenDIM grant programme has not accepted new applications since 4 April 2026, so the main state instrument for associations is now a loan of up to UAH 3 million with 70% of principal reimbursed; SvitloDIM operates in a limited set of regions. Businesses can use the 0% Energy Loan, the energy line of the 5-7-9 programme and loans from EBRD partner banks with 10–30% reimbursed. The article includes a timeline of 2026 decisions, three calculations and typical reasons for refusal. Figures were checked as of 7 October 2026. ## Grants for farmers and agribusiness in Ukraine 2026: state programmes, the DAR, FAO and donors. What actually gets paid URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/grants-for-farmers-agribusiness-ukraine-2026/ Published: 2026-10-07, updated: 2026-10-07 An analytical overview of state and donor support for farmers and agribusiness in Ukraine in 2026. Programmes are assessed by 2025 budget execution, average payout and application windows: grants for orchards, greenhouses, processing and storage, the 25% reimbursement for Ukrainian-made machinery, subsidies, the FAO and EU grant cycle through the State Agrarian Registry (DAR) and 5-7-9 loans. It reflects the suspension of orchard and greenhouse grant intake from 16 October 2026 and the draft 2027 budget. Figures were checked as of 7 October 2026. ## Grant or a 5-7-9 loan for business in 2026: which costs a Ukrainian company less URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/grant-or-5-7-9-loan-for-business-ukraine-2026/ Published: 2026-10-06, updated: 2026-10-06 An analytical comparison of three ways for Ukrainian businesses to finance investment in 2026: a non-repayable grant, a loan under the Affordable Loans 5-7-9% programme, and a loan from an EBRD partner bank with an EU4Business grant reimbursement. The article sets out current limits and rates, programme statistics as of September 2026, three interest-cost calculations and the criteria on which banks and grant programmes refuse applicants. Figures were checked against primary sources as of 7 October 2026. ## Who can apply: the status of Ukraine in EU programmes URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/who-can-apply-the-status-of-ukraine-in-eu-programmes/ Published: 2026-09-16, updated: 2026-09-16 Where a Ukrainian organisation applies on equal terms, where only as a partner, and where entry is closed. A map of 12 programmes. ## Brave1 Grants 2026: All Programmes for Defence Tech Developers URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/brave1-grants-2026/ Published: 2026-08-28, updated: 2026-08-28 Brave1 funds defence developments through four separate instruments with different rules. Who can apply and what the money can cover. ## Application rejected: how to read donor feedback URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/application-rejected-how-to-read-donor-feedback/ Published: 2026-08-27, updated: 2026-08-27 Three types of rejection, how to read the evaluators report, 30 days to appeal and the trap with opening the letter. A resubmission guide. ## Gender Equality Plan: the Horizon Europe eligibility rule URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/gender-equality-plan-horizon-europe-eligibility-2026/ Published: 2026-08-07, updated: 2026-08-07 Horizon Europe Gender Equality Plan criterion: 4 mandatory requirements, who must comply and when officials check. ## Japan joins Horizon Europe: what it means for Ukraine URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/japan-horizon-europe-association-what-it-means-for-ukraine/ Published: 2026-08-02, updated: 2026-08-02 Japan signed its Horizon Europe association on 30 July 2026. Why Tokyo and Brussels wanted it, and how Ukraine can use the opening ## Grant reporting in Horizon Europe: how to manage deliverables, budget and deadlines URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/horizon-europe-grant-reporting-deliverables-budget/ Published: 2026-07-09, updated: 2026-09-19 A practical guide to Horizon Europe grant reporting: continuous reporting, periodic reports, deliverables, budget and checklists. ## Ukrainian defence tech funding map 2026-2027 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/ukrainian-defensetech-funding-map-2026-2027/ Published: 2026-07-08, updated: 2026-09-19 Who funds Ukrainian defence tech in 2026-2027, how much, and for what: Brave1, EDF, NATO DIANA, Horizon Europe, EIC. Three funding tiers. ## Last-Night Syndrome: Why Rushing Ruins Grant Applications URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/last-night-syndrome-grant-deadline-monitoring-system/ Published: 2026-06-25, updated: 2026-09-19 Why last-night applications almost always fail, how much time you really need, and how to build a deadline monitoring system. ## Interreg NEXT and Europe: grants for Ukraine URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/interreg-next-europe-grants-ukraine-communities-universities/ Published: 2026-06-18, updated: 2026-09-19 How Ukrainian communities and universities can win million-euro Interreg NEXT and Europe grants: partners, priorities, application. ## Ukraine updates research funding competition rules for 2026 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/ukraine-updates-research-funding-competition-rules-2026/ Published: 2026-06-16, updated: 2026-09-19 Ukraine updated 2026 rules for research funding: accreditation, a 50-point pass mark, three tracks, and new AI disclosure rules. ## Work Packages in Horizon Europe: WPs, Deliverables and Milestones URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/work-packages-horizon-europe-deliverables-milestones-person-months/ Published: 2026-06-11, updated: 2026-09-19 Practical guide to structuring Work Packages, Deliverables and Milestones in Horizon Europe RIA/IA proposals. PM calculation tips included. ## EU Grants for Ukraine: Practical Guide to All Programmes URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/eu-grants-for-ukraine-practical-guide-to-all-programmes/ Published: 2026-06-04, updated: 2026-09-19 Ukraine Facility, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, CERV, Creative Europe — all EU grant programmes for NGOs, researchers and businesses in one guide. ## How to write a winning grant application: 3 lessons for businesses from the GetGrant founder URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/summit-grant-fest-2026-getgrant-founder-3-lessons/ Published: 2026-06-01, updated: 2026-09-19 Nazariy Andrushchak, CEO of GetGrant, on Summit Grant Fest: application mistakes, consortium, and why EU grants are a system – not a lottery. ## Ukraine launches National Researchers System (NRS) URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/national-researchers-system-ukraine-mon-scholarship-2026/ Published: 2026-05-27, updated: 2026-09-19 Ukraine's NRS launches June 2026. 2,650 researchers get UAH 10,000/month for 2 years. 50% for young scientists. ## The art of the consortium: how a Ukrainian organisation becomes an indispensable partner in Horizon Europe and Interreg grants URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/consortium-building-ukraine-horizon-europe-interreg-guide/ Published: 2026-05-21, updated: 2026-09-19 The art of the consortium: where to find consortium leaders, how to write Pitch Note, and what Ukraine brings to the table in 2026. ## EU updates AI research guidelines May 2026: hidden prompts, third-party AI and what it means for grant applicants URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/era-living-guidelines-ai-research-update-may-2026/ Published: 2026-05-15, updated: 2026-05-15 ERA Living Guidelines updated May 2026: new rules on hidden prompts and third-party AI in meetings. Practical checklist for grant applicants. ## How AI Is Changing Grant Search: What It Means for You in 2026 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/how-ai-changes-grant-search-2026/ Published: 2026-05-07, updated: 2026-05-07 AI changes grant search in 2026: profile matching, partner finding, eligibility analysis. Examples for NGOs, SMEs, and researchers. ## How to Find Grants: 5 Methods from Manual Search to AI-Powered Matching URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/how-to-find-grants/ Published: 2026-05-02, updated: 2026-05-02 How to Find Grants for NGOs, business and researchers in 2026: methods, why manual monitoring fails, and how AI matching saves weeks of work. ## IT and AI Grants 2026: Full Overview for Startups, Businesses, NGOs and Researchers URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/it-and-ai-grants-2026-startups-businesses-ngo-researchers/ Published: 2026-04-23, updated: 2026-04-23 IT and AI grants in 2026: EIC Accelerator, Digital Europe, Brave1 and more for startups, SMEs, NGOs and researchers in Ukraine. ## Logical Framework Matrix (Logframe): Complete Beginner’s Guide URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/logical-framework-matrix-logframe-beginners-guide/ Published: 2026-04-16, updated: 2026-04-16 What a Logical Framework Matrix is and how to build one from scratch: structure, 8 steps, filled example, common mistakes. ## Grants for NGOs in Ukraine 2026: Full Guide URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/grants-for-ngos-ukraine-2026/ Published: 2026-04-15, updated: 2026-04-15 Active grants for Ukrainian NGOs in 2026: IRF, ISAR, Visegrad, Nordic Council, EU – 20+ verified programmes with deadlines and eligibility. ## GetGrant has been awarded Golden Status by Seeds of Bravery URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/getgrant-uaseeds-seal-of-excellence-golden-status/ Published: 2026-03-31, updated: 2026-03-31 GetGrant has been awarded Golden Status of the UASEEDs Seal of Excellence by Seeds of Bravery, funded by the European Union. ## Grants for universities and research institutions – blog GetGrant URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/grants-for-universities-and-research-institutions-blog-getgrant/ Published: 2026-03-24, updated: 2026-03-24 Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Marie Curie, and Nansen EDU – active grants for universities, research institutions and individual researchers. ## Grant, Loan or Investment: Which to Choose for Business URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/grant-loan-investment-which-to-choose-for-business/ Published: 2026-03-18, updated: 2026-03-18 Grant, loan or investment: we compare terms and risks. A practical guide for entrepreneurs + where to find business grants in Ukraine in 2026 ## Ukraine Reconstruction Grants 2026: Full Guide to Funds and Programs for Businesses, NGOs and Municipalities URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/ukraine-reconstruction-grants-2026/ Published: 2026-03-11, updated: 2026-09-19 EU Facility €50B, EBRD, EIB, World Bank — complete guide to Ukraine reconstruction grants in 2026 for businesses, NGOs and municipalities ## How to Find Business Grants Without the Chaos: A Review of FundingHub by GetGrant URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/how-to-find-business-grants-fundinghub-getgrant-review/ Published: 2026-03-09, updated: 2026-03-09 Platform FundingHub by GetGrant offers grant discovery for SMEs and startups — AI matching, concept validation, and smart business filtering ## Grant Budgeting Simplified: financial aid 2026 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/grant-budgeting-financial-aid-2026-guide/ Published: 2026-02-16, updated: 2026-09-19 Master grant budgeting and financial aid in 2026. A guide on personnel costs, taxes, and overheads for Ukrainian NGOs by GetGrant. ## International Grant Partnerships: Finding Partners and Formalizing Agreements URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/international-grant-partnerships-finding-partners-and-formalizing-agreements/ Published: 2026-02-04, updated: 2026-09-19 A complete guide to international grant partnerships: where to find partners, how to distribute roles, and correctly formalize documents ## Grant Guide 2026: 46 Programs for Scientists, Business, IT Startups, and the Agricultural Sector URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/grant-guide-2026/ Published: 2026-01-20, updated: 2026-09-19 Discover 46 grant opportunities for Q1 2026. We analyze funding up to €15m for business, NGOs, and science. Apply now via GetGrant. ## How to Choose a Grant That Really Fits You: 10 Filtering Criteria URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/how-to-choose-a-grant-10-criteria-checklist/ Published: 2026-01-15, updated: 2026-01-15 This article explains 10 grant selection criteria to quickly filter out irrelevant calls and prepare to apply using a checklist. ## EIT HEI Initiative 2025 Call for Proposals: Eligibility Requirements and Tips for Applicants URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/eit-hei-initiative-2025-eligibility-and-tips/ Published: 2025-12-21, updated: 2025-12-21 EIT HEI Initiative 2025: topics, consortium eligibility, up to €2M funding, deadline 4 Mar 2026, and practical applicant tips. ## United Kingdom returns to Erasmus+: History, context, and significance for Europe URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/uk-returns-to-erasmus-plus-2027/ Published: 2025-12-18, updated: 2025-12-18 The UK will rejoin Erasmus+ in 2027. Explore the programme’s history, and what the return means for Europe and UK institutions. ## The European Commission has adopted the Horizon Europe work programme for 2026–2027 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/horizon-europe-2026-2027-work-programme/ Published: 2025-12-13, updated: 2025-12-13 The EU adopts the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 work programme, outlining €14bn in funding, key priorities, and new opportunities for applicants. ## GetGrant Receives the Prestigious Seal of Excellence from the Seeds of Bravery (UASEEDs) Programme URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/getgrant-awarded-seal-of-excellence-uaseeds/ Published: 2025-12-09, updated: 2025-12-09 GetGrant awarded the EU Seal of Excellence under the Seeds of Bravery programme, confirming its innovation, quality, and growth potential ## The €20 Million EIC Grant for Ukrainian Deep-Tech Startups: A Comprehensive Analysis of the HORIZON-EIC-2025-UKRAINIANTECH-01 Programme and Strategic Guide URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/eic-grant-deep-tech-ukraine-programme-analysis/ Published: 2025-10-30, updated: 2025-11-10 EIC grant up to €500K for Deep-Tech. HORIZON-EIC-2025-UKRAINIANTECH-01 programme: requirements, Lump Sum, TRL, and success strategy. ## Brave1 Grant: Support for Ukrainian Defence Tech Innovations URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/brave1-grant-support-for-ukrainian-defence-tech-innovations/ Published: 2025-10-07, updated: 2025-10-07 Brave1 Grant - a Ukrainian government program supporting Defence Tech startups and developers. Learn how to get up to ₴8 million in funding. ## Draft Work Programmes of Horizon Europe 2026–2027 URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/draft-work-programmes-of-horizon-europe-2026-2027/ Published: 2025-09-18, updated: 2025-09-18 Draft Horizon Europe 2026–2027 work programmes are out. Plan projects, build consortia, and prepare budgets before the calls officially open. ## The Republic of Korea in Horizon Europe: A New Milestone in Global Science and Innovation URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/the-republic-of-korea-in-horizon-europe-a-new-milestone-in-global-science-and-innovation/ Published: 2025-08-11, updated: 2026-09-19 On 17 July 2025, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) officially became the first Asian country to join Horizon Europe (Pillar II) – the European Union’s large-scale research and innovation programme with a budget of €93.5 billion for the period 2021–2027. ## Support for Ukrainian Tech SMEs and Startups: Funding Opportunity from EIC URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/support-for-ukrainian-tech-smes-and-startups-funding-opportunity-from-eic/ Published: 2025-07-17, updated: 2025-07-17 The European Innovation Council has announced an initiative that provides funding to support Ukrainian start-ups and SMEs.Запитати в ChatGPT ## Project idea development: where a successful proposal begins URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/project-idea-development-where-a-successful-proposal-begins/ Published: 2025-06-04, updated: 2026-09-19 Project idea development: How to turn an idea into a strong foundation for a proposal that has a chance to be implemented ## EIC Pathfinder 2025 Grant: Programme Overview for Researchers, Innovators, and Strategic Applicants URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/eic-pathfinder-2025-grant-programme-overview-for-researchers-innovators-and-strategic-applicants/ Published: 2025-05-08, updated: 2025-05-10 EIC Pathfinder 2025 Grant: Programme Overview: funding formats, deadlines, evaluation criteria, successful projects. ## ERC Support for Ukrainian Researchers: Grants, Mentorship, and Opportunities in Europe URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/erc-support-for-ukrainian-researchers-grants-mentorship-and-opportunities-in-europe/ Published: 2025-05-05, updated: 2025-05-05 ERC support Ukrainian researchers with grants, mentoring, jobs, and international funding access — even during wartime. ## European Innovation Council – a grant instrument for deep-tech startups and research URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/3802/ Published: 2025-03-13, updated: 2025-03-14 European Innovation Council: criteria, application requirements, and tips for preparing a successful proposal for Deep Tech funding. ## Forming a consortium for successful participation in EU projects: Tips and resources URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/forming-a-consortium-for-successful-participation-in-eu-projects-tips-and-resources/ Published: 2025-03-05, updated: 2026-09-19 Forming a consortium for successful participation in EU projects: key tips, useful resources and stages of application preparation. ## Effective project initiation: the role of the concept as a key to success URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/effective-project-initiation-the-role-of-the-concept-as-a-key-to-success/ Published: 2024-08-13, updated: 2024-11-08 Learn how to write an effective project concept note for successful project proposals. This guide covers essential elements like defining objectives, outlining methodology, setting KPIs, and managing risks to help ensure project success. ## Preparing a Grant Application for Horizon Europe Funding Programme URL: https://getgrant.ua/en/blog/preparing-a-grant-application-for-horizon-europe/ Published: 2023-08-05, updated: 2023-08-20 Horizon Europe is one of the most ambitious research and innovation programmes ever launched by the European Union. With a significant budget earmarked for research and innovation, it aims to foster a greener, more digital, and more resilient Europe.