Download or read book Review of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Unit Costs in Preparation for Horizon Europe written by and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The European Commission is preparing for the launch of the largest research & innovation programme ever, Horizon Europe, a part of which - the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) - will continue supporting the career development and training of researchers in all scientific disciplines, based on trans-national, cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. In order to offer attractive working conditions for researchers from all over the world and reduce the red tape related to using reimbursement on the basis of real costs, the simplified funding system of the MCSA was established under the previous framework programmes and refined into the current unit costs system since 2014 for the use during the whole period of Horizon 2020. The current unit costs system has proven to be flexible and efficient, therefore, it will be continued in Horizon Europe. In view of Horizon Europe, which will cover the years 2021-2027, a new Commission Decision on unit costs for the MSCA will have to be adopted in 2020. The Commission wishes to ensure that the MSCA continue to support: excellent researchers with competitive salaries and attractive working conditions; host organisations with appropriate research, training and networking costs, management and indirect costs. In the interest of non-discrimination and equal opportunities, the Commission also intends to adapt the system to make it fairer, more gender-friendly and more inclusive, particularly in the case where a change in the personal situation of the researcher/staff member occurs. The available budget under Horizon Europe is expected to enable the MSCA to maintain and, if possible, improve further the conditions for funding and participation. In concrete terms, this will mean keeping the grants competitive and attractive, and making them even more supportive. The objective of this study is to carry out a review of the MSCA unit costs system in line with the Commission's policy priorities and Horizon Europe proposal, and to determine the future eligible researcher and institutional unit costs for each Marie Skłodowska-Curie action. In addition, the study explores possibilities for calculating and covering new types of costs, such as those linked to changes in the personal situation of a researcher during the lifetime of the grant (e.g. additional costs for the employer in case of maternity, parental or sick leave of a researcher), special needs of researchers/staff members with a disability, and costs related to research dissemination and outreach or public awareness events (such as the European Researchers' Night).