NEW! Work Package Leaders – now eligible for Coordinator Support grants

Since the start of the Horizon Europe programme, Enterprise Ireland has approved more than 860 Coordinator Support Grants amounting to almost €9m. These grants offer funding of up to €12,500 to academic researchers in universities and research institutions to help them prepare proposals for submission to Horizon Europe calls as the project coordinator. The role of project coordinator is not an easy task and can be daunting for people who don’t have previous experience within the EU funding landscape. 

The Coordinator Support grant covers a range of eligible costs associated with proposal preparation, including travel for meetings and research, staff costs (such as research assistants and teaching replacement), and professional services, including consultancy and graphic design.

Work Package Leader role has grown in significance 

While the project coordinator leads the project, partners in the project often take on the responsibility of leading specific elements of the work – these are known as work packages.  As Horizon Europe projects have grown in scale, complexity and scope, the role of ‘work package leader’ has become much more significant. It’s also an ideal way to take on a leadership role within a project, providing valuable experience in preparation for coordinating and leading a future project. 

Up to €6.25k funding available

With the aim of creating a sustainable pipeline of experienced Horizon Europe participants in Ireland, Enterprise Ireland has opened up the Horizon Europe Coordinator Support grant to Work Package Leaders for a time-limited trial-period up to the end of 2026. Grants of up to €6,250 (including VAT) are now available to help work package leaders prepare their proposal contribution. 

The time-limited trial applies across the following six thematic programme areas: Health; Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society; Civil Security for Society; Digital, Industry and Space; Climate, Energy and Mobility; and Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment.

Usual terms and conditions of the Coordinator Support grant apply and Enterprise Ireland reserves the right to revise these terms as necessary.  Find the detailed guidelines for the full suite of available grants here. 

FAQ:

1) When people apply, do they need to do it with a reasonably firm consortium and confirmation they can definitely act as Work Package leader? Yes – they will also have to provide proof of proposal submission at claims stage. Usual terms and conditions for application and financial claims apply.

2) Travel and Research Assistance/Teaching buyout is covered, but is consultancy allowed? And if so, can applicants claim full costs or would it need to be split between partners? Yes, eligible consultancy/professional services costs are allowed but grant awardees would have to prove that it relates to their work package in the event of an audit.

3) Is the grant available for people at any career stage, or is there some eligibility criterion to work to? It’s currently available to all academic researchers no matter what career stage.

4) What evidence will people need to demonstrate that they have complied with the rules? It’s the same as for a coordinator – proof of proposal submission in the technical report, financial report, receipts etc. They should also be able to provide evidence that they were identified as a work package leader in the proposal if required.

5) Is this option open to Work Package Leaders of cofunded partnerships? Is it open to EIC and MSCA calls? No, this is targeted at standard, multi-beneficiary collaborative projects in Pillar II for the trial period.

6) Can you a have Coordinator Support and a Work Package Leader grant for the same project? Yes, but only if the applicants are from different institutions. Institutions may not submit applications for both Coordinator Support and Work Package Leader Support for the same project where the researchers are based at the same organisation.

7) Can you can have two Work Package Leader supports for the same project? Yes, but only if the applicants are from different institutions. 

8) Are co-Work Package Leaders eligible to apply? No. The scheme is intended to support researchers and organisations with primary responsibility for leading and delivering a work package within the project.   

9) As this is a time-limited trial until the end of 2026, are applicants targeting call deadlines in 2027 eligible? Yes, as long as they get their applications in before the end of the year.