September 1, 2010, Brussels

EPP Hearing

The Swedish universities’ perspective on

Simplifying the implementation of the research framework programmes

Pam Fredman

Chairman SUHF - the Association of Swedish Higher Education

Vice-chancellor, University of Gothenburg

The key roles of the universities:

• High quality education

• Independent research

www.gu.se

Recommendations:

Scientific excellence as the key driver in all research projects• further emphasis on bottom-up research projects within all

thematic programmes

• peer review system with scientific excellence as the main criteria

Move towards full-costing and a trust-based approach for the universities’ own accounting systems

www.gu.se

Strand 1 “Streamlining proposal and grant management under the existing rules”

• reduce the number of scientific and financial reports to 1-2 per project and minimize the details on the use of resources

• ensure a uniform interpretation of rules and regulations in all research funding programmes

• reduce time to contract

www.gu.se

Strand 2 “Adapting the rules under the current cost-based system”

Harmonize and simplify the participant rules & financial regulations

• a variety of funding instruments is important, but should not lead to a complex structure of different rules on application, negotiation procedures, reimbursement rates, Intellectual Property Rights etc.

Move towards full-costing:

• consider all direct and indirect costs as eligible when registered in the official accounts of the beneficiary, compliant with national accounting and auditing standards

www.gu.se

Strand 3 “Moving towards result-based instead of cost-based funding”

Not supported: • could be detrimental and result in projects with lower risk and a lower degree of true scientific exploration

• greater risk for inducing conflicts in consortia which requires complex consortium agreements

Instead:

• funding should correspond to actual project costs

• high-trust approach for large public bodies and their financial accounting systems

www.gu.se