Transnational network of national contact points (NCP)

Type of action: Coordination and support action (CSA) Scope:Specific challenge:Facilitate trans-national co-operation between NCPs within the ‘Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation’ part with a view to identifying and sharing good practices and raising the general standard of support to programme applicants, taking into account the diversity of actors that make up the constituency of this ‘Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation’ part.   Scope:Support will be given to a consortium of formally nominated NCPs in the area of the ‘Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation’ part. The activities will be tailored according to the nature of the area, and the priorities of the NCPs concerned. Various mechanisms may be included, such as benchmarking, joint workshops, enhanced cross-border brokerage events, specific training linked to this ‘Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation’ part as well as to gender dimension of Research and Innovation and twinning schemes.  Special attention will be given to enhance the competence of NCPs, including helping less experienced NCPs rapidly acquire the know-how accumulated in other countries.    The focus throughout should be on issues specific to the ‘Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation’ part and should not duplicate actions foreseen in the NCP network for quality standards and horizontal issues under ‘Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation’.   Only NCPs from EU Member States and Associated Countries, and which have been officially appointed by the relevant national authorities are eligible to participate in and receive funding for this action.   The consortium should have a good representation of experienced and less experienced NCPs.   Submission of a single proposal is encouraged. NCPs from EU Member States or Associated Countries choosing not to participate as a member of the consortium should be identified and the reason explained in the proposal. These NCPs are nevertheless invited and encouraged to participate in the project activities (e.g. workshops), and the costs incurred by the consortium for such participation (e.g. travel costs paid by the consortium) may be included in the estimated budget and be eligible for funding by the Commission.     The Commission will only fund one proposal under this topic.   Expected impact:   An improved and professionalised NCP service across Europe, thereby helping simplify access to Horizon 2020 calls, lowering the entry barriers for newcomers, and raising the average quality of proposals submitted. A more consistent level of NCP support services across Europe. Increased application levels as well as improved quality of proposals particularly from newcomers   Type of Action: Coordination and support actions The conditions related to this topic are provided in the general conditions for this call and in the General Annexes.    Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application. List of countries and applicable rules for funding: described in part A of the General Annexes of the General Work Programme. Please refer also to the detailed information in the Work Programme entitled 'Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation'.   Eligibility and admissibility conditions: described in part B and C of the General Annexes of the General Work Programme. Please refer also to the detailed information in the Work Programme entitled 'Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation'.   Evaluation 3.1  Evaluation criteria and procedure, scoring and threshold: described in part H of the General Annexes of the General Work Programme 3.2 Guide to the submission and evaluation process   Proposal page limits and layout: Please refer to Part B of the standard proposal template.   Indicative timetable for evaluation and grant agreement: Information on the outcome of one-stage evaluation: maximum 5 months from the final date for submission. Signature of grant agreements: maximum 3 months from the date of informing successful applicants.   Provisions, proposal templates and evaluation forms for the type(s) of action(s) under this topic: Coordination and Support Action: Specific provisions and funding rates Standard proposal template (administrative forms and structure of technical annex) Standard evaluation form Annotated Model Grant Agreement   Additional provisions: Horizon 2020 budget flexibility Classified information Financial support to Third Parties – where a topic description foresees financial support to Third Parties, these provisions apply.   Open access must be granted to all scientific publications resulting from Horizon 2020 actions, and proposals must refer to measures envisaged. Where relevant, proposals should also provide information on how the participants will manage the research data generated and/or collected during the project, such as details on what types of data the project will generate, whether and how this data will be exploited or made accessible for verification and re-use, and how it will be curated and preserved.