Project implementation & management
Generally, funding agencies and institutions will apply as much flexibility as possible during the Covid-19 situation. If necessary, principal investigators and financial administrators should contact directly their project or programme officer and discuss individual solutions (EU, DFG, BmBF, German foundations).
EU Commission has confirmed it will grant full flexibility in Collaborative projects, ERC grants, Marie Curie fellowships as regards science (milestones, deliverables, scientific reporting, studies) and management (recruitment of staff and possibility to arrange for teleworking incl. related costs; cancellation and other costs re travel & meetings to tackle exceptional individual situations, which will be reimbursed; depreciation of equipment costs that may be accepted despite Covid-19 project inactivity; submission of uncomplete financial reporting incl. delayed Certificate on Financial Statements / CFS (i.e. audit certificate) which may not substantially affect interim or final payments).
As before Covid-19, the time-commitment obligations of ERC Principal Investigators should abide to the standard grant rules and should be fulfilled during the entire project duration (i.e. not annually or per reporting period). Exceptionally, the teleworked time of an ERC PI prevented from returning to Europe due to Covid-19 restrictions may count as fully eligible in any commitment respect.
Whenever teleworking is not possible during mandatory confinement of staff hired on EU projects (incl. ERC), this period of unworked time can qualify as „special absence“ and be deducted from the calculation of the individual annual productive hours (option 2). By this means, the H2020 grant may contribute to the costs of unworked confinement time.
Covid-19 related 'no-cost extensions' for ongoing projects may be granted straightforwardly for up to 6 months (amendment necessary). This may also be applicable in case the ERC PI cannot fulfill the time-commitment obligations during the regular project life time. In the case of considerable underspending (i.e. < 90% after last interim payment), an additional reporting period may be introduced, together with a request for 'no-cost extension', during the last project period. This should allow for an additional interim payment to reach the 90% threshold.
Pls. note that a PI may request the EU project to be scientifically complemented or re-orientated if contributing to tackling the Covid-19 epidemic (amendment necessary).
References: Covid-19 FAQ section of the "Funding & tender opportunities" EU Portal.
EU Marie Curie Fellowships: possibility for MC Gobal Fellowship researchers to telework from Europe (Germany) during Covid-19 outbreak for a max. duration of three months; possible flexibility (incl. telework) re the general mobility rule due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions; continuous payment of researcher allowances even when research work is not continuing as planned; costs incurred for secondments not implemented or interrupted due to Covid-19 (e.g. travel and accommodation expenses) may be eligible; however, a cost-neutral extension of the MC Fellowship is not possible (because linked to paid employment contract conditions, fixed number of person-months, and non-increasable funding amount).
BmBF has confirmed it may grant, in the case of project delays, an extension of the relevant reporting and other financial deadline on very short notice (i.e. until 14 days before deadline). Cost statements and requests for payment ("Zahlungsanforderungen") will be accepted by e-mail (PDF scan). All signed original documents will have to be sent per post later. BmBF may bear cancellation of travel or related costs of projects if related to the Covid-19 situation, based on § 10 Abs. 2 BRKG, and § 10.2 zu Absatz 2 of BRKGVwV.
References: "Corona" official site (German only) of Projektträger DESY of Helmholtz Gemeinschaft.
See also Covid-19 official site of BmBF National Contact Point VDI /VDE Innovation.
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation provides a very helpful, detailed "Corona pandemic FAQ" section for researchers receiving a fellowship (post-doctoral or experienced), answering to various scenarios.
Volkswagen Foundation (VWS) has published two interviews: 1) Interview with its Secretary General, Georg Schütte, dated 25 Mar 2020: "The effects of the Corona crisis on the Foundation's activities". 2) Interview with its Head of Asset Management, Dieter Lehmann, dated 4 May 2020: "All approved projects are fully financed - from beginning to end".
VWS has also announced that ongoing funded projects may obtain a no-cost extension on request. For more details, see official site.
References: Covid-19 FAQ section of the "Funding & tender opportunities" EU Portal.
DFG has confirmed it will counter negative effects of the epidemic by measures which, among others, include the "cost-neutral extension of projects tied to fiscal years, as well as compensatory, bridge and completion funding or the extension of calls for proposals, fellowships and employment contracts of doctoral researchers." (Statement of DFG President Katja Becker, see below references)
DFG may also award, in cases of project delays related to protection measures against Covid-19, additional funding for personnel and other direct costs (equivalent to a 3-month project duration maximum). Protection measures may refer e.g. to the lockdown of a Max Planck Institute or individual quarantine measures, or to travel restrictions, etc. Costs related to the cancellation of events (conferences etc.) may be fully charged on the project.
As regards fellowships, DFG will continue paying the stipends for up to 3 months in case the fellow cannot return to the host country (while on home visit) or cannot return to Germany after completion of the project. DFG may also extend the deadline for financial reporting ("Verwendungsnachweis") for 2019 until 30.06.2020.
References: DFG Information for Applicants and Funding Recipients, DFG statement dated 20.05.2020 (German only), public statement of DFG President Katja Becker dated 08.04.2020, as well as DFG official letters dated 17.03.2020 and 20.03.2020.
BmBF has confirmed it may grant, in the case of project delays, an extension of the relevant reporting and other financial deadline on very short notice (i.e. until 14 days before deadline). Cost statements and requests for payment ("Zahlungsanforderungen") will be accepted by e-mail (PDF scan). All signed original documents will have to be sent per post later. BmBF may bear cancellation of travel or related costs of projects if related to the Covid-19 situation, based on § 10 Abs. 2 BRKG, and § 10.2 zu Absatz 2 of BRKGVwV.
References: "Corona" official site (German only) of Projektträger DESY of Helmholtz Gemeinschaft.
See also Covid-19 official site of BmBF National Contact Point VDI /VDE Innovation.
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation provides a very helpful, detailed "Corona pandemic FAQ" section for researchers receiving a fellowship (post-doctoral or experienced), answering to various scenarios.
Volkswagen Foundation (VWS) has published two interviews: 1) Interview with its Secretary General, Georg Schütte, dated 25 Mar 2020: "The effects of the Corona crisis on the Foundation's activities". 2) Interview with its Head of Asset Management, Dieter Lehmann, dated 4 May 2020: "All approved projects are fully financed - from beginning to end".
VWS has also announced that ongoing funded projects may obtain a no-cost extension on request. For more details, see official site.