Implementation of co-funded partnerships: In-kind activities and in-kind contributions

In a note for the attention of the Strategic Programme Committee, DG Research & Innovation has provided guidance on in-kind contributions. The term “In-kind contribution” is described as non-financial assets that are being put at the disposal of a partnership and which can be used both in the context of external calls (e.g. a research infrastructure) or of in-kind activities (e.g. a dataset for use in a common R&I programme).

In-kind activities and in-kind contributions

Co-funded partnerships implement two types of activities: external calls for proposals (using Financial Support to Third Parties) and in-kind activities. To do so, they can mobilise financial assets but also in-kind contributions. We provide clarifications on these different terms hereafter:

• In-kind activities within the partnership refer to any activity that is distinct from and complements the financial support to third parties/external calls, i.e. typically “in-house activities”. This can relate to e.g. the coordination and implementation of existing in-house activities or the collection of a joint data set, but other examples are of course possible.
• In-kind contributions, are non-financial assets that are being put at the disposal of a partnership and which can be used both in the context of external calls (e.g. a research infrastructure) or of in-kind activities (e.g. a dataset for use in a common R&I programme).

Regarding the eligibility requirements for in-kind contributions, and more specifically the type of activities/projects/initiatives/physical assets which qualify for in-kind contributions (research results, data sources, platforms, algorithms, data infrastructure, sensor networks…), potentially everything that is not a financial or cash contribution is allowed, and the related costs can be entered into the project cost statement by using the categories of eligible costs foreseen in the Model Grant Agreement (1). It is those cost categories that should be used to include the in-kind contribution in the partnership’s budget estimates.