On February 14th the Austrian Ministry for Science and Research published its position paper on the Horizon 2020 proposals. Austria welcomes the proposed general structure of Horizon 2020, but criticizes some of the concrete proposals: • Rejects the increased co-funding of national mobility programmes through Marie Curie
• Asks for clarification on the future FET Flagships and on the Risk Financing instruments;
• Demands the reintroduction of the Research for the Benefit of SMEs scheme;
• Criticizes the structure of the “Inclusive, Innovative and Secure Societies” Challenge, and proposes separate challenges for Security and for Social Sciences;
• Asks for a better structure in the Health Challenge and for the maintenance of the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme (CIP) outside Horizon 2020; Regarding the Rules for Participation, Austria welcomes the 100% funding rate, but requests to keep an option for non-profit organisations to claim actual indirect costs (although it does not specify at which rate). In respect to the budget, Austria warns that the amount allocated to Horizon 2020 could be reduced, and already proposes a reallocation of the funds from the Societal Challenges to the Industrial Leadership block and, to a lesser extent, the Excellent Science pillar. Link