Annual report for download - CoreGRID Network of Excellence

40FinancesThe opportunityoffered to theNetwork ofExcellence tofund part of themanpower has hada strong impact onthe researchers’integration.Philippe RohouAdministrative and Financial Co-ordinator, ERCIMDetailedbreakdownamong activities▼Financialresources -overview andbreakdownThe first three years of the Networkproved that CoreGRID satisfiedmost of the researchers’ needs. Theopportunity offered to the Networkof Excellence (funded under theSixth Framework Programme) tofund part of the manpower has hada strong impact on the researchers’integration. The budget flexibilitygiven by the European Commissionhas allowed important changes infinancial allocations to the six majoractivities. Network membership hasfinally been able to evolve accordingto partners’ needs and participation.BudgetThe CoreGRID Network of Excellenceis the only network funded by theEuropean Commission’s Service andSoftware Architectures, Infrastructureand Engineering Unit. The CoreGRIDbudget allocated by the EuropeanCommission amounts to a maximumof €8.2 million. This grant will bedistributed over a period of four yearsamong the 41 partners, depending ontheir activity and commitment levels.Until now, the Members’General Assembly has agreedto use the European budget tofund six major activities:• Administrative co-ordination• Scientific co-ordination• Integration activities• Spreading Excellence• JPA (Joint Programme ofActivities) Grant to Scientists• Various activitiesIt has to be emphasised that theproject is only partially funded bythe European Commission. The totalestimated costs for the full durationof the project were evaluated atmore than €19 million, while the ECfunding will not exceed €8.2 million.The budget for CoreGRID activitieswas agreed upon by the consortiumbefore the start of the project, andfinancial plans for 12, 18 and 48months have been established. Thebudget distribution is not frozenand was adjusted to match theNetwork’s evolution and needs. Inparticular the four-year plan hasbeen established as follows:Administrative and scientific coordinationcosts correspond to 18%of the overall budget. These include:• part of the salaries and travelcosts for the administrativeand scientific teams;• a lump sum allocated tothe Workpackage leaders,IMC and MGA Chairmen;• a system manager and provisionof collaborative tools; andaudit certificates costs.Integration and Spreading of Excellenceactivities are allocated an estimatedbudget of €1.86 million (representing22% of the overall budget) andinclude the following activities:• a research exchange programmeto encourage internal shorttermmobility (2%);• a fellowship programme toattract bright young scientists foreighteen-month periods (9%);• publishing and disseminationactivities (annual summerschools, annual report) (8%);• annual integration workshops;and sustainability (WP1 transversalactivity) + SOA-related tasks.