On March 25th, we hosted an insightful webinar on Horizon Europe budgeting and reporting, featuring Dr. Claudia Vecchiarelli from the University of Milan's Department of Agriculture. With her deep expertise in financial management for research projects, Dr. Claudia provided valuable guidance on how to structure project budgets effectively and ensure smooth financial reporting.
Key Takeaways from the Webinar:
🔹 Building a Strong Consortium – Dr. Claudia Vecchiarelli highlighted the importance of a well-balanced consortium for a successful Horizon Europe project. She emphasized having clearly defined roles and expertise, avoiding redundancy, and ensuring geographical and gender diversity. Including patient organizations, civic societies, and industry partners can also strengthen a project’s credibility.
🔹 Effective Budget Planning – Participants learned about two budgeting methods: top-down and bottom-up. Dr. Claudia Vecchiarelli recommended the bottom-up approach for a more precise and realistic budget, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently. She also shared practical tips on avoiding excessive travel costs and managing subcontracting.
🔹 Financial Reporting & Compliance – Dr. Vecchiarelli explained how to prepare financial reports and justify any deviations from the grant agreement. She stressed the importance of transparent documentation and careful tracking of project expenses.
The recording from the webinar is available below.