Published on 8 July 2022
UKRI Grants - Timesheets and FES
From July 2022, a new mechanism for timesheets has been implemented to comply with audit requirements on UKRI funding (RCUK and Innovate). Information about timesheets is available on the ROO website to tell you about the changes and we will continue to update the page with further guidance.
In summary -
- UKRI Final Expenditure Statements (FES) require additional reporting and timesheets are needed as evidence in order to make the claim. Research Support Advisors at ROO will guide Departments through this new procedure at the time the FES is due.
- All directly-incurred (DI) staff members working less than 100% of their contracted time on a UKRI or Innovate UK research grant are required to complete timesheets every month. A new timesheet template and SharePoint site for saving completed timesheets is being developed for Departments to use and will be available w/c 25th July.
A reminder that previous bulletin items about Final Expenditure Statements and timesheet requirements are available on our website.
In the meantime, if you have any queries please contact your Research Support Manger or Assistant Director at the Research Operations Office.
Research Grants User Group Meeting – 14th July 2022
The next Research Grants User Group (RGUG) meeting will take place as a live event on Thursday 14th July at 11:15am. The agenda will include presentations on Sustainable Business Travel Guidelines, timesheet requirements for UKRI funding and updates on Horizon Europe / UKRI Underwrite.
Please use this link to join the meeting.
For further information please contact Hannah.Pawson@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Horizon Europe / UKRI Underwrite
- Underwrite of 2021 ERC projects
As expected, the UK’s current lack of association to the Horizon Europe programme, means we are unable to sign the EC Grant Agreements for ERC StG/CoG/AdG grants. The majority of these ERC projects are in the process of being transferred to UKRI funding. We would encourage any ERC StG/CoG/AdG award holder who is still yet to initiate the submission forms via JeS, to do this as soon as possible, because the EC Grant Agreement process has now been terminated.
- Underwrite of 2021 MSCA projects
The UKRI portal for the MSCA Doctoral Networks opened earlier this week. We are forwarding instructions to the relevant PIs and their Departmental Grants Administration contacts about the next steps. The internal processes for the approval of this submission will follow much the same path as for the other schemes going via the UKRI underwrite.
- Underwrite of 2021 Collaborative projects
We are continuing to circulate guidance to our award holders as ROO is made aware of successful awards. If you have been included on a successful HE collaborative award and have not received any guidance from us on the next steps, please do get in touch with your Departmental research grants administration team and they can liaise with ROO.
By way of reassurance, there is currently no cut-off date/deadline for the submissions to UKRI, as these can only be made once the overarching Grant Agreements have been signed between the lead institution and the EC. Therefore, the timing of the submission to UKRI will depend on the conclusion of that process.
If you or your project consortium lead need any information or support to access the underwrite funds, please don’t hesitate to contact the EU and International team at ROO.
- Applying to Horizon Europe and ongoing H2020 projects
UK institutions are still eligible to apply for Horizon Europe Funding. The UK’s current lack of association does not affect your ability to apply and has no bearing on the evaluation of applications.
UKRI have reiterated that in the submission stage of proposals, UK institutions should be included as a beneficiary to the project, not an Associated Partner. If you intend to submit an application as the lead of a consortia, you should ensure that contingency plans are included in the project proposal which covers the eventuality of the grant being awarded, but the UK still not having associated.
Also, be aware that the list of calls currently covered by the UKRI underwrite guarantee, only extends to those schemes which had envisaged Grant Agreement signature dates prior to 31st December 2022. For the calls which are not yet included by the UKRI Guarantee Guidance, UKRI have stated that UK institutions should continue to apply as beneficiaries.
The lack of association currently only impacts those new awards under the Horizon Europe framework, ongoing H2020 grants are not affected and can continue as normal.