Horizon Europe’s lump sum shift: high satisfaction masked by behind-the-scenes administrative strain

As the European Commission scales up lump-sum funding to cover 50% of the Horizon Europe call budget in 2026-2027, two evaluations show how the instrument is reshaping European research management.

Reports from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and the Informal Group of RTD Liaison Offices (IGLO), published in October 2026, reveal a dual reality: while researchers and university managers praise the elimination of financial reporting towards Brussels, administrative friction has frequently been shifted internally rather than eliminated.

The European Commission’s Q1 2026 survey demonstrates strong and growing enthusiasm for lump sums:
• 83% of SMEs and newcomers approve of lump sum funding as a major simplification;
• 78% of all respondents agree that…