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<div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px;">Dear Valerio,</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px;">The text is fine for me. Only point is that I miss that the new work should be within the scope of the existing task descriptions.
I understood from the previous discussions that this was important.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px;">Regards,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px;">Kevin</span></div>
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On 18 Dec 2025, at 21:00, Valerio Pruneri <Valerio.Pruneri@icfo.eu> wrote:<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi All<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for today’s meeting. At the end of email you find an explanation of the Associated Partner (AP) role. This is perfectly aligned with what we have talked today. Note for example that they are legal entities not necessarily from countries
“associated” to HE. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The description is also in line with what we call “External Collaborators”, while the work annex can be essentially identified with a “Collaborative R&D Projects”.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Following what we said today, I will send a message to all PIXEurope’s partners to see how many of them foresee APs. Note that here are partners that propose as it is like we are enlarging consortium.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If at the end they are not too many, this is a more straightforward route to implement what we call “Collaborative R&D Projects”, as the legal framework and related obligations are established.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If we get many requests, we will then need to work on the “External Collaborators” and “Collaborative R&D Projects” as Chips JU and Commission may not want to deal with a huge number of amendments. Note that even in this case we have to
limit the number to a reasonable value, certainly below the Open Access End Users.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please comment if you see any issue with the email I plan to send.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Valerio<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">An <b>Associated Partner (AP)</b> in <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Horizon+Europe&sca_esv=1f0bb9d93a692111&biw=1280&bih=551&ei=vFlEaZamON6akdUPo4LWiQs&ved=2ahUKEwigqv-488eRAxVqNPsDHSjYE3YQgK4QegQIARAB&uact=5&oq=associated+partner+in+horizon+europe&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiJGFzc29jaWF0ZWQgcGFydG5lciBpbiBob3Jpem9uIGV1cm9wZTIHEAAYgAQYEzIIEAAYFhgeGBMyCBAAGBYYHhgTMggQABgWGB4YEzIIEAAYFhgeGBMyBRAAGO8FMggQABiABBiiBEj2hAJQ8cEBWOH_AXACeAGQAQCYAX6gAYcRqgEEMzMuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCF6AC7wvCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgIFECEYoAHCAgQQIRgVwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYFhgeGArCAgUQABiABMICChAAGBYYHhgTGAqYAwCIBgGQBgiSBwQyMi4xoAf8iwGyBwQyMC4xuAfpC8IHBjAuMjIuMcgHK4AIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&mstk=AUtExfBn5wrrlabqv3b_O_qVqzPyQhi354iiqV5QDhgNoxPjwcYTBSB7nBnb-jL8EVdRZJX0zDPmTd_cB93mkkLcvq2A35V-XsNu3S1mWZrZjOYusxlIpVSOrHNJfpaGTcdJ09s&csui=3" originalsrc="https://www.google.com/search?q=Horizon+Europe&sca_esv=1f0bb9d93a692111&biw=1280&bih=551&ei=vFlEaZamON6akdUPo4LWiQs&ved=2ahUKEwigqv-488eRAxVqNPsDHSjYE3YQgK4QegQIARAB&uact=5&oq=associated+partner+in+horizon+europe&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiJGFzc29jaWF0ZWQgcGFydG5lciBpbiBob3Jpem9uIGV1cm9wZTIHEAAYgAQYEzIIEAAYFhgeGBMyCBAAGBYYHhgTMggQABgWGB4YEzIIEAAYFhgeGBMyBRAAGO8FMggQABiABBiiBEj2hAJQ8cEBWOH_AXACeAGQAQCYAX6gAYcRqgEEMzMuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCF6AC7wvCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgIFECEYoAHCAgQQIRgVwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYFhgeGArCAgUQABiABMICChAAGBYYHhgTGAqYAwCIBgGQBgiSBwQyMi4xoAf8iwGyBwQyMC4xuAfpC8IHBjAuMjIuMcgHK4AIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&mstk=AUtExfBn5wrrlabqv3b_O_qVqzPyQhi354iiqV5QDhgNoxPjwcYTBSB7nBnb-jL8EVdRZJX0zDPmTd_cB93mkkLcvq2A35V-XsNu3S1mWZrZjOYusxlIpVSOrHNJfpaGTcdJ09s&csui=3">Horizon
Europe</a> is a legal entity that actively implements tasks in a project but <b>does not receive EU funding</b>, doesn't sign the Grant Agreement (GA), and covers its own costs, often from non-EU countries or entities ineligible for funds. They are formally
mentioned in the GA (Annex 1), defining their specific tasks and responsibilities, with the main <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=consortium&sca_esv=1f0bb9d93a692111&biw=1280&bih=551&ei=vFlEaZamON6akdUPo4LWiQs&ved=2ahUKEwigqv-488eRAxVqNPsDHSjYE3YQgK4QegQIARAD&uact=5&oq=associated+partner+in+horizon+europe&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiJGFzc29jaWF0ZWQgcGFydG5lciBpbiBob3Jpem9uIGV1cm9wZTIHEAAYgAQYEzIIEAAYFhgeGBMyCBAAGBYYHhgTMggQABgWGB4YEzIIEAAYFhgeGBMyBRAAGO8FMggQABiABBiiBEj2hAJQ8cEBWOH_AXACeAGQAQCYAX6gAYcRqgEEMzMuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCF6AC7wvCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgIFECEYoAHCAgQQIRgVwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYFhgeGArCAgUQABiABMICChAAGBYYHhgTGAqYAwCIBgGQBgiSBwQyMi4xoAf8iwGyBwQyMC4xuAfpC8IHBjAuMjIuMcgHK4AIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&mstk=AUtExfBn5wrrlabqv3b_O_qVqzPyQhi354iiqV5QDhgNoxPjwcYTBSB7nBnb-jL8EVdRZJX0zDPmTd_cB93mkkLcvq2A35V-XsNu3S1mWZrZjOYusxlIpVSOrHNJfpaGTcdJ09s&csui=3" originalsrc="https://www.google.com/search?q=consortium&sca_esv=1f0bb9d93a692111&biw=1280&bih=551&ei=vFlEaZamON6akdUPo4LWiQs&ved=2ahUKEwigqv-488eRAxVqNPsDHSjYE3YQgK4QegQIARAD&uact=5&oq=associated+partner+in+horizon+europe&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiJGFzc29jaWF0ZWQgcGFydG5lciBpbiBob3Jpem9uIGV1cm9wZTIHEAAYgAQYEzIIEAAYFhgeGBMyCBAAGBYYHhgTMggQABgWGB4YEzIIEAAYFhgeGBMyBRAAGO8FMggQABiABBiiBEj2hAJQ8cEBWOH_AXACeAGQAQCYAX6gAYcRqgEEMzMuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCF6AC7wvCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgIFECEYoAHCAgQQIRgVwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYFhgeGArCAgUQABiABMICChAAGBYYHhgTGAqYAwCIBgGQBgiSBwQyMi4xoAf8iwGyBwQyMC4xuAfpC8IHBjAuMjIuMcgHK4AIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&mstk=AUtExfBn5wrrlabqv3b_O_qVqzPyQhi354iiqV5QDhgNoxPjwcYTBSB7nBnb-jL8EVdRZJX0zDPmTd_cB93mkkLcvq2A35V-XsNu3S1mWZrZjOYusxlIpVSOrHNJfpaGTcdJ09s&csui=3">consortium</a> remaining
responsible for their work's quality. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">Key Characteristics:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">No EU Funding:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> They bear their own costs, even if eligible for funding.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0A0A0A;margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">No GA Signature:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> They are not beneficiaries but are listed in the GA.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0A0A0A;margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Task Implementation:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> They perform crucial, defined tasks within the project.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0A0A0A;margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Origin:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> Often from countries not associated with Horizon Europe, like Switzerland (which has its own funding), or entities
that opt out of funding.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0A0A0A;margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Responsibility:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> The beneficiary linked to the AP (or the whole consortium) ensures their work aligns with the GA, as per
https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/europe-world/international-cooperation/bilateral-cooperation-science-and-technology-agreements-non-eu-countries_en. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">Why Use This Role?</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">To bring in crucial expertise or resources not available from funded partners.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0A0A0A;margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">To allow entities from non-associated countries (or those with alternative funding) to contribute meaningfully.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0A0A0A;margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">To provide visibility and collaboration opportunities within the EU's R&I landscape, as noted by <a href="https://eufunds.me/what-is-an-associated-partner-in-horizon-europe/" originalsrc="https://eufunds.me/what-is-an-associated-partner-in-horizon-europe/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1A0DAB">https://eufunds.me/what-is-an-associated-partner-in-horizon-europe/</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">In essence, they're valuable, non-funded contributors whose roles are formalized within the project's legal framework. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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