This paper discusses LERU’s main concerns about the administrative burden of managing FP7 projects. LERU makes specific recommendations to make the rules simpler and more consistent, while still maintaining a cost-based reporting approach and ensuring the sustainability of EU funding for universities. One of LERU’s recommendations e.g. is that the European Commission should move towards further acceptance of institutions’ usual accounting practices. LERU also recommends that overall IPR provisions be maintained for the next research-funding programme.

This note is based on a consultation among the LERU Community of European Research Project Mangers (ERPM).