Decision in case 1574/2019/UNK on the ineligibility of an application for funding organised by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology

The complaint to the European Institute of Innovation and Technology

1. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is an EU body created to strengthen Europe’s ability to innovate. Amongst other activities, it provides funding for health projects in the Member States. 

2.  The complainant’s application for funding was rejected because it did not meet two eligibility criteria set out in the call.^[1]  The call stated that, amongst other criteria, projects could only obtain funding if: 1) an EIT Health RIS hub^[2] was part of the consortium carrying out the project and 2) the members of the project were legal persons and not natural persons. It noted that the complainant’s project did not meet these criteria.

3. The complainant complained that the EIT erred when it found that his project was ineligible for funding. He also complained that the EIT did not publish the information about how to apply for funding.

The EIT’s response to the complainant

4. The EIT confirmed its decision on the ineligibility of the complainant’s application.

5. The EIT stated that the information about how to apply for funding was widely published in various publications and social media. It also stated that workshops were organised during the application period in three different locations.

6. The complainant was not satisfied and turned to the Ombudsman.

The European Ombudsman's finding

7. The Ombudsman notes that an EIT Health RIS hub was not included in the complainant’s application. The complainant, therefore, did not comply with at least one of the requirements set out in the call.

8. For this reason, the project was ineligible for funding. There is no need to examine if the complainant’s project complied with the other criteria.

9. Concerning the publication of the call, the Ombudsman finds that it was published on the EIT website.

10. Based on the information provided by the complainant, the Ombudsman finds no maladministration in this case.^[3]

 

Fergal Ó Regan

Head of Inquiries - Unit 2  
 
 
Strasbourg, 16/12/2019

 

[1] Article 3 of the EIT Health InnoStars RIS Innovation Call 2019. Available at the following link: https://www.eithealth.eu/documents/21805/0/RIS+2019+Innovation+Call+document/463d48f2-efba-46dd-ea3c-8ea3eebfff5b.  

[2] For information on the hubs, see: https://www.eithealth.eu/regional-innovation-scheme.

[3] This complaint has been dealt with under delegated case handling, in accordance with Article 11 of the Decision of the European Ombudsman adopting Implementing Provisions