1. What happens if my organisation registered twice in URF?

If there is a duplicate registration, the new (2nd) PIC will change and the participant will learn about it during negotiation.

2. What is the Unique Registration Facility or URF?

The URF service will provide the users with an intuitive and user-friendly web based interface which will allow participants to register and submit their legal and financial data. LEARs will be able to access the URF to perform updates on the legal and financial data of his organisation

3. The data displayed when using my PIC is not correct, what should I do ?

If you think that the incorrect data might put at risk the eligibility of your proposal (for example, the SME status is incorrect), then you should submit your proposal without entering the PIC by manually re-entering all the legal and financial data.

4. I know that my organisation does not have a PIC, How can I get one?

If your organisation does not have an FP7 grant agreement, then you should create an account in the Participant Portal in order to be able to register your organisation in the Unique Registration Facility (URF) at the CORDIS webpage. A PIC is provided at the end of the registration process and can be then used for proposal submission after 48 hours. During registration, URF does not check for duplicate registrations; this will be done if your proposal is retained for negotiation.

5. How can I check whether my organisation already has a PIC?

All organisations that have an FP7 grant agreement have received a unique code (the PIC –Participant Identification Code), to be used for identifying the participant in any future proposal in the programmes managed by the "Research Directorates-General". The PIC is being communicated to all contact points for FP7 grant agreements known to the Commission. You will need to find out within your organisation who are contact points for FP7 grant agreements; they will be able to tell you what your PIC is. If you cannot find any contact point within your organisation, then you should ask the URF help desk DIGIT-EFP7-SUPPORT@ec.europa.eu to put you in contact with them. Please note that in order to avoid identity theft, the URF help desk will not be able to provide you with the PIC; From September 2008 onwards, there will be also a service available where every participant will be able to search whether or not his organisation already has a validated PIC. If it is the case then the participant should take contact with the LEAR of his organisation in order to get the PIC. The LEAR or Legal Entity Appointed Representative is a natural person appointed by a legal signatory of a legal entity to perform on its behalf certain tasks in the context of the legal entity's dealings with the Research DGs of the Commission.

6. To become an FP7 expert, may I register on my own or I have to be proposed by my organization?

There are two options. The first one is to register individually. If you go to the address https://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7/ you can click on the link "Register as an Expert". The second option is to be recommended by your organization. In the last case, an organization may submit a list of names of persons that it recommends as experts.

7. What is "Research for the Benefit of SMEs" (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises)?

Small businesses (SMEs) are a main driver of innovation and the major employer within Europe. However, as it is often difficult for SMEs to fully fund their own research, it has long been a priority to provide support. This includes targeted research projects through part of the specific programme "Capacities". The Research Executive Agency (REA) will manage virtually all of the SME-dedicated part of the Capacities programme. Get more at Q: What is "Research for the Benefit of SMEs" (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises)? A: Small businesses (SMEs) are a main driver of innovation and the major employer within Europe. However, as it is often difficult for SMEs to fully fund their own research, it has long been a priority to provide support. This includes targeted research projects through part of the specific programme "Capacities". The Research Executive Agency (REA) will manage virtually all of the SME-dedicated part of the Capacities programme. See more details at http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/index_en.cfm?pg=sme.

8. Is VAT an eligible cost?

No. Indirect taxes and duties, including VAT, are all ineligible costs.

9. What is the LEAR?

A legal signatory of each legal entity will be asked by the Commission to appoint one person (the so-called LEAR - Legal Entity Appointed Representative) for being the correspondent towards the Commission on all issues related to the legal status of the entity. The LEAR provides the Commission with up-to-date legal and financial data (including supporting documents, where necessary) and commits to maintain the account so that it is up-to-date enabling future use for grants and other transactions between the entity and the Commission research (and other) programmes

10. What is the PIC or Participant Identification Code of my organisation?

The PIC or Participant Identification Code is a 9 digits unique identifier for every validated legal entity. Participants will not have to submit their legal and financial information (and supporting documents) each time they submit a proposal or negotiate a grant agreement, but just their unique code - the PIC.