IF-CAR: Does teaching count as being active in research?

Whether or not the researcher has been active in research is determined on the basis of fellowships or employment contracts in the domain of research. If contracts are not research contracts, they don't count. So, if the contract is purely teaching it does not count as being active in research.

All Actions: What are the minimum requirements for the letter of commitment?

Letters of commitment should follow the template/outline given in the respective guide for applicants for each call. Do not forget to have the letters signed and provided with the correct date! 

IF: Do partner organisations for secondments in MS/AC need to have a PIC?

If there is a secondment in Member States or Associated Countries envisaged in Part B of the proposal the applicant will add a secondment (including a sector, name and country)  in Section 5 (call specific questions).

This sections does not require a PIC number for partner organisation in case of secondment. 

(Answer provided by NCPs) 

IF: Would it be allowed to use the Research and Training budget to hire a PhD student or Post Doc to do a portion of the work of the fellow on an IF?

As a general rule, the default answer to this question is NO. Category B.1 ("Research, training and networking costs") of the budget is meant to facilitate the researcher's attendance to meetings, conferences, training actions, courses, pay his lab material, books, conference abstracts, library records, publications costs, etc... The financial contribution is therefore primarily intended for the fellow and it shouldn't be used to finance the salary of other persons.
However, it's also true that beneficiaries sometimes address this kind of requests to the REA. This is discussed on a case-by-case basis by the PO in charge and our legal officers, and in some exceptional cases they might get a favourable answer, when the work to be done by this third person is rather concrete, well defined and proves to be essential for the successful development of the action. By no means, they should be hired to perform the researcher's work but to assist him/her in achieving a particular task. The request must also be supported by the researcher himself/herself and the host institution must guarantee that this use of the money will not be detrimental for the researcher in terms of conference attendance, publication of papers, training fees, etc.

IF: Is the Medical Doctor equivalent to the PhD?

No, it is not. REA confirmed the NCPs that the medical doctor is not equivalent with a PhD under Horizon2020 or HorizonEurope.

Where do I find the 'Researcher declaration' in Horizon2020 and HorizonEurope?

The ”Researcher Declarations” is even more important in Horizon2020, as reporting is automated (the data from the declarations will be fed directly to the reporting system). TThe RD has to be updated for all cases of leave (e.g. parental or sickness leave) and for secondments. The declarations are done electronically via the SyGMa portal for managing the grant.