What role do associated partners play, and how are their activities funded?

Associated partners support the project or the partnership externally by providing their expertise and access to relevant data and information. They also help disseminate project results among target groups.
Associated partners finance their activities independently. Their activities cannot be funded with public funds allocated to a project partner. The only exception is travel costs, which may be covered from the project partners’ budget within the framework of the travel cost lump sum.
Associated partners may also be located outside the program area. However, their activities must benefit the program area.