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Dictionary termTrack EStablev2026.2

Work package (Horizon Europe)

A defined sub-component of a Horizon Europe project that groups related tasks, deliverables, and milestones under a single work-package leader, with its own budget allocation and timeline.

ByCASRAI Editorial Board
· Last updated 15 Aug 2026
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Examples

Worked examples

  • Is an instance

    WP3 'Algorithm development' is led by partner P2 with contributions from P1, P5, and P7 over months 7 to 30.

  • Is an instance

    A lump-sum Horizon Europe project assigns 800,000 EUR to WP4 'Pilot deployment'.

Counter-examples

Looks similar, but isn't

  • Not an instance

    A single experiment within a WP is not itself a WP.

  • Not an instance

    A funder-level programme grouping multiple projects is not a WP.

Editorial commentary

Work packages (WPs) are the principal organising unit for Horizon Europe project plans. Annex 1 of the Grant Agreement lists each WP with: a WP number and title, lead beneficiary, participating beneficiaries with person-month allocations, start and end month, objectives, tasks, deliverables, and milestones. Typical Horizon Europe projects have 5 to 10 WPs, with WP1 usually ‘management and coordination’. Project budget is reported and (in lump-sum grants) paid per WP.

References

  • European Commission Horizon Europe Application Form Part B template; Annotated Grant Agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “WP” stand for in Horizon Europe documents?

WP stands for “work package.” Work packages are the principal organising unit for a Horizon Europe project plan, with the full project broken down into a set of numbered WPs in Annex 1 of the Grant Agreement.

How many work packages does a typical Horizon Europe project have?

Typical Horizon Europe projects have 5 to 10 work packages, each set out as its own entry in Annex 1 of the Grant Agreement.

Who is the work package leader?

Each work package listed in Annex 1 has a lead beneficiary, alongside the other participating beneficiaries and their person-month allocations. The lead beneficiary acts as the work package leader, with responsibility for that WP’s objectives, tasks, deliverables, and milestones.

What does WP1 usually cover in a Horizon Europe project?

WP1 is usually the “management and coordination” work package, separate from the WPs that carry out the project’s research and technical work.

What information does Annex 1 list for each work package?

For each work package, Annex 1 lists the WP number and title, lead beneficiary, participating beneficiaries with person-month allocations, start and end month, objectives, tasks, deliverables, and milestones.

How is a work package’s budget paid under a lump-sum grant?

Project budget is reported per work package, and in lump-sum grants it is also paid per work package rather than reimbursed against actual incurred costs.

Also known as

WP · Work package

Machine-readable encodings

Use in your systems

JATS XML <role> element
xml
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Schema.org DefinedTerm (JSON-LD)
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