A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Horizon 2020 is an agreement that defines the framework of the negotiations among the partners of a consortium and that is generally concluded in the very beginning of the negotiations on the involvement in a project, even before submitting a proposal. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action, helping to explain any protocols for communication, information exchange, reporting, confidentiality issues, and modifications and conditions for terminating the agreement.

Confidentiality is an extremely important issue for participants in R&D projects, from the setting-up (even during earliest discussions on the assessment of participation), to the implementation and exploitation phases.

Confidentiality is an extremely important issue for participants in R&D projects, from the setting-up (even during earliest discussions on the assessment of participation), to the implementation and exploitation phases.