Budget funds for the implementation of research programmes are purpose-specific funds, which can be used exclusively in the volume and method defined in the contract and contractual documentation. Attention should be paid to the following points:

1. The joint payment burden on individual researchers implementing research programmes, projects and CRP.
   An individual researcher has a maximum permitted burden of one FTE for full time work, and a relative proportion of that volume for supplementary work, in accordance with the legal regulations for the field. Research organisations are themselves responsible for operating with the legal norms and for the correct purpose-specific use of budget funds: they must monitor the budget burden on individual researchers and ensure the legality and correct use of contractual funds in accordance with regulatory provisions.

2. The burden on technical and expert collaborators.
   If a programme or project requires technical and expert collaborators the volume of their work in the total FTE calculation for the programme or project will be calculated multiplying by factor of 2/3. The proportion of FTE for an individual programme or project cannot be greater than:
   • 0.10 in price category A
   • 0.20 in price category B
   • 0.30 in price category C
   • 0.35 in price category D

3. Use of material costs. The research hour price for research programmes and projects finances not only researcher salary, taxes and contributions and depreciation, but also direct material costs and service costs, which include:

• direct material costs relating to research work;
• direct non-material costs and service costs relating to research work such as: travel expenses, freelance work, services pertaining to other contracts relating to implementation of the programme or project, etc.

4. "Running costs". Costs associated with administrating and managing, fixed operating and maintenance costs and renovation and refitting costs for premises and equipment are covered by the institutional funding which the Slovenian Research Agency requires public research institutions to fulfil. The purpose of research programme and project funds is not to finance such "running costs" if this means fixed operating costs, but rather their purpose is to finance the direct costs of implementing a research programme or project.

5. Within the remit of approved funds on and on condition that programme or project funds are not exceeded, the use of funds for individual costing elements may deviate by a maximum plus or minus 15 per cent in all costing elements within the programme or project structure at the expense of another costing element. Further deviation may be permitted when no freelance work or service for natural persons from other contracts is paid for within the programme or project, where the proportion designated for freelance work as specified in Article 33 of the above mentioned Decree can be transferred to salaries, taxes and contributions. Payments for freelance work from programme or project funds are permitted exclusively for implementers that are not employed by the organisation implementing the programme or project.

6. Additional deviations or exceptions are only permitted on the basis of detailed grounds and with the prior consent of the Agency, issued as a decision.