## Organizational Type & Legal Status
- Eligible entities: Legal entities established in EU Member States, Associated Countries, OECD countries, and Mercosur countries.
- Public bodies, research organisations, or higher education establishments must demonstrate a gender equality plan.
- Exclusion: Legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or non-government controlled territories of Ukraine are not eligible.
- Exclusion: Entities assessed as high-risk suppliers of mobile network communication equipment (or entities fully or partially owned or controlled by them) are not eligible to participate as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, or associated partners.
- Exclusion: Legal entities established outside Russia but whose proprietary rights are directly or indirectly owned for more than 50% by legal persons established in Russia are not eligible.
- Restriction: Entities directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or non-eligible country entity may not participate unless guarantees are provided and positively assessed by their eligible country of establishment (if an EU Member State or Associated Country). These guarantees must demonstrate that their participation would not negatively impact the Union's strategic interests, assets, autonomy, or security.
## Geographic & Control Requirements
- Country of establishment: Must be in an eligible country (EU Member State, Associated Country, OECD, or Mercosur).
- Control: Control over the applicant legal entity must not be exercised in a manner that restrains or restricts its ability to carry out the action and deliver results, nor impose restrictions on its infrastructure, facilities, assets, resources, intellectual property, or know-how needed for the action.
- IP Ownership: Ownership of the intellectual property (IP) arising from, and the results of, the action must remain within the recipient during and after completion of the action. IP must not be subject to control or restrictions by non-eligible countries or entities, and access to it from outside eligible countries is not permitted without approval from the eligible country where the legal entity is established.
- Sensitive Information: Measures must be in place to prevent access by a non-eligible country or entity to sensitive information relating to the action.
- Security Clearance: Employees or other persons involved in the action may require a national security clearance issued by an eligible country, where appropriate.
## Consortium Requirements
- Collaboration: Participants of selected projects will be requested to cooperate in the SNS Programme for topics of common interests by signing a written 'collaboration agreement' referred to in the specific provisions of the Model Grant Agreement.
Grants8