The principal investigator may request to postpone the start of work on the project or to suspend it temporarily before the work begins and after the contract is signed, once only and with the agreement of the research team. In this case the Unit’s approval must be obtained, observing the following:

1. A request to postpone or suspend the start of work on the project shall be submitted to the Unit by the principal investigator, specifying the period required, provided that it does not exceed six months, and specifying convincing justifications for the request.
2. The Unit undertakes to study the request and respond to it officially by letter, and to notify the General Secretariat of the Unit’s decision.
3. The Unit takes the postponement or suspension period into account in setting the dates for submitting the technical and financial reports of the project.
4. No spending on the project takes place during the postponement or suspension period.
5. The principal investigator notifies the Unit in writing of the resumption of work on the research after the end of the postponement or suspension period.
6. If the project has not started after the six months, the grant is cancelled and the General Secretariat is notified of that.