RESAVER

 

RESAVER (Retirement Savings Vehicle for European Research Institutions) is a multi-country, multi-employer occupational pension fund, operating on a non-profit basis, specifically designed for researchers and employees working in the research and academic sectors across Europe.

Key features of RESAVER include: 

  • Portability: RESAVER provides a single pension savings account, which can work as (i) a complement to national pension systems or, in certain countries, as (ii) an alternative to granular national pension systems and therefore eliminating the administrative and financial complexities associated with transferring pension savings across borders.  
  • Profitability: Researchers can grow their pension benefits as they move between participating institutions and countries in Europe working with RESAVER. 
  • Flexibility: RESAVER is tailored to the needs of research institutions and their staff, offering options that align with the unique career paths and funding arrangements in the research sector, including matching employees contributions. ž

Benefits for Institutions that implement RESAVER 

  • As a pan-European pension plan, RESAVER positions institutions within a network that prioritizes employee rights, offering a competitive edge in the European landscape by supporting researchers’ employment benefits and financial security. 
  • The possibility of attracting and retaining new talent: by offering a flexible, portable pension solution, institutions can attract top and specialized talent, especially international researchers, who value continuity in their retirement savings. 
  • Potential partial financing of contributions from EU Research Grants. 
  • Simple implementation at no cost and low fees (EU grant cover operational expenses). 
  • Tax approved  and No financial risks since it is a Defined Contribution pension plan. 
  • Only for Research Performing Organizations but option to offer RESAVER to all staff. 

How to join RESAVER 

Simply access resaver.eu and click on Join. A RESAVER representative will schedule a call with you, helping you design your pension plan and completing application forms. If you choose your pension rules from the standard ones offered by RESAVER, the onboarding process can start right away.  If the pension rules are different from the standard ones, you will have to wait for the validation of your pension plan and approval by the relevant regulators, and then start the onboarding process.  

The importance of RESAVER for Researchers 

  • Solving the precarity of the pension benefits of researchers in Europe, especially early career ones since the contributions to pensions made during the first 10 years of work can account for up to 25% of the income received at retirement, due to the significant effects of compound interest over the decades. 
  • Safe haven for employees: no refund of assets to employer / government and no vesting periods. 
  • Possibility to transfer-in accrued assets from another occupational pension fund – keep all assets in one fund. 
  • Simple online access to myResaver portal to manage savings and investment choices, create simulations and interact with RESAVER. 

How RESAVER works in practice 

  • RESAVER handles all the complexity of pension fund management, including the relationship with regulators and providers, reporting, communications with employers and beneficiaries and payments. 

Here is an example of a typical pension plan with REAVER;  

  • Base Employer Contribution of 0 to 3% + matching employee contribution up to 3%. 
  • No vesting period, contributions start adding to the Fund from day 1. 
  • Options of Early and Late retirements. 
  • Payment in lumpsum or monthly pension payments. 
  • In case of death, legal partner eligible is entitled to full account value and children may have orphan pension until 25 years old. 
  • Disability benefit in case of permanent disability. 
  • Life cycle investment choice by default, employee can switch to other options though 

List of countries where RESAVER operates: 

  1. Austria 
  2. Belgium 
  3. Cyprus 
  4. The Netherlands 
  5. France 
  6. Hungary 
  7. Italy 
  8. Spain 1Q25 
  9. Czech Republic

For more information:

RESAVER PDF #1

RESAVER PDF #2