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Research and innovation
News article16 December 2021Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

Commission invests €673 million to roll-out EU Missions in health, climate and the environment

The Commission has adopted an amendment to the Horizon Europe work programme for 2021-2022, increasing the total budget to €15.4 billion: that is an increase of €723 million compared to the original budget of €14.7 billion. This new budget includes €673.24 million dedicated to the roll-out of EU Missions, which were launched in September to tackle big challenges and achieve ambitious goals in health, climate and the environment by 2030.

The Commission also announced today 19 new calls that are dedicated to the five EU Missions. The first round of these calls will open on 22 December 2021 and the second will open on 11 January 2022.

Margrethe Vestager, Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age, said:

We are further investing in EU missions, a new and innovative tool that aims to solve some of the greatest challenges we face: fighting cancer, adapting to climate change, protecting the ocean, seas and waters, living in greener cities and ensuring healthy soil and food.

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said:

Investing on EU missions will help us to deliver on key policies, through a collective effort rooted in research and innovation. Missions will create a healthier, greener and digital Europe for its citizens by 2030. The results of the calls will be key to achieve the ambitious targets of EU Missions.

The budget added to the EU Missions work programme includes an addition of €548.74 million for 2021 and €124.5 million for 2022. The 2021 budget division is as follows: 

  • The Mission ‘Adaptation to Climate Change’ will invest €122.38 million to support regions and communities in their journey to adapt to climate change, including the development of risk assessments, pathways and demonstrators of large scale innovative systemic solutions that are economically suitable. .
  • The Mission on Cancer will invest €125.65 million to develop new methods and technologies in cancer screening and early detection, establish measures for the quality of life and preferences of cancer patients and survivors, as well as understand the impact of risk factors and health determinants on the development and progression of cancer.
  • The Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ will use a budget of €114.34 million to restore marine and fresh water ecosystems and biodiversity, prevent and eliminate pollution from ocean, seas and waters, create a sustainable, carbon-neutral and circular Blue Economy. Furthermore, they will develop digital systems that will be used to generate models for a European Digital Twin Ocean and engage and mobilise citizens, especially young generations.
  • The Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission will use a budget of €119.37 million towards new urban planning and design for just, sustainable, resilient and climate-neutral cities, unleash the innovation potential of public transport as backbone of urban mobility, create positive clean energy districts amongst others.
  • The Soil Deal for Europe Mission will use a €67 million budget to identify any gaps to the roadmaps to reach the mission’s objectives, validate and develop indicators for soil health and functions and understand the link between soil health and nutritional and safe food. Furthermore, numerous topics focusing on new business models and engagement with regions, municipalities and young people for the creation of a new generation of soil advisors are included in the call.

The Horizon Europe work programme 2021-2022 amendment also covers several new actions that go beyond the EU Missions top-up budget. This includes a €50 million contribution to InvestEU blending operation under the Green Transition product part of Horizon Europe’s Cluster 5 – “Climate, Energy and Mobility”. In line with the objectives of the ‘Fit for 55’ package, this action will focus on renewable hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels, long duration energy storage and direct air capture of CO2.

Background

The amendment to the EU Missions work programme follows the Communication on EU missions, which was adopted on 29 September 2021, and the adoption of the main work programme of Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2022, announced in June 2021.

Horizon Europe is the EU's €95.5 billion research and innovation programme for 2021-2027 and the successor of Horizon 2020. Missions are a novelty of Horizon Europe and also an original concept in EU policy, bringing together several Commission services under the authority of nine College members. Missions will support research to deliver on the Commission's main priorities and find responses to some of the greatest challenges we are facing today: fighting cancer, adapting to climate change, protecting the ocean, seas and waters, living in greener cities and ensuring healthy soil and food. They are a new tool that includes a set of actions, such as research and innovation projects, policy measures and legislative initiatives, to achieve concrete goals with large societal impact and within a specified timeline.

More information

Horizon Europe

Funding and Tenders portal

Questions & Answers: EU missions

EU missions

Details

Publication date
16 December 2021
Author
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation