How would you tackle adaptation to climate change? Got an idea to make cities greener? Care about healthy oceans, and healthy soils for food, people and the planet? Want to help conquer cancer? Now you can share your views with the Commission in the EU missions’ call for ideas, open from 1 to 14 September 2020.
EU missions aim to deliver solutions to some of our greatest societal challenges, such as cancer, adaptation to climate change, healthy oceans, climate-neutral cities and healthy soil and food. The Commission is designing and creating these missions together with input from Europeans to ensure that the missions meet their expectations and needs. As part of this process, an interactive pilot platform has been launched so that anyone can put forward his or her own ideas and vote for the ones he or she likes best. The opportunity to submit proposals will be open until 6 September, and voting will remain open until 14 September.
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said:
“As part of the future Horizon Europe programme, missions will help define clear targets and find solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our world, in turn increasing the effectiveness of research and innovation funding. For this we need citizens to express their views, make proposals and engage in their design and implementation. Together, we will make Europe healthier, greener and more resilient.”
In June, the Mission Boards, a broad mix of independent experts from innovation, research, policy making, civil society and practitioner organisations, presented their first proposals for EU missions. Throughout summer, online events have taken place on these proposals around Europe to listen to people’s priorities and gather their ideas. The results of the latest call for ideas will be presented at the online ‘European Research & Innovation Days’ (22-24 September 2020). At this event, the Mission Boards will also handover their final missions recommendations to the Commission. The selected missions will be announced at the end of 2020 and launched in 2021.
Background
Partly inspired by the Apollo programme to put a man on the moon, EU missions are a commitment to solve major societal challenges like fighting cancer, adapting to climate change, protecting our oceans, living in greener cities and ensuring soil health and food. Each EU mission will have a specific timeframe and budget according to their degree of challenge. They will go beyond research and innovation, and will spark innovation across sectors to deliver effective solutions. The final missions will play a crucial role in achieving EU priorities such as the European Green Deal and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. At global level, missions will be a major contribution to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
For each of the five missions, the Commission has appointed a Mission Board consisting of up to 15 high-level experts to provide advice on the contents and design of specific missions. In June, the Mission Boards proposed five possible missions for further consultation with Europeans.
More information
Video: Let’s fulfil our EU missions
Mission area: adaptation to climate change including societal transformation
Mission area: healthy oceans, seas coastal and inland waters
Details
- Publication date
- 1 September 2020
- Author
- Directorate-General for Research and Innovation