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 program 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 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 in 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 achieving the ambitious targets of EU Missions”.

The budget added to the EU Missions work program includes the 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 freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, prevent and eliminate pollution from the 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 mobilize 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, unleashing the innovation potential of public transport as the backbone of urban mobility, creating 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 program 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.