EU Missions | Read on complementarities with strategic priorities

The new publication provides an overview of EU Missions and how they fit into the Commission's priorities.

A new publication from the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation provides an overview of EU missions anchored under the second pillar of Horizon Europe and aim to accelerate research across the European Commission's priorities. The individual missions (Adaptation to Climate Change; Cancer; Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities; Oceans, Seas and Waters; Healthy Soil and Food) are wide-ranging and interdisciplinary, as well as focusing not only on the scientific community but also on local governments or citizens. The document also highlights the overall process of setting up mission boards that identified the problematic areas in each mission and provided solutions along with the European Commission.

How do missions contribute to individual EC priorities?

In each mission, it is possible to find a complementarity with either Digital Transformation; European Territorial, Regional and Urban Agenda or the Green Deal. For example, the "Cancer" mission offers support for artificial intelligence in diagnostic and screening tools. The "Climate Neutral and Smart Cities" mission seeks solutions to transform energy and transport with the help of individual cities and their citizens. And the "Oceans, Seas and Waters" mission presents plans for the development of offshore wind farms.

Overall, the missions offer a new approach to transformational and innovative policies with a significant impact on national and innovation structures. The distinguishing feature of the missions are clearly defined time frames and highly visible goals, in which various participants from policymakers to citizens at the regional level can partake in.

Detailed complementarities and concrete goals of individual missions can be found in the mentioned document on the website of the European Commission.