The aim of this pillar is to contribute to tackling global challenges and develop key technologies through interconnections between the academia, industry and civil society. The so-called missions and European partnerships are part of this pillar.
Clusters
The pillar has been divided into the following six clusters:
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Health
The EU seeks to address human health issues in a united way, striving for greater efficiency and cost reduction by tackling these issues together. Research, development and innovation in this area are aimed in particular at improving the health and living conditions of all EU citizens. -
Culture, creativity and inclusive society
This cluster covers the area of social sciences. It focuses on topics associated with, for example, democracy and the administration of public affairs, migration, cultural heritage or socio-economic and cultural transformation. -
Civil security for society
The goal of this cluster is to face any threats to society jointly within the EU and in a coordinated fashion using the scientific potential of European countries. The research focuses on civil security – this will specifically resolve matters associated with the prevention of catastrophes and risks, the protection of citizens and state borders and cybersecurity. -
Digital, industry and space
Transitioning to low-carbon and ecological industry is a priority for the current European Commission. As such, the scientific research in this cluster will focus on a wide variety of technologies (manufacturing, digital, advanced materials or emerging ground-breaking technologies), computer technology and Space research. -
Climate, energy and mobility
The consequences of climate change are another critical topic that the HEU addresses. The long-term increase in the temperature on Earth has influenced many industry fields as well as the environment itself. The EU’s ongoing efforts therefore continue to support sustainable development, especially the transition from fossil fuels to renewables in energy, industry and transport. -
Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment
The research in this cluster focuses on the growing demand for good-quality and sustainable agricultural production. This cluster will also support research aimed at preserving biodiversity, utilising the potential of the seas, oceans and inland waters as well as the gradual transition to circular economy.
Missions
A significant new feature in Horizon Europe involves the so-called missions. Each of the research and innovation mission, financed from the second pillar of the HEU, will aim to tackle some of the greatest current challenges. Each within a defined timeframe and with its own budget.
The following five missions have been designated, with concrete objectives that should be achieved during the coming decade:
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Cancer:
Targets by 2030: more than 3 million lives saved, living longer and better, achieve a thorough understanding of cancer, prevent what is preventable, optimise diagnosis and treatment, support the quality of life of all people exposed to cancer, and ensure equitable access to the above across Europe. -
Adaptation to climate change including societal transformation
Targets by 2030: prepare Europe to deal with climate disruptions, accelerate the transition to a healthy and prosperous future within safe planetary boundaries and scale up solutions for resilience that will trigger transformations in society. -
Healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters
Targets by 2030: cleaning marine and fresh waters, restoring degraded ecosystems and habitats, decarbonising the blue economy. -
Climate-neutral and smart cities
Targets by 2030: support, promote and showcase 100 European cities in their transformation towards climate neutrality by 2030 and turn these cities into innovation hubs for all cities. -
Soil health and food
Targets by 2030: at least 75% of all soils in the EU are healthy for food, people, nature and climate. The proposed mission combines research and innovation, education and training, investments and the demonstration of good practices using “living labs” (experiments and innovation laboratories) and “lighthouses” (places to showcase good practices).
European partnership
European partnerships represent a form of cooperation between the European Commission and private and/or public partners with the objective of addressing some of the most pressing current challenges through joint research and innovation activities. The purpose of the partnerships is to reduce the fragmentation in the research and innovation environment within the EU and to avoid any duplication of investments.
Three types of partnerships exist in the HEU:
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Co-programmed European partnerships
This involves partnerships between the Commission and private and/or public partners. They are based on memoranda of understanding or contractual arrangements. -
Co-funded European partnerships
This involves partnerships including the EU member states, where the core of the consortium consists of the financing agencies and other public agencies. The partnerships are based on a grant agreement between the Commission and the consortium of partners that has submitted a successful proposal for a co-funded programme. -
Institutionalised European partnerships
This involves a partnership established on the basis of a Council Regulation (Article 187 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU) or a decision of the European Parliament and the Council (Article 185 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU). These partnerships will take the form of joint undertakings and include EIT knowledge and innovation communities (so-called KICs).
The partnership candidates are divided into 5 groups depending on their areas of orientation, of which there are 49:
- Health
- Digital, industry and space
- Climate, energy and mobility
- Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment
- Partnerships across themes (EOSC, EIT KICs, Innovative SMEs)
A new European partnership has been additionally proposed in the area of resolving pandemics.