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Missions

Missions can be described as strategically targeted research and innovation initiatives that aim to focus resources, both human and financial, around a few selected societal challenges that require innovative solutions.

This web page has been machine translated. If there are any uncertainties, please refer to the Swedish text.

Strategic research- and innovation is an important part of a portfolio containing several types of measures, such as funding, policy and citizen engagement. With a portfolio of efforts, a mission aims to achieve a bold, inspiring and measurable objective within a certain period of time, with clear impacts on society.

Missions within Horisont Europa will create a stronger connection between EU research and innovation and the needs of society and the public; with high visibility and great impact.

Five missions in Horisont Europa

In 2021, the European Commission launched the following five missions within Horisont Europa:

  • Climate adaptation – support at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030
  • Cancer – improving the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, treatment and new solutions to live longer and better
  • Restore our oceans and waters – protect and restore marine ecosystems, prevent and eliminate pollution, and make the blue economy climate neutral and circular
  • Climate-neutral and smart cities – achieve 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 and ensure that they, as innovation hubs, contribute to enabling all European cities to reach the targets by 2050
  • A gift for the European soil – Establish an effective network of 100 Living Labs and Lighthouses to co-create knowledge, test solutions and demonstrate their value in real-world conditions

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The five missions

  • The EU's climate adaptation mission focuses on supporting European regions, counties, cities and municipalities in their work to build resilience to the effects of climate change.

    The EU's climate adaptation mission focuses on supporting European regions, counties, cities and municipalities in their work to build resilience to the effects of climate change.

    The mission contributes to putting the EU's climate adaptation strategy into practice by helping regions and counties to:

    • better understand the climate-related risks they face now and in the future
    • develop their ways to be better prepared and manage the changing climate
    • test and implement innovative solutions on site that are needed to build resilience

    The goal is for at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030.

    Support structures

    There are several support structures that help interested actors understand the context of the calls for proposals and the other activities underway within the EU's mission for climate adaptation.

    • Platform with a wealth of knowledge and funding:
      Climate-ADAPT
      • Platform for actors who have signed the EU Commission's "Mission Charter”
      MIP4Adapt

    Technical support

    There are two project within Mission Klimatanpassning that work to provide tools and working methods for counties, regions and municipalities.

    • CLIMAAX (CLIMAte risk and vulnerability Assessment framework and toolboX) provides financial, analytical and practical support to improve regional climate and emergency risk management plans. Open calls for proposals to finance a climate and emergency risk management plan can be read about on the CLIMAAX website.
      CLIMAAX website
    • Pathways2Resilience supports 100 regions and communities to create climate resilience strategies through tailored training and mentoring. You can search for their programme and see other offerings on the Pathways2Resilience website.
      Pathways2Resilience website

    Governance

    Projektet AdaptationHubs aims to strengthen Europe's ability to adapt to climate change by improving cooperation between national authorities, regions and municipalities. Viable Cities and SMHI are participating from Sweden and are working on establishing a Swedish hub.

    The mission contributes to putting the EU's climate adaptation strategy into practice by helping regions and counties to:

    • better understand the climate-related risks they face now and in the future
    • develop their ways to be better prepared and manage the changing climate
    • test and implement innovative solutions on site that are needed to build resilience

    The goal is for at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030.

    Support structures

    There are several support structures that help interested actors understand the context of the calls for proposals and the other activities underway within the EU's mission for climate adaptation.

    • Platform with a wealth of knowledge and funding:
      Climate-ADAPT
      • Platform for actors who have signed the EU Commission's "Mission Charter”
      MIP4Adapt

    Technical support

    There are two project within Mission Klimatanpassning that work to provide tools and working methods for counties, regions and municipalities.

    • CLIMAAX (CLIMAte risk and vulnerability Assessment framework and toolboX) provides financial, analytical and practical support to improve regional climate and emergency risk management plans. Open calls for proposals to finance a climate and emergency risk management plan can be read about on the CLIMAAX website.
      CLIMAAX website
    • Pathways2Resilience supports 100 regions and communities to create climate resilience strategies through tailored training and mentoring. You can search for their programme and see other offerings on the Pathways2Resilience website.
      Pathways2Resilience website

    Governance

    Projektet AdaptationHubs aims to strengthen Europe's ability to adapt to climate change by improving cooperation between national authorities, regions and municipalities. Viable Cities and SMHI are participating from Sweden and are working on establishing a Swedish hub.

  • The EU's cancer mission objective to improve the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, cure and for those affected by cancer, including their families, to live longer and better.

    The EU's cancer mission objective to improve the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, cure and for those affected by cancer, including their families, to live longer and better.

    The cancer mission is closely linked to the European Cancer Plan (Europe's Beating Cancer Plan), with a focus on research and innovation, and healthcare.

    The five cross-cutting priorities within the cancer mission are:

    1. Equality
    2. Childhood cancer
    3. Innovation
    4. Precision medicine
    5. Citizen involvement

    Flagship initiative

    Cancer Mission has several flagship initiatives that overlap to some extent with the EU Cancer Plan. These initiatives have been created or will be initiated through open calls for proposals in the Cancer Mission work programme.

    The European Initiative to Understand Cancer (UNCAN) focuses on secondary use of data, enabling researchers to access, share and analyse data to advance cancer research. UNCAN provides the data infrastructure needed for comprehensive cancer research in other initiatives.

    The European Cancer Prevention Centre is still in its development phase. This will focus on early detection, lifestyle interventions and public health strategies to reduce cancer incidence.

    The Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures Network (CCI) aims to ensure that 90% of cancer patients have access to integrated care, prevention, screening and research for all types of cancer and care by 2030. The network already has an ongoing project, CCI4EU, which involves all EU member states, including Swedish actors.

    The European Cancer Patient Digital Centre (ECPDC) is a portal designed to enable patients to share their health data. The primary goal is to improve the quality of life of cancer patients, survivors and their families through patient-reported health data in research.

    Support structures

    The European Commission's implementation platform for the cancer mission

    EU Commission's Knowledge Center on Cancer with what is happening at EU level

    Help start hubs for national, regional and local collaboration.

    For questions about a national cancer mission hub, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare can be contacted via cancer@socialstyrelsen.se.

    The cancer mission is closely linked to the European Cancer Plan (Europe's Beating Cancer Plan), with a focus on research and innovation, and healthcare.

    The five cross-cutting priorities within the cancer mission are:

    1. Equality
    2. Childhood cancer
    3. Innovation
    4. Precision medicine
    5. Citizen involvement

    Flagship initiative

    Cancer Mission has several flagship initiatives that overlap to some extent with the EU Cancer Plan. These initiatives have been created or will be initiated through open calls for proposals in the Cancer Mission work programme.

    The European Initiative to Understand Cancer (UNCAN) focuses on secondary use of data, enabling researchers to access, share and analyse data to advance cancer research. UNCAN provides the data infrastructure needed for comprehensive cancer research in other initiatives.

    The European Cancer Prevention Centre is still in its development phase. This will focus on early detection, lifestyle interventions and public health strategies to reduce cancer incidence.

    The Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures Network (CCI) aims to ensure that 90% of cancer patients have access to integrated care, prevention, screening and research for all types of cancer and care by 2030. The network already has an ongoing project, CCI4EU, which involves all EU member states, including Swedish actors.

    The European Cancer Patient Digital Centre (ECPDC) is a portal designed to enable patients to share their health data. The primary goal is to improve the quality of life of cancer patients, survivors and their families through patient-reported health data in research.

    Support structures

    The European Commission's implementation platform for the cancer mission

    EU Commission's Knowledge Center on Cancer with what is happening at EU level

    Help start hubs for national, regional and local collaboration.

    For questions about a national cancer mission hub, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare can be contacted via cancer@socialstyrelsen.se.

  • The EU's mission to restore our seas and waters aims to protect and restore ecosystems, reduce pollution and make the blue economy carbon neutral and circular.

    The EU's mission to restore our seas and waters aims to protect and restore ecosystems, reduce pollution and make the blue economy carbon neutral and circular.

    The mission directs research and innovation to contribute to the following objective and EU strategies:

    1. Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030
    2. Prevent and eliminate pollution in our seas, lakes and waterways, in line with the EU's zero pollution action plan for air, water and land
    3. Making the sustainable blue economy carbon neutral and circular, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the overall vision of the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy

    Support structures

    Inom EU's mission for seas and waters, the European Commission has chosen to divide Europe into four geographical areas with support. The projects can often assist in navigating the open the calls for proposals and have knowledge of relevant actors and networks.

    Service Portal

    The EU Commission has collected all the information for actors working to achieve the three set goals. There are, among other things, mappings of actors, funding opportunities and other support.
    Mission Ocean and Waters service portal

    Mission Charter

    Here you can see all project that are underway, and write up your projectMission Charter

    Calls for proposals to become an associated region

    Basically all Abbot Stevenson funded through work programs distribute funding to municipalities, regions and civil society organizations. A list of the current calls for proposals regarding associated regions is available on the Mission Ocean and Waters service portal.

    The mission directs research and innovation to contribute to the following objective and EU strategies:

    1. Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030
    2. Prevent and eliminate pollution in our seas, lakes and waterways, in line with the EU's zero pollution action plan for air, water and land
    3. Making the sustainable blue economy carbon neutral and circular, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the overall vision of the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy

    Support structures

    Inom EU's mission for seas and waters, the European Commission has chosen to divide Europe into four geographical areas with support. The projects can often assist in navigating the open the calls for proposals and have knowledge of relevant actors and networks.

    Service Portal

    The EU Commission has collected all the information for actors working to achieve the three set goals. There are, among other things, mappings of actors, funding opportunities and other support.
    Mission Ocean and Waters service portal

    Mission Charter

    Here you can see all project that are underway, and write up your projectMission Charter

    Calls for proposals to become an associated region

    Basically all Abbot Stevenson funded through work programs distribute funding to municipalities, regions and civil society organizations. A list of the current calls for proposals regarding associated regions is available on the Mission Ocean and Waters service portal.

  • The EU's Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission aims to enable all European cities to become climate neutral by 2050.

    The EU's Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission aims to enable all European cities to become climate neutral by 2050.

    The EU's Mission for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities (Cities Mission)) has selected 112 cities to act as hubs for experimentation and innovation. These will be climate neutral by 2030, enabling all European cities to become climate neutral by 2050.

    The calls for proposals in the program are open to all cities, although some project require participation from at least one of the selected cities.

    The 112 cities

    Support structures

    NetZeroCities is a service-oriented platform support by experts in urban planning, policy and design. NetZeroCities also offers calls for proposals for pilot projects in individual cities and a twinning program for learning between cities.
    NetZeroCities
    Pilot Cities Programme
    Twinning Learning Progamme

    Viable Cities is the national platform for climate-neutral cities in Sweden, which is also part of NetZeroCities.

    The EU's Mission for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities (Cities Mission)) has selected 112 cities to act as hubs for experimentation and innovation. These will be climate neutral by 2030, enabling all European cities to become climate neutral by 2050.

    The calls for proposals in the program are open to all cities, although some project require participation from at least one of the selected cities.

    The 112 cities

    Support structures

    NetZeroCities is a service-oriented platform support by experts in urban planning, policy and design. NetZeroCities also offers calls for proposals for pilot projects in individual cities and a twinning program for learning between cities.
    NetZeroCities
    Pilot Cities Programme
    Twinning Learning Progamme

    Viable Cities is the national platform for climate-neutral cities in Sweden, which is also part of NetZeroCities.

  • Mission En's commitment to European soil wants to lead the transition towards healthy soils in both rural and urban areas.

    Mission En's commitment to European soil wants to lead the transition towards healthy soils in both rural and urban areas.

    The main goal of the Mission En grant for European soil (Mission Soil)) is to establish 100 living laboratories and “lighthouses” by 2030, to lead the transition towards healthy soils in both rural and urban areas.

    Inom Mission Soil, there are eight intermediate goals:

    1. Reduce desertification
    2. Preserve and increase soil organic carbon stocks
    3. Stop soil sealing and increase urban land reuse
    4. Reduce soil pollution and improve restoration
    5. Prevent erosion
    6. Improve soil structure to increase soil biodiversity
    7. Minska EU's global footprint on the ground
    8. Improve understanding of soil health in society

    Key terms within Living Labs-projekt

    Inom Living Labs (living laboratories) collaborates with different actors to develop solutions in real-world conditions. Lighthouses are places that demonstrate good and scalable solutions for sustainable land use. They serve as hubs for education, networking and communication aimed at future users, decision-makers and citizens.

    Ett Living Lab-projekt within Mission Soil consists of approximately 4-5 Living Labs, each of which consists of 10-20 places for experimentation and a number of Lighthouses.

    Support functions

    Mission Soil Implementation platform with information about granted projectsMission Soil Manifesto tool for finding partners
    NATI00NS - information for actors interested in applying for Living Labs- project.
    SOILL Startup - Coordination of granted project

    The main goal of the Mission En grant for European soil (Mission Soil)) is to establish 100 living laboratories and “lighthouses” by 2030, to lead the transition towards healthy soils in both rural and urban areas.

    Inom Mission Soil, there are eight intermediate goals:

    1. Reduce desertification
    2. Preserve and increase soil organic carbon stocks
    3. Stop soil sealing and increase urban land reuse
    4. Reduce soil pollution and improve restoration
    5. Prevent erosion
    6. Improve soil structure to increase soil biodiversity
    7. Minska EU's global footprint on the ground
    8. Improve understanding of soil health in society

    Key terms within Living Labs-projekt

    Inom Living Labs (living laboratories) collaborates with different actors to develop solutions in real-world conditions. Lighthouses are places that demonstrate good and scalable solutions for sustainable land use. They serve as hubs for education, networking and communication aimed at future users, decision-makers and citizens.

    Ett Living Lab-projekt within Mission Soil consists of approximately 4-5 Living Labs, each of which consists of 10-20 places for experimentation and a number of Lighthouses.

    Support functions

    Mission Soil Implementation platform with information about granted projectsMission Soil Manifesto tool for finding partners
    NATI00NS - information for actors interested in applying for Living Labs- project.
    SOILL Startup - Coordination of granted project

Questions?

Jonathan Nylander

National Contact Point (NCP)

+46 8 473 30 24

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Last updated 19 January 2026