EU Missions call 2025-2026

The mission-driven approach is a new trend in R&I policy making and was one of the key novelties brought by Horizon Europe Regulation to address global challenges facing our society.

Horizon Europe identified five Mission Areas where challenges could be effectively addressed in a mission-based approach. The following five EU Missions were formally launched through a Commission Communication in September 2021 , based on reports from dedicated Mission Boards that assessed the maturity of technological and social innovation in these areas:

• Adaptation to Climate Change: support at least 150 European regions, local authorities and communities to become climate resilient by 2030;

• Cancer: improving 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;

• 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart cities by 2030;

• Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030;

• A Soil Deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030.

For each EU Mission, detailed Mission Implementation Plans were drafted, using the Mission criteria of the Horizon Europe legal base as starting point.

The five EU Missions focus on systemic societal transformation, requiring inclusivity, co-design, scaling up, deployment and societal involvement in generating solutions for major societal challenges driven by EU policy considerations. The five EU Missions work by setting clear, measurable, and time-bound targets, thus focusing and integrating actions towards common goals. These actions are clearly presented in the HE Work Programmes 2021-2022 and 2023-2024.

Building on the previous HE Work Programmes, the EU Missions continue to help deliver key EU policy priorities such as the European Green Deal, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, NextGenerationEU, the EU Industrial Strategy and A Europe fit for the Digital Age, amongst others.

The Missions Work Programme 2025 part contains actions for all the five EU Missions as well as further actions to support the full implementation of EU Missions according to their implementation plans, including synergistic actions between the Missions and other Horizon Europe instruments. The work programme includes activities for the Mission Boards, monitoring, portfolio and an OECD action for evidence-based policy making. In addition, the EU Missions will contribute to the European Solidarity Corps scheme with the aim of engaging with the younger generation to deliver on the five EU Missions’ goals. Furthermore, the EU Missions Work Programme 2025 is also focusing on the challenges highlighted in the 2023 Commission Communication^[1]  and includes notably public awareness and governance actions as well as actions, which help to leverage other sources of funding.

Furthermore, the five EU Missions will need to be implemented in close synergy with funding, programmes and strategies both at Member State / Associated Country and regional level, as well as with civil society and the private sector.

Please note that legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Innovation Actions in any capacity. More details are found in the Annex B of the General Annexes of this Work Programme.