2022 will be a critical year to lay the foundations for beating cancer, adapting to climate change, saving the oceans, protecting soils and lead cities to climate neutrality

Maltese entities interested in implementing their innovative ideas to contribute to the five EU missions, may participate in the current and forthcoming open calls to receive funding of up to 100%. 

The five missions are Cancer, Adaptation to Climate Change, Restore our Ocean and Waters, Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and Soil Deal for Europe.The Missions concept is a new way of finding solutions to some of the greatest challenges we are facing today, within the EU and beyond.  The European Commission officially launched the five EU missions, last September 2021, with an initial funding of €1.9 billion until 2023. The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) as the National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe and the five Missions, is actively promoting these initiatives. 

The Executive Chairman of the Malta Council for Science and Technology(MCST), Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, stated, “Missions are a new way of finding tangible solutions to some of the greatest challenges we face today. The objectives are clear and we hope that Malta, together with other Member States, will contribute to these goals so that significant progress can be made and appreciated by all.”

The Missions cover important aspects within Health, Climate Change, Smart Cities, Oceans and Soil and are there to deliver impact for a societal benefit and support the EU priorities under the Green Deal, Climate Adaptation Strategy, European Bauhaus, Europe fit for the Digital Age, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and EU’s Long-term Visions for Rural Areas. 

The Missions are a unique set of actions that entail Research and Innovation projects, policy measures and legislative initiatives, all working together to provide solutions with an impactful societal understanding. Furthermore, each Mission has very bold objectives and targets: 

1. Adaptation to Climate Change: to support at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030,

2. Cancer: working with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to improve the lives of more than 3M people by 2030 through prevention, cure and solutions to live longer and better,

3. Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 by creating a network of lighthouses at sea and river basins,

4. To achieve 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 through the Climate City Contracts,

5. A Soil Deal for Europe: to create 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030 through citizen science.

The Framework Programme Unit within the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) can provide the necessary guidance to navigate within the Horizon Europe actions and more specifically the five Missions. For more information, contact horizon.malta@gov.mt or visit https://mcst.gov.mt/horizon-europe/ 

EU Missions are about what we can do together to shape the future we want to live in.