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Pillar 2 - Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

What does Pillar II cover?

To maximise impact, flexibility and synergies, research and innovation activities under Pillar II will be organised in six clusters, which individually and together will promote interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, cross-policy, cross-border and international cooperation:

  1. Health
  2. Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Societies
  3. Civil Security for Society
  4. Digital, Industry & Space
  5. Climate, Energy and Mobility
  6. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment

Each cluster contributes towards several Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and many SDGs are supported by more than one cluster.

EU Missions

EU Missions are a novelty of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme for the years 2021-2027.

They support Commission priorities, such as the European Green Deal, Europe fit for the Digital Age, Beating Cancer and the New European Bauhaus. For instance, Mission Climate is already a concrete element of the new Climate Adaptation Strategy, Mission Cancer of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the Mission Soil is a flagship initiative of the Long-term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas.

EU Missions are a coordinated effort by the Commission to pool the necessary resources in terms of funding programmes, policies and regulations, as well as other activities. They also aim to mobilise and activate public and private actors, such as EU Member States, regional and local authorities, research institutes, farmers and land managers, entrepreneurs and investors to create real and lasting impact. Missions will engage with citizens to boost societal uptake of new solutions and approaches.

EU Missions will support Europe’s transformation into a greener, healthier, more inclusive and resilient continent. They aim to bring tangible benefits to people in Europe and engage Europeans in their design, implementation and monitoring.

What will be funded under Pillar II?

Activities funded under Pillar II will strengthen the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing Union policies, and support the uptake of innovative solutions in industry and society to address global challenges.

Each of the six clusters has a number of defined intervention areas, which will determine the focus of the collaborative calls for proposals.