The European Commission presented the set of six criteria it will use in July in order to decide which of the proposed Horizon Europe missions to take forward.
In November last year, Horizon Europe Missions, the ‘moon-shots’ of the upcoming European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, entered their preparatory phase. This phase will last for a maximum of twelve months, during which plans with detailed actions, investment strategies and performance indicators for the missions shall be developed. At the end of the preparatory phase stands a new evaluation by the European Commission (EC) in order to decide which of the five proposed missions to take definitely forward into an implementation phase for the course of Horizon Europe and beyond.
The EC has now published the six criteria it will apply for this evaluation step, currently planned for July this year. They will first assess the value added of the missions as compared to existing EU initiatives in the same area and second check, whether the missions have a clear research and innovation content, as this is prescribed in the Horizon Europe legal base with the definition of missions. Third, the buy-in of several Commissioners for each mission shall be obtained in order to ensure a broader political relevance. The fourth criterion refers to the missions’ goals; they shall be ambitious yet realistic, measurable and time-bound. The fifth assessment will address the feasibility of the mission’s implementation plans and their suitability for reaching the expected objectives. The EC is currently in the process of preparing these implementation plans with the mission boards and will have them ready in May or June. Last, the EC will assess the budget for each mission, make sure whether it is commensurate with the respective objectives and clarify the confirmed sources for funding. To lead the missions and be their public face, five mission managers within the EC were appointed in February 2021. They will work closely with deputy mission managers, most of them at the Directorate General for Research and Innovation, and with the mission boards and assemblies.
Meanwhile, the preparatory phase for missions continues. In order to make sure that missions are off to a hot start, when they officially embark later this year, the EC is testing the waters with a set of preparatory actions enshrined into a dedicated part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme. The planned actions will include feasibility studies, information campaigns and activities to identify needs. Each of the five proposed missions will receive a budget of up to €5 million allocated to calls for projects, which will most likely open mid-May and close in September this year. Two horizontal calls shall deal with issues that all missions have in common. Towards the end of 2021, the EC will update the respective work programme to include calls for the implementation phase of the selected missions. Once off the ground, the running missions will be reassessed in 2023 for continuation and a potential adjustment of their budget. For the first years, the second pillar of Horizon Europe will contribute a maximum of 10% of its budget to missions, while additional funding will also have to come from other sources.
Considering the broad goal of the missions, activities will go far beyond research and innovation. Engaging citizens is compulsory and the EC is planning a large information campaign together with regional hubs. Member States will have to engage in creating a common EU vision on the mission topics and in taking up and deploying outputs. The EC also plans to closely link missions with the New European Bauhaus initiative, which shall shape a cultural and architectural movement around the European Green Deal. With the help of New European Bauhaus demonstrators, the relevant missions should become visual and tangible.