The European Commission has decided today (Thursday, September 17) to launch a €1 billion call for research and innovation projects that respond to the climate crisis and help protect Europe’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity.
The Horizon 2020-funded European Green Deal Call, which will open tomorrow for registration, will spur Europe’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis by turning green challenges into innovation opportunities.
Climate neutrality
The European Green Deal is the commission’s blueprint and roadmap to make Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050, with a sustainable economy that leaves no one behind.
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel said: “The €1 billion European Green Deal call is the last and biggest call under Horizon 2020.
With innovation at its heart, this investment will accelerate a just and sustainable transition to a climate neutral Europe by 2050.
The European Commission says this Green Deal call differs in important aspects from previous Horizon 2020 calls.
The commission adds that given the urgency of the challenges it addresses, it (Green Deal call) aims for clear, discernible results in the short to medium-term, but with a perspective of long-term change.
There are fewer, but more targeted, larger and visible actions, with a focus on rapid scalability, dissemination and uptake.
The projects funded under this call are expected to deliver results with tangible benefits in 10 areas.
Eight thematic areas reflecting the key work streams of the European Green Deal:
- Increasing climate ambition;
- Clean, affordable and secure energy;
- Industry for a clean and circular economy;
- Energy and resource-efficient buildings;
- Sustainable and smart mobility;
- Farm to fork;
- Biodiversity and ecosystems;
- Zero-pollution, toxic-free environments.
Two horizontal areas – strengthening knowledge and empowering citizens – which offer a longer-term perspective in achieving the transformations set out in the European Green Deal.
The commission says that to reach the 2050 goal, action will be required by all sectors of the economy, including investing in environmentally-friendly technologies and supporting industry to innovate.