EU Missions are an innovative tool within the Horizon Europe programme that integrates research and innovation (R&I) objectives with environmental and societal goals, with the aim of achieving substantial and measurable results by 2030. They were launched in 2021 after identifying key areas where challenges can be effectively addressed through a mission-based approach. These areas are: the fight against cancer; climate-neutral and smart cities; climate change adaptation, including societal transformation; healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters; and soil and food healthAn overview of their performance to date brings report European Commission's "Horizon Europe Missions Monitoring Flash", completed in April 2025 with data as of July 1, 2024.

EU missions have several distinctive features that distinguish them from traditional research activities:

• Time-limited: They are aimed at achieving specific results by 2030.
• Measurable: Each mission has defined explicit societal outcomes that go beyond scientific and economic goals.
• Interdisciplinary approach: They have broad ambitions but precise goals, encompassing a wide range of disciplines.
• Leverage/additional resources: The missions are expected to mobilize additional funding from public and private sources, including national and regional governments and the private sector.
• Regulatory objective: They complement existing initiatives and regulatory frameworks, thus promoting coherence in the EU agenda.
• Involvement and commitment: They place a strong emphasis on citizen and stakeholder engagement, with the aim of fostering a “shared sense of urgency” and public accountability.

Since their launch, EU missions have supported targeted research and innovation in various sectors. The 2021-2023 work programmes have set aside up to €1.9 billion exclusively for mission-specific challengesAs of July 2024, Horizon Europe has funded 223 mission-specific projects, with the participation of 2,854 participants and investments of EUR 1.7 billion.

The success rate of proposals for mission-specific calls reaches 25%, surpassing the overall average for Horizon Europe (16%) and Pillar II (21%). The average project size reaches EUR 7.8 million, with an average of 21 participants per project. Innovation Actions (IA) represent the largest share of funded projects (93 projects, EUR 840 million), followed by research and innovation actions (RIA) (88 projects, €753 million) and coordination and support actions (CSA) (42 projects, EUR 139 million).

Of the 2,854 unique participants, they represent small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 22% (634), which were awarded grants worth EUR 283 million. Research organizations (REC) received the largest share of grants (27%, EUR 476 million), followed by higher education institutions (HES) with 25% (EUR 428 million) and private profit-making companies (PRC) with 24% (EUR 409 million). From a geographical point of view, it comes from 89% participants from EU Member States, 9% from associated countries and 2% from third countries. Expansion countries represent 33% participants from Member States. Entities established in Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy are the most frequent participants, having collectively raised €758 million. Together with France, these countries account for 371% of all participations.

The EU's mission-specific call budget is evenly distributed across all five missions, with slight differences. Mission Climate-neutral and smart cities received the largest share (22.4%), with EUR 387.3 million, followed by On a mission against cancer (21.8%, EUR 377.1 million). Mission Climate Change Adaptation secured 21% of the budget (355.1 million EUR), while Mission Healthy Oceans and Waters EUR 350.2 million (20%). Finally, Mission Soil Health received EUR 262.4 million (151% of the budget). In terms of funded projects, it leads Mission Ocean and Waters (66 projects), followed by On a mission against cancer (48) and Mission Soil Health (43). Mission Climate Adaptation includes 38 projects and Mission Cities 27.

In addition to mission-specific challenges, Mission Projects & Results Portfolios provide a comprehensive overview of Horizon Europe's contribution to missions. The total budget of these portfolios as of 1 July 2024 is EUR 7.16 billion and finances 1,829 projectsThe majority of this funding (72%) is allocated through Pilliera II – Global Challenges and European Industrial CompetitivenessThe Horizon Europe monitoring and evaluation framework tracks the progress of missions through Key Pathways of Impact (KPI) 5: Delivering Benefits and Impacts through Missions. It includes short-term, medium-term and long-term indicators. Short-term outputs include, for example, publications (107), shared knowledge (331 open publications), innovative products (163) and co-creation (110 projects). Particular emphasis is placed on co-creationwhere 90% mission-specific projects actively engage citizens and end users into the research and innovation process, which is significantly higher than the overall average of the Horizon Europe program (44%).

Horizon Europe missions therefore represent an ambitious, coordinated and interdisciplinary approach to address pressing societal and environmental challenges. Through targeted funding, extensive collaboration and rigorous monitoring, they aim to achieve measurable impact by 2030. The whole process is like a large orchestral performance, where each mission represents a separate section, but all the instruments (funding, partners, research types) are carefully aligned to create a harmonious and powerful symphony of positive change for the future of Europe and its citizens. Spring