Horizon Europe Cluster 6 aims to advance knowledge, expand capacities and deliver innovative solutions with the objective of enhancing and balancing Eu environmental, social and economic goals. The work programme tackles the need for a profound transformation of the economy and society that reduces environmental degradation, preserves biodiversity, improves the management of natural resources and ensures food and water security while meeting EU’s climate objectives.

To reach these objectives, activities in this work programme will contribute to the following destinations, reflected in specific calls and topics:

Biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Fair, healthy and environment-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption.
• Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors.
• Clean environment and zero pollution.
• Land, ocean and water for climate action.
• Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities.
• Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal.

The programme is allocated an estimated total budget of €1056.39 million for 2023. The expected deadline for proposal submission is the 28th of March 2023.

Cluster 5 tackles climate change by addressing the energy and transport sectors, aiming to make them more climate and environmentally-friendly, increasingly efficient and competitive, smarter, safer and more resilient. Activities of this work programme support the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by tackling the following destinations:

• Climate sciences and responses for the transformation towards climate neutrality
• Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition
• Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply
• Efficient, sustainable and inclusive energy use
• Clean and competitive solutions for all transport modes
• Safe Resilient Transport and Smart Mobility services for passengers and goods

The budget and deadlines for this work programme have not been published for 2023 yet. In 2022, the deadline was the 6^th of September, and the budget was €1,873.80 million.

EU Missions are a new strategy of the European Commission to support R&D&I and provide solutions to key social and economic challenges in areas of interest to the EU and its citizens. They consist of a series of interdisciplinary actions -that include research and innovation projects, as well as policy measures and legislative initiatives- aligned together to achieve specific objectives with a high social and environmental impact.

Two missions are of special interest for Bioeconomy projects:

Mission: Soil health and food

The Soil health and food mission aims to promote Europe’s sustainable soil management in the frame of the green transition in urban and rural areas. The mission will establish 100 living labs and lighthouses that will lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030 for food, people, nature and climate. Activities supporting the Soil health and food mission were allocated €95 million in 2022 and the deadline for projects was the September 27. 2023 deadline dates and budget are not available as of today.

Mission: Restore our Ocean, seas and waters by 2030

The mission aims to restore, protect and preserve the health of the EU oceans, seas and waters by 2030. It is is designed to contribute to the EU’s 2030 targets for protecting and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, for zero pollution, and for decarbonisation and net greenhouse gas emissions reduction towards climate neutrality, within our oceans, seas and waters. In 2022, the mission was allocated €106 million for related projects and the deadline was also September 27. The budget and deadlines for 2023 have not been published yet.