The European Commission has selected 72 research and innovation projects for funding under the European Green Deal Call. These projects are to contribute to the EU’s response to the climate crisis and help protect Europe’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity.
The 72 proposals selected involve almost 1800 participants from the research community, the public and private sectors, and civil society organisations. Grants are expected to be signed by September 2021, following the verification and grant agreement preparation stage.
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said:
The European Green Deal call managed to mobilise the research community, the private sector and other actors that are active in the areas of the European Green Deal. The research teams selected for funding possess the European excellence we need to find breakthrough solutions that can turn green challenges into innovation opportunities.
The 72 selected projects are expected to provide tangible and visible solutions in the following areas 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
And in two horizontal, complementary areas – strengthening knowledge and empowering citizens, which offer a longer-term perspective in achieving the transformations set out in the European Green Deal.
The €1 billion call, funded under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, was launched on 17 September 2020. By the deadline for submissions on 26 January 2021, the European Commission had received 1550 eligible proposals, an unprecedented response from the research community and the private sector. These proposals were evaluated by almost 800 external experts with a high level of expertise and knowledge in the areas of the call.
Background
The European Green Deal is the European Commission's blueprint and roadmap to make Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050, with a sustainable economy that leaves no one behind.
To reach this 2050 goal, action will be required by all sectors of our economy, including:
investing in environmentally-friendly technologies;
supporting industry to innovate;
rolling out cleaner, cheaper and healthier forms of private and public transport;
decarbonising the energy sector;
ensuring buildings are more energy efficient;
working with international partners to improve global environmental standards.
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