EU Missions in HE

European Commission adopts amended Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2024, including new NEB Facility

Published on: 17/04/2024

Today the European Commission adopted the amended Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2024. The amendment introduces New European Bauhaus as a Destination within the EU Missions and Cross-cutting Activities as well as several experimental actions to attract newcomers and maximize impact. It mobilizes previously unallocated Horizon Europe funding to increase the 2024 budget by nearly €1.4 billion to a total of €7.3 billion, including €648 million to support the five EU missions.

According to the press release, "the new actions for 2024 should result in restoring at least 25 000 km of free-flowing rivers, Climate City Contracts with more than 100 cities, 100 living labs and lighthouses leading the transition towards healthy soils, local and regional authorities better prepared to face climate-related risks, better cancer diagnosis and support to young cancer sufferers."

Among the additions are experimental actions with the aim of attracting newcomers to the programme to maximize impact. This includes €15 million for an action within the EU Missions making knowledge institutions such as universities or research organizations focal points of local transdisciplinary research and innovation activities with European outreach. The NEB call ‘Transforming neighborhoods, making them beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive' serves a similar purpose of widening the reach of the programme.

The New European Bauhaus is a creative and interdisciplinary initiative that connects the European Green Deal to our living spaces and experiences. One of the solutions supported by the initiative is the TOVA project from Spain. TOVA is one of the world’s first architectural constructions simply built with earth and 3D printing, providing architectural solutions for sustainable, affordable, community-based housing.

The newly adapted work programme also includes additional support for the New European Bauhaus with €20 million euros allocated to a new NEB Facility. The NEB Facility will provide multi-annual budget support for 2025-2027 through two pillars, a research and innovation part to develop new ideas and a roll-out part to scale-up such solutions.

"We need to attract more newcomers to the opportunities presented by Horizon Europe in order to make the most of Europe’s potential," says Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. "This is why we are introducing experimental actions in this work programme update. Together with the roll-out of further funding for the EU Missions, the New European Bauhaus Facility and the other actions, this will help maximize the impact of our research and innovation investments for the success of the green and digital transitions."