On 6 September, the Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel announced the names of the experts who have been selected to be the new Chairs and members* of the Mission Boards of the five EU Missions. Their mandate will run from 2022 to 2025.
Each Mission Board consists of 15 experts, including a Chair. They will promote the EU Missions by raising citizens’ awareness, advise on the actions of the Missions’ implementation plans and build on the work of the Mission Boards from the first phase that ran from 2019 to 2021.
Over 1100 individuals from across Europe and beyond applied to become members of the Mission Boards. The selection process ensured that the Boards are composed of independent high-level individuals with an excellent track record of public service and citizen engagement. The Mission Boards are balanced with diverse profiles, including from business, public administration, science, culture, citizen engagement, and civil society organisations. A first Mission Boards introduction will take place at the European Research and Innovation Days on 28 to 29 September 2022.
*official membership is subject to finalisation of internal procedures.
Background
The establishment of the first ‘Mission Boards’ was a key step towards the implementation of Horizon Europe, following the partial political agreement reached in April 2019 between the European Parliament and the Council. In 2019, the first phase of the five Mission Boards were formed to help specify, design and start the implementation of Missions for Horizon Europe. The first phase Mission Boards’ mandate ended at the end of 2021, their formation was the result of an open call for expressions of interest.
During the first phase, two important milestones have been reached; firstly, when the Mission Boards submitted their proposals for possible EU Missions to the Commission at the 2019 European Research and Innovation Days and secondly when the Commission endorsed the Mission Boards’ proposals in October 2020 and were identified in the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan in March 2021.
EU Missions are a new and innovative initiative under Horizon Europe that will deliver a transformative impact for society, the economy, and the environment, by a fixed timeline. EU Missions will support Europe’s transformation into a greener, healthier, more inclusive and resilient continent. They aim to bring tangible benefits to people in Europe and engage Europeans in their design, implementation and monitoring.
More information
Source: European Commission I Research and Innovation (https://bit.ly/3DeZpVz)