ERIAFF Working Group

Description of the aims and goals of WG’s activities

Horizon Europe Missions represent an innovative approach to research and innovation, aiming to deliver tangible social and economic impacts in areas of strategic importance for the European Union. These missions promote interdisciplinary actions designed to achieve ambitious, measurable goals that generate concrete benefits for society.

The main objective of this Working Group is to strengthen regional participation in the implementation of EU Missions and to enhance stakeholder engagement at the territorial level. The group promotes place-based approaches, ensuring that regional needs and capacities are effectively integrated into mission activities.

In particular, it focuses on three mission areas aligned with the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals: Adaptation to Climate Change (including social transformation), Water and Oceans, and Soil Health. Through collaboration and knowledge exchange, the Working Group supports regions in contributing to Europe’s green and sustainable transition.

Challenges to address

Key challenges for the Working Group include:

• Raise awareness of opportunities for regions to engage in Horizon Europe Missions
• Analyse and identify participation pathways within relevant work programmes for ERIAFF regions
• Define clear value propositions for regional actors across mission-related priorities
• Support regional innovation ecosystems in accessing mission-related funding opportunities
• Strengthen coordination and alignment among regions to enhance collective impact
• Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building on mission participation