The European Commission has launched a €1 billion (∼USD1.2 billion) call for research and innovation projects that respond to the climate crisis and help protect Europe's ecosystems and biodiversity. The Horizon 2020-funded European Green Deal Call is expected to spur Europe's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by turning green challenges into innovation opportunities.

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, says, “With innovation at its heart, this investment will accelerate a just and sustainable transition to a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. As we do not want anyone left behind in this systemic transformation, we call for specific actions to engage with citizens in novel ways and improve societal relevance and impact.”

Given the urgency of the challenges it addresses, this Green Deal Call aims for clear, discernible results in the short- to medium-term, but with a perspective of long-term change. There are fewer, but more targeted, larger and visible actions than previous calls, with a focus on rapid scalability, dissemination, and uptake.

The projects funded under this call are expected to deliver results with tangible benefits in 10 areas, including clean, affordable, and secure energy; industry for a clean and circular economy; energy and resource efficient buildings; and sustainable and smart mobility.

The call includes opportunities for international cooperation in addressing the needs of less-developed nations, particularly in Africa, in the context of the Paris Agreement as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The deadline for submissions is January 26, 2021, with selected projects expected to start in autumn 2021.