- Joanna DRAKE, Deputy Director-General, DG Research and Innovation (RTD), European Commission
Anchored in the EU’s Horizon Europe research & innovation programme running from 2021-2027, Missions are a new collaborative approach to tackle some of the main challenges of our times. They provide a mandate to achieve specific goals in a set timeframe. They will also deliver impact by putting research and innovation into a new role, combined with new forms of governance and collaboration, as well as with a new way of engaging with citizens, including young people. In this way, their implementation will go far beyond research and innovation to develop new solutions and improve the lives of Europeans.
The Cancer Mission plans to establish a novel joint governance model to ensure a systematic and effective integration of research, innovation and policy developments on cancer in Europe. It has set the overall goal, to be jointly achieved with the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, of improving the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030, through prevention, cure and for those affected by cancer including their families, to live longer and better. The roll-out of the Cancer Mission has started through the Horizon Europe Work Programmes 2021/2022, with a number of calls for innovative research and innovation proposals to support the Mission, in particular in the areas of understanding, screening and quality of life, and totalling over €100 million in EU funding.
- John F. RYAN, Director Public Health, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan was launched one year ago. It is one of the main health priorities of the Von der Leyen Commission. The Plan addresses cancer prevention, treatment and care through an integrated, health-in-all-policies and multi-stakeholder approach. Structured around four key action areas with 10 flagship initiatives and multiple actions, it tackles the entire disease pathway. Substantial progress has been made in the implementation of the Plan through (1) the set-up of a governance with three groups (Member States, Commission services, stakeholders); (2) substantial budget of EUR 4 billion under the EU4Health programme and other funding schemes to ensure that the promises can be put into practice; and (3) an implementation roadmap (detailing the milestones and timeline). In addition, two waves of calls were launched under Work Programme 2021 containing a total of 16 major actions. The next Work Programme for 2022 has recently been adopted, including again a significant number of actions addressing cancer, this time with a strong focus on prevention and diagnosis.