100 EU Mission Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Revealed by European Commission

€360 million for 100 cities to start the innovation paths towards climate neutrality by 2030.

The European Commission has revealed the 100 EU cities that will participate in the EU Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030. The participants in the Cities Mission come from all 27 Member States, with 12 additional cities in countries associated or potentially being associated to Horizon Europe.

The Cities Mission will receive €360 million of Horizon Europe funding for the period 2022-23, to start the innovation paths towards climate neutrality by 2030. The research and innovation actions will address clean mobility, energy efficiency and green urban planning, and offer the possibility to build joint initiatives and ramp up collaborations in synergies with other EU programmes. Cities will receive tailor-made advice and assistance from a dedicated Mission Platform run by NetZeroCities, additional funding and financing opportunities and the possibility to join large innovation actions and pilot projects. The Mission also provides networking opportunities, exchange of best practices between cities and support to engage citizens in the mission.

The 100 selected cities will be invited to develop Climate City Contracts, which will include an overall plan for climate neutrality across all sectors such as energy, buildings, waste management and transport, together with related investment plans. This process will involve citizens, research organisations and the private sector. The 277 applicant cities that were not selected will also receive support through the Mission Platform and funding opportunities under the Cities Mission Work Programme of Horizon Europe.

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said:

‘Horizon Europe Missions have a great potential to deliver the European Green Deal objectives, including European energy security. The selected cities represent a first step covering a wide geographical footprint. We want that concrete benefits reach all our regions and citizens, through innovation, empowering large and small cities with different levels of experience and capacities. I encourage all cities to reach out and work with all stakeholders, including of course their citizens, to achieve together our ambitious goals.’

(This report was the subject of a RESEARCHconnect Policy Newsflash.)