Lea Kauppi © Kai Widell
Director General, Professor Lea Kauppi from Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) has been nominated as a member of the Mission Board for Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters for the Horizon Europe.
Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas announced the names of the top experts who have been selected as members of the mission boards to work on five major European research and innovation missions. The missions will be part of Horizon Europe, the next EU research and innovation programme (2021–2027).
Each mission board consists of 15 experts, including the chair. They will identify the first possible specific missions on cancer, climate change, healthy oceans, climate-neutral cities and healthy soil and food by the end of 2019. In addition, for each mission an assembly will be established, gathering a larger number of high-level experts. The assemblies provide an additional pool of ideas, knowledge and expertise that will be actively called upon to contribute to the success of the five missions.
Commissioner Moedas said: “Missions will address some of the main challenges European citizens are facing. With their vision and knowledge, I am confident that these first-rate experts will help making missions a success, inspiring citizens and showing them what Europe, and research and innovation, can do about the issues that matter most to them.”
Another Finnish expert, Professor Tomi Mäkelä from the University of Helsinki, was nominated to the Members of the Mission Board for Cancer.
Over 2 100 individuals from across the EU and beyond applied to become member of a mission board. The selection process ensured that the boards are composed of creative and highly motivated experts from a wide range of backgrounds, including academics, innovators, civil society, industry, finance and end-users.
A first discussion with citizens, stakeholders and experts from Member States will take place at the European Research and Innovation Days in Brussels from 24 to 26 September.
Inspired by the Apollo 11 mission to put a man on the moon, the European research and innovation missions aim to deliver solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing our world, such as cancer, climate change, healthy oceans, climate-neutral cities and healthy soil and food.
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