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Cluster "Climate, Energy and Mobility"

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Contents and backgrounds

The "Climate, Energy and Mobility" Cluster addresses three closely related topics with an integrated approach to research and innovation. The shift to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient and resilient economy and society is a key challenge for Europe. The Cluster's activities are intended to contribute to sustainability, emission reduction and decarbonisation on the one hand, and to international competitiveness and growth of the European energy and transport sector on the other. In addition, European citizens should have access to secure, reliable, affordable and inclusive energy and transport systems.

The following "Targeted Impacts" are to be achieved:

  • More climate research as a template for climate policy measures & low-carbon technologies for the shift towards a climate-neutral and emission-free economy and society.

  • New cross-sectoral energy and transport solutions that simultaneously provide clean energy transmission and decarbonise transport.

  • Achieving a clean, secure and competitive energy supply, improved cost efficiency and more reliability of renewable energy solutions, and improving electricity grids for more flexibility and security.

  • Decarbonisation & inclusive growth and jobs in Europe, lowering consumer costs and reducing dependence on energy imports, as well as developing energy-efficient solutions for consumers.

  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter across all sectors of transport while ensuring the competitiveness of the European transport sector through the development of new technologies.

  • New, affordable, smart, and sustainable mobility options to significantly improve safety, the economy, and society by reducing accidents, decreasing congestion, and reducing vehicle energy demand and emissions, increasing efficiency and productivity of transportation control, improving working conditions, and creating new jobs.

The Horizon Europe Specific Programme, which sets the thematic framework for the Cluster, identifies the following "Areas of Intervention" for activities that are eligible for funding:

  • Climate Science and Solutions

  • Energy Supply

  • Energy Systems and Grids

  • Buildings and Industrial Facilities in Energy Transition

  • Communities and Cities

  • Industrial Competitiveness in Transport

  • Clean, Safe and Accessible Transport and Mobility

  • Smart Mobility

  • Energy Storage

​The specific calls for project proposals can be found in the respective current Work Programme, which is prepared by the European Commission for a period of two to three years and contains all relevant details on the calls. The calls and all necessary documents are published online on the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal of the European Commission. The calls are predominantly interdisciplinary as well as inter-sectoral in nature and offer opportunities for the involvement of humanities and social sciences or cooperation with non-academic partners (e.g. SMEs, associations, societies, etc.).

In addition to the Work Programme for the "Climate, Energy and Mobility" Cluster, but still within the framework of Horizon Europe, further calls are also published and implemented by the following institutionalised partnerships:

  • Transforming Europe’s rail system (tbc)

  • Integrated Air Traffic Management (tbc)

  • Clean Aviation (tbc)

  • Clean Hydrogen (tbc)

Calls in the energy sector are also issued under the co-funded Clean Energy Transition (CETP) and Driving Urban Transition (DUTP) partnerships.

Important players

Several European Commission Directorates-General (DGs) are significantly involved in the design of the Work Programmes and calls due to the strong thematic integration. In addition to DG Research and Innovation (RTD), these are primarily the DGs Climate Policy (CLIMA), Energy (ENER) and Mobility and Transport (MOVE). For other cross-sectional aspects of the Cluster (e.g. digitalisation), DG Communication Networks, Content and Technologies (CNECT) is also involved.

The Cluster's programming is also shaped by the numerous topic-specific (co-programmed) partnerships. These include: People-centric sustainable built environment (Built4People), Towards zero-emission road transport (2ZERO), Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM), Zero-emission Waterborne Transport, European industrial battery value chain.