Examples
Worked examples
- Is an instance
An EU mission funds research to make 100 European cities climate-neutral by 2030.
- Is an instance
A national funder launches a cancer mission with explicit targets and stakeholder governance.
Counter-examples
Looks similar, but isn't
- Not an instance
Relabelling existing research programmes as 'missions' without bold time-bound targets.
- Not an instance
A 'mission' without measurable indicators or accountability structures.
Editorial commentary
Mission-oriented research framing was popularised by Mariana Mazzucato's 'Mission-Oriented Research and Innovation in the European Union' (2018) and her broader 'Mission Economy' work. Missions are characterised by being bold, measurable, time-bound, broad and interdisciplinary in scope, and inviting bottom-up solutions. The European Commission's Horizon Europe programme adopted five missions (cancer, climate adaptation, oceans, cities, soils). Mission-oriented research overlaps significantly with SDG-aligned research and Responsible Research and Innovation, but emphasises explicit goals and accountability rather than only thematic alignment.
References
- Mazzucato M 'Mission-Oriented Research and Innovation in the European Union', European Commission, 2018. Mazzucato M 'Mission Economy', 2021. Horizon Europe Missions documentation.
Also known as
Mission-oriented innovation · Mission research
Machine-readable encodings
Use in your systems
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