The MOSAIC project - Mission-Oriented SWafS to Advance Innovation through Co-creation - is a new SWafS call coordinated by Stickydot . The project explores a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI ) approach to Open Innovation, involving a range of different stakeholders. The project will do this in a chosen ecosystem (city or metropolitan area), which will be focused on climate-neutral and smart cities, linking it to the Horizon Europe Mission.

MOSAIC – Mission-Oriented SWafS to Advance Innovation through Co-creation – is a new Horizon 2020 project in the field of co-innovation. MOSAIC will consolidate past Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI ) project outcomes into one knowledge base and in doing so develop a new methodology. This co-innovation methodology will be tested in place-based innovation ecosystems in the frame of the Horizon Europe Mission on climate-neutral and smart cities.

The first MOSAIC paper 'RRI legacies: co-creation for responsible, equitable and fair innovation in Horizon Europe,' will feature in a special edition of the Journal of Responsible Innovation next September.

The paper discusses the 'new policy experiment' of Missions and Open Innovation and argues that co-creation can act as a linking-pin between the open science emphasis of Horizon 2020 and the open innovation accent of Horizon Europe.

The European project RiConfigure has published a report of lessons learned during its three years of activity. 'Quadruple Helix Collaborations in Practice' highlights the important differences between the quadruple helix collaboration in theory versus in practice. 

It describes a myriad of barriers discovered and overcome during the project, relating to funding, role distribution, incentives, power structures and path dependency. It also highlights the importance of accessible language in order to maximise the involvement of citizens. 

Calls in the frame of four of the five candidate missions under Horizon Europe are now open for proposals. This includes the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities - the context in which MOSAIC will test its methodology.

The calls relate to supporting national, regional and local authorities across Europe as they prepare for the transition towards climate-neutrality in cities, as well as other support actions.

Climate change, according to a new Eurobarometer survey, is the single most important problem facing the world according to European citizens. The survey also explored European citizens' views of the most appropriate policy responses to climate change, with 90% agreeing that greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced to a minimum while offsetting remaining emissions to ensure that the EU is climate-neutral by 2050.

The European Commission has launched an anonymous survey, which it hopes will improve its communication on science, research and innovation. 

The survey is open to all, regardless of their interest in the topic and will help the Commission to better understand interests and concerns related to their science communication.

Complete the 3-5 minute survey here. 

The European Commission is proposing the introduction of a Social Climate Fund. The aim of the fund would be to finance temporary direct income support for vulnerable households and to support measures and investments that reduce emissions in road transport and buildings sectors. As a result this latter measure should reduce costs for vulnerable households, micro-enterprises and transport users.

The fund will support the new emissions trading system, with its size corresponding to a dedicated share of the revenues from the auctioning of emission allowances under the new system.

The international award to recognize and support innovative city strategies, projects and ideas that impact citizens' lives is still accepting submissions for its 2021 prize. The World Smart City Awards support initiatives turning cities into more sustainable and inclusive places to live. 

Last year's winners were game-changing projects from China, the USA, Germany, Canada, Israel and Brazil. 

Winners will be announced in a ceremony on 17 November. 

The Horizon Europe Missions have officially launched, including the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. MOSAIC is currently developing its Open Innovation methodology, which it will test in cities working on reaching the goals of this ambitious mission.