M-LAB (İzmir Mission City Action Lab), operating through a partnership between the İzmir Planning Agency (İZPA) and the İzQ Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, organized the “M-LAB Horizon Europe Programme Information Day” in cooperation with TÜBİTAK and the Union of Healthy Cities. Held online, the event provided institutions and organizations operating in İzmir with comprehensive information on current calls, funding opportunities, and project development processes under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme.

İzmir hosted a significant gathering as part of the European Union’s climate and innovation-driven transformation agenda. During the “Horizon Europe Programme Information Day,” organized by M-LAB, new calls, project opportunities, and İzmir’s role in the Mission City process were discussed in relation to the European Union’s multi-billion-euro research and innovation funding programs. The event, held in cooperation with TÜBİTAK and the Union of Healthy Cities, focused on initiatives that could strengthen İzmir’s capacity to access international funding.

Presentations delivered by TÜBİTAK National Contact Points introduced participants to the calls scheduled to open in 2026 under the framework of EU Missions. The scope, priorities, and application processes for calls related to climate change adaptation, climate-neutral and smart cities, cancer, restoration of oceans and waters, and soil health were discussed in detail.

The İzmir Mission City Process Presented
In the opening presentation, İZPA President Prof. Dr. Koray Velibeyoğlu outlined İzmir’s position within the European Union’s Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission and highlighted M-LAB’s role in the process. The presentation emphasized that İzmir was selected as one of 112 Mission Cities from among 377 applications submitted across Europe and became the first city outside the European Union to receive the “Mission Label.” It was noted that the city’s multi-layered identity—combining industry, agriculture, tourism, and port functions—offers an important testing ground for the implementation and evaluation of climate solutions.

“10 Major Challenges” Approach Linked to EU Missions
The event also examined the relationship between İzmir’s “10 Major Challenges” framework and the European Union’s five core missions. It was highlighted that priority areas ranging from affordable housing to circular urban metabolism directly intersect with the thematic objectives of the missions on climate adaptation, climate-neutral cities, cancer, oceans and waters, and soil health.

Horizon Europe: The World’s Largest Civilian R&D Programme
As part of the program, TÜBİTAK EU Framework Programmes Director and Horizon Europe National Coordinator Çağrı Yıldırım delivered a presentation to participants. Yıldırım stated that Horizon Europe, with a budget of €95.5 billion, is the world’s largest civilian research and innovation programme. He also shared that Türkiye has received €417.8 million in funding under the programme to date and has participated in 846 projects.

New Calls and International Collaborations Discussed
The event also provided detailed information on upcoming calls related to the New European Bauhaus initiative, climate adaptation solutions, sustainable mobility, the built environment, marine and freshwater ecosystems, and soil health. Established to support the implementation of İzmir’s goals under the EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, M-LAB continues to bring together academia, the private sector, local governments, and civil society organizations on a common platform. Through these efforts, it contributes to the development of international partnerships, access to European funding opportunities, and the city’s overall project development capacity.

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