Mission Innovation (MI) is a global initiative of 22 countries and the European Commission. Mission Innovation Recognized that accelerating widespread clean energy is an essential part of an effective, long-term global response to the climate challenge, to provide affordable and reliable energy for everyone and to promote economic growth, and critical for energy security. Member countries, representing 58% of the world’s population and over 80% of global clean energy research budgets, have committed to double their government investment in clean energy research and innovation over five years to 2021.
Mission Innovation was announced by 20 world leaders, including President Obama, President Hollande at the 21st Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) on 30 November 2015. It was created to accelerate widespread energy innovation and support the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit the rise in global temperatures to below 2 ° C. In parallel, Bill Gates launched an initiative called Breakthrough Energy Coalition, which brings together a group of private investors and global corporations in the energy field committed to accelerating the transfer of cutting-edge, government-funded research and clean energy innovations from the laboratory. Breakthrough Energy Coalition created Breakthrough Energy Ventures, an investor-led fund, to provide patient,
At the 2nd Mission Innovation Ministerial, members adopted an Action Plan aimed at demonstrating progress through individual country programs and collaborative efforts toward achieving MI goals. By the end of 2021 MI will have helped deliver:
One of the goals of MI is to substantially boost public-sector investment in clean energy research and development (R & D) at the national level of MI members. Each Mission Innovation member country -according to its own priorities, policies, processes, and laws-independently determines the best use of its R & D funding and defines its own R & D priorities. Altogether, more than USD $ 35 billion in additional clean energy R & D is committed by Mission Innovation members over the five years.
Beyond the quantitative goal to double clean energy research and innovation, Mission Innovation has launched a number of initiatives to boost the impact of these investments. Mission Innovation members have identified seven global calls to actions, or “Innovation Challenges,” where increased international attention is required. Its Innovation Challenges cover the entire spectrum of RD & D; from early stage research needs assessments to technology demonstration projects. The seven Innovation Challenges include:
High-level leadership is provided by government ministers with responsibility for clean energy innovation. A Mission Innovation Steering Committee, composed of member governments, provides strategic guidance to foster implementation of an Enabling Framework. Core administrative functions are carried out by the MI Secretariat, which supports the work of the Steering Committee and leads on communications, information-sharing between members and tracking the progress of Mission Innovation. Mission Innovation’s Action Plan Objectives are delivered through several sub-groups organized around specific tasks:
Mission Innovation aims to create new, or strengthened, voluntary cross-border networks and partnerships on energy innovation. Focusing on early-stage technology development coming out of Mission Innovation countries, the Breakthrough Energy Coalition committed to making risk-tolerant investments in next generation technologies. In addition to the One Planet Summit held in Paris on 12th December 2017, Bill Gates, on behalf of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, announced new partnerships with the Mission Innovation Countries (Canada, European Commission, France, Mexico, United Kingdom). Through these partnerships, the Coalition will work with a new approach to public-private collaboration in order to support low-carbon energy investing. A new collaboration between Mission Innovation and the World Economic Forum (WEF) was announced at the 2nd MI Ministerial in Beijing, China. The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Mission Innovation Ministers gather every year to take stock of the progress and plan ahead. The inaugural Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-1) was held in San Francisco, California, on June 1-2, 2016. Members’ provided transparent information about their commitment to dual public spending in clean energy RD & D over 5 years: from approximately USD 15 trillion a year to approximately USD 30 trillion, by 2021, with an overview of the focus areas of interest to each member. The second MI Ministerial (MI-2) took place in Beijing on June 6-8, 2017 and enabled MI to enter a more operational phase: a work program was endorsed by Ministers and published a high level Action Plan, defining MI goals and the strategy to achieve them. At this Ministerial, Mission Innovation joined forces with the World Economic Forum members and partners to drive private sector involvement, public-private partnerships, and knowledge sharing around public-private research and technology development. In May 2018, the European Commission together with Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Nordic Council of Ministers will co-host the 3rd Innovation Ministerial Mission (MI-3) in Malmö, Sweden. This Ministerial is expected to highlight concrete results delivered to MI, create commitment and build momentum towards clean energy acceleration, with a strong focus on private sector engagement. Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Nordic Council of Ministers will co-host the 3rd Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-3) in Malmö, Sweden. This Ministerial is expected to highlight concrete results delivered to MI, create commitment and build momentum towards clean energy acceleration, with a strong focus on private sector engagement. Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Nordic Council of Ministers will co-host the 3rd Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-3) in Malmö, Sweden. This Ministerial is expected to highlight concrete results delivered to MI, create commitment and build momentum towards clean energy acceleration, with a strong focus on private sector engagement.
The following are founder members:
* Breakthrough Energy Coalition