Challenge 4.1: Bridging the gap - Roadmap on Carcinogens

Innovation that is targeted to meet real workplace needs is essential to prevent exposure to carcinogens during the whole life cycle of substances or materials - this knowledge needs to be common understanding.

The often existing gap between what is needed for implementation at workplace level (i.e. substitution of carcinogens or, if this is not technically feasible, low-emission design of products and processes) and what innovation from current research provides, can be bridged by linking producers (equipment), researchers, sectors, and other relevant stakeholders and discussing collaboration and bridging solutions under the umbrella of Horizon Europe and European Green Deal.

Challenge Aim

The Roadmap Challenge 4.1 ‘Bridging the Gap’ was aimed at bringing together work floor needs with innovators and researcher to better fit practical realities and at the same time sensitise innovators and researcher to how materials are used throughout the life cycle to promote their safe and sustainable design (see also the initial ideas below). Therefore, the milestones and activities of the challenge were designed to link researchers and producers (of technical equipment) to sectors and their representatives as well as other relevant stakeholders to discuss collaboration and bridging solutions under the umbrella of Horizon Europe and the European Green Deal.

Challenge description

To achieve the aims of Challenge 4.1, one focus was to establish a close connection and exchange between health and safety as well as risk management experts within the science community (of innovation and material research). To support this specific activity, a preparatory study was commissioned by the RoC management with the aim to identify relevant programmes and strategies at European and, if applicable, international level, that can be used as starting points for the progression of Ch4.1. For this purpose, an overview and one page documents (OnePagers) of each respective activity relevant to occupational safety and health in relation to the Chemicals Strategy on Sustainability, the Beating Cancer Plan, the action program on the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), the future strategic framework for occupational safety and health and the new research framework program Horizon Europe was compiled from the researched information. This resulted in 16 OnePagers that include the ‘name of the activity and reference framework’, ‘lead DG or organisation’, ‘programme period’, ‘contact person (personal or functional)’, ‘objectives of the activity’, ‘assignment to predefined keywords’, ‘reference to the goals and projects of the RoC’ and ‘relevant links to accessible published documents’. For details, the preparatory report and one-pagers can be found here.

Challenge 4.1 conclusions in a nutshell

In summary, it can be concluded that in order to start closing the gap between science and work floor, interested parties, partners or stakeholders, can use the identified contacts within the OnePagers of the preparatory study to help raise awareness to the aims of the RoC, test for synergies and solidify these aims in EU programmes with the highest probability to be successful. Connection to the PARC initiative is most promising. For the EU Mission Cancer connections on member state level should be pushed by the respective ministries.

From these findings, the RoC Management concluded that the RoC must improve its communication with stakeholders of industry now in order to transport results currently generated by the initiative not only to the usual suspects. One of the additional OnePagers was ‘campaigning’. It could be directly used to establish new concepts of reaching the so far neglected target group of industrial stakeholders. SusChem could be a possible platform to engage with the target group of industrial stakeholders.

As the challenge and the results from the preparatory study were not further followed by a partner that stepped in a leading role, Ch4.1 was concluded as of 31. August 2022 by the Roadmap management together with the challenge partner from Finland. The management together with Finland provide a summarising and concluding report.

To the full Challenge 4.1 Conclusion report

Initial idea

Below you can find the original activities, milestones and deliverables that had been envisioned when starting this challenge in 2021.

Activities

A0: Preparatory Study

In support of the Ch4.1 goals, a preparatory study was designed to pave the way for targeted contacting of actors within the research community. The resulting ‘OnePagers’ are summarised in the report on the preparatory study.

Challenge Acceptation

The Challenge team has a start-up meeting to further detail the activity plan, division of tasks, an estimated budget and to start executing the challenge. Other aspects to be discussed are if and how ‘friends of the roadmap’ could be involved in the challenge, promotion and reflections on potential synergies with other challenges.

A1: Mission area: Cancer

Contact to relevant actors will be established, points of contact identified and possibilities for joint activities explored in order to support the transfer between company practice and research.

A2: PARC

The European Partnership on the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) aims at the innovative further development of tools for the assessment of chemical risks and criteria for the safe design of chemical products . Together with the actors of PARC (national hubs), commonalities (M1) and transfer possibilities of the results through RoC will be identified and implemented in practice (M3). [requires a positive decision by the EU Commission and MS for founding of PARC in 2021].

A3: Technology platform SUSCHEM

SusChem’s mission is to initiate and inspire European chemical and biochemical innovation to respond effectively to global challenges by providing sustainable solutions. Their Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda focusses on advanced materials and processes as well as enabling digital technologies . Beyond this, they define horizontal topics, which provide opportunities for cooperation with the RoC and make relevant contributions to M1-M4 targets likely. [cost neutral, relies on partners effort].

A4: Programme for cluster – Digital, industry and space

A major focus of cluster 4 “Digital, Industry and Space” in the strategic plan for Horizon Europe are the European Green Deal and EU contributions to the UN GDG 12 “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”. The objectives “safe and sustainable materials” and “circular industry” offer the best opportunities for transfer from and to the RoC (M3, M4). Collaboration with EU-Commission (DG RTD) and MS institutions and persons involved in the (shadow) programme committee will be established. [cost neutral, relies on partners effort].

Challenge Completed

The Challenge team has a concluding meeting where future steps are discussed and the end or the way forward is decided.

Milestones

M1: Synergies

Identify points of contact and comparable objectives of the Roadmap on Carcinogens with the activities planned under Horizon Europe for the European Green Deal.

M2: Working together

Cooperation of Roadmap on Carcinogens with relevant actors under Horizon Europe, e.g. joint events to sensitise for synergies.

M3: Impulses from science

Transfer of relevant innovative research results into the RoC.

M4: Impulses for science

Suggestions from the RoC for research projects under Horizon Europe or relevant research programs of the EU or MS.

Deliverables

D1: Overview

Overview of the interfaces identified in activities A1 – A4 between the RoC and the activities on Horizon Europe and the European Green Deal (2021).

D2: Proposal for EU research

Proposals for discussion in the 2023-24 Work Programme Committee on Cluster 4 “Digital, Industry and Space” (2022).

D3: Joint events

Joint event(s) with the Mission Board for Cancer, PARC and SuSChem (2022 – 24).

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