Indoor air quality is emerging as a defining public health challenge for Europe. Evidence from the IDEAL Cluster shows that pollutant levels can vary widely between indoor spaces, with the poorest conditions often found in schools, care homes, and other environments where vulnerable groups spend most of their time. Growing research links indoor pollutants to immediate health effects, reduced cognitive performance, and long‑term risks, yet major knowledge gaps remain. Despite indoor exposure often exceeding outdoor levels, policy attention has historically focused on ambient air pollution, leaving indoor environments insufficiently addressed.

Momentum is now shifting. Advances in sensors, smart ventilation, building renovation, and digital tools — combined with new European legislation — create a timely opportunity to embed indoor air quality within the EU’s Zero Pollution ambition. The IDEAL Cluster, uniting seven Horizon Europe projects, over 120 organisations, and more than €50 million in investment, will convene policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and public authorities to present scientific findings, innovative solutions, socio‑economic evidence, and policy recommendations. The event will chart a shared roadmap towards cleaner indoor air across Europe and beyond, translating science into concrete action for healthier indoor environments.