Deadline: 16-Sep-2026
The European Commission is accepting grant applications under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel to support research projects that advance practical objectives in the coal sector. The call focuses on just transition, health and safety, and reducing the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition.
The total funding available under this topic is €7,000,000. Research projects are expected to begin at Technology Readiness Levels 1–3 and progress to TRL 4–5 by the end of the project, supporting early-stage research that can later move toward applied innovation.
Call Overview
The RFCS Research Projects Call for the Coal Sector supports investigative and experimental research activities that generate knowledge for practical coal sector objectives.
The call is part of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel framework.
It is designed to support early-stage research that can contribute to the transition, safety and environmental improvement of the coal sector and coal regions.
Main Objective
The main objective of the call is to support research that contributes to practical solutions for the coal sector.
The call aims to:
- Support the just transition of the coal sector
- Support coal regions in transition
- Improve health and safety
- Reduce environmental impacts of coal mines
- Generate new research knowledge
- Support early-stage technological development
- Build a foundation for future applied innovation
- Assess industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits
Key Focus Areas
The call supports research linked to coal sector transition and sustainable development.
Key focus areas include:
- Coal sector transition
- Just transition
- Coal regions in transition
- Health and safety
- Environmental impact reduction
- Coal mines in transition
- Early-stage research
- Investigative research
- Experimental research
- Technology readiness development
- Research and technological development
- Sustainable coal sector transformation
No Annual Priority
There is no annual priority specified for this topic.
This means proposals may address any eligible coal sector research objective covered by the call, provided the project supports the transition, safety or environmental improvement of the coal sector.
Applicants should clearly explain how their research aligns with one or more eligible objectives.
What Are RFCS Research Projects?
RFCS Research Projects involve investigative or experimental work designed to acquire new knowledge.
These projects are not primarily focused on immediate commercial deployment.
Instead, they help build the scientific, technical and practical knowledge needed to support future innovation and coal sector transformation.
What the Call Supports
The call supports research projects that contribute to practical objectives in the coal sector.
Supported activities may include:
- Scientific investigation
- Experimental research
- Early-stage technology development
- Research linked to coal mine transition
- Studies on health and safety improvements
- Research on environmental impact reduction
- Knowledge development for future pilot or demonstration activities
- Research supporting just transition processes
- Assessment of industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits
Technology Readiness Level Requirement
Research project activities are expected to begin at TRL 1–3.
By the end of the project, activities should progress to TRL 4–5.
This means projects should move from early research and concept development toward validation in laboratory or relevant environments.
What Are Technology Readiness Levels?
Technology Readiness Levels describe how mature a technology, process or solution is.
For this call:
- TRL 1–3 refers to early-stage research, basic principles, concept formulation and experimental proof of concept.
- TRL 4–5 refers to validation in laboratory or relevant environments.
Applicants should clearly state the starting TRL, target TRL and steps required to achieve the expected progression.
Just Transition in the Coal Sector
The call supports research that contributes to a fair and practical transition for coal workers, communities and regions.
Research may explore ways to support:
- Coal regions in transition
- Worker safety and wellbeing
- Regional resilience
- New development pathways
- Social impacts of transition
- Community-level adaptation
- Environmental rehabilitation
- Sustainable reuse of coal-related assets
A strong proposal should explain how the research can contribute to just transition objectives.
Health and Safety Research
The call supports research that improves health and safety in the coal sector and coal regions in transition.
Research may focus on:
- Worker protection
- Risk reduction
- Monitoring systems
- Safety technologies
- Operational safety
- Mine closure safety
- Emergency preparedness
- Improved working conditions
- Health risks linked to coal mine transition
Applicants should show how the research may lead to practical health and safety improvements.
Environmental Impact Reduction
The call supports research that minimises the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition.
Research may address:
- Pollution reduction
- Mine site rehabilitation
- Water management
- Land restoration
- Waste reduction
- Environmental monitoring
- Emissions reduction
- Long-term environmental protection
- Sustainable transition of former coal sites
Applicants should clearly describe the expected environmental relevance of their research.
Required Benefit Assessment
Each proposal must include an assessment of expected benefits.
The assessment should cover:
- Industrial benefits
- Economic benefits
- Social benefits
- Environmental benefits
This requirement helps ensure that research outcomes are relevant to real coal sector transition needs.
Industrial Benefits
Industrial benefits may include improved knowledge, new technical approaches, safer processes, transition-ready methods or foundations for future pilot and demonstration projects.
Economic Benefits
Economic benefits may include cost savings, regional development potential, job-related benefits, improved efficiency or support for sustainable economic transition in coal regions.
Social Benefits
Social benefits may include improved safety, stronger community resilience, better support for workers, fair transition outcomes or reduced negative impacts on vulnerable groups.
Environmental Benefits
Environmental benefits may include reduced pollution, better land or water management, improved rehabilitation approaches, lower emissions or stronger environmental monitoring.
Funding Available
The total funding available under this topic is €7,000,000.
Applicants should prepare budgets that are realistic, justified and directly linked to the proposed research activities.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include legal entities that carry out or contribute to research and technological development activities.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Public bodies
- Private bodies
- Undertakings
- Public authorities
- Research organisations
- Higher education establishments
- Secondary education establishments
- Other organisations involved in research and technological development
Applicants should ensure that all participating entities meet the RFCS eligibility requirements.
Eligible Countries
Applicants must be established in eligible countries.
Eligible countries include:
- European Union Member States
- Overseas countries and territories associated with the European Union
- Non-EU countries associated with the Research Fund for Coal and Steel
Applicants should confirm country eligibility before preparing a proposal.
What Makes a Project Suitable?
A suitable project should be research-based, technically credible and relevant to coal sector transition.
A strong project should:
- Address a clear coal sector challenge
- Align with just transition, health and safety or environmental objectives
- Begin at TRL 1–3
- Progress to TRL 4–5
- Use a strong research methodology
- Include clear expected outputs
- Assess industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits
- Demonstrate relevance to practical coal sector objectives
- Create a foundation for future applied innovation
Why This Call Matters
Coal regions are undergoing major economic, environmental and social changes.
Early-stage research is needed to generate knowledge that can support safer, cleaner and more sustainable transition pathways.
This RFCS Research Projects call matters because it helps develop the knowledge base required for future innovation in coal mine transition, health and safety, environmental protection and regional transformation.
By supporting projects from TRL 1–3 to TRL 4–5, the call helps move ideas from early research toward practical validation.
Expected Results
Funded projects are expected to contribute to knowledge and practical relevance in the coal sector.
Expected results may include:
- New knowledge for coal sector transition
- Early-stage solutions for coal regions
- Improved understanding of health and safety challenges
- Research outputs for environmental impact reduction
- Progress from TRL 1–3 to TRL 4–5
- Evidence to support future pilot or demonstration projects
- Better understanding of industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits
- Stronger research foundations for just transition processes
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Proposal
Applicants should prepare a clear research proposal that demonstrates eligibility, technical quality, expected impact and alignment with RFCS coal objectives.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that all participating organisations are eligible legal entities and are established in eligible countries.
They should also ensure that participating organisations contribute to research or technological development activities.
Step 2: Define the Coal Sector Challenge
The proposal should clearly explain the coal sector challenge being addressed.
This may relate to just transition, health and safety, environmental impact reduction or sustainable development of coal regions.
Step 3: Clarify the Research Objective
Applicants should explain what knowledge the project aims to acquire.
The objective should be specific, research-based and connected to a practical coal sector need.
Step 4: State the Starting and Target TRL
Applicants should clearly state the starting TRL and expected end TRL.
Projects should begin at TRL 1–3 and progress to TRL 4–5 by the end of the project.
Step 5: Develop a Strong Methodology
The methodology should explain how the research will be carried out.
This may include:
- Research questions
- Experimental design
- Data collection
- Testing methods
- Technical analysis
- Work packages
- Milestones
- Risk management
Step 6: Explain Practical Relevance
Applicants should show how the research may contribute to practical coal sector objectives.
The proposal should explain how the findings could support future pilot projects, demonstration projects, policy decisions, safety improvements or environmental transition actions.
Step 7: Include the Required Benefit Assessment
Each proposal must assess expected industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits.
This assessment should be specific, realistic and linked to project outputs.
Step 8: Prepare a Clear Budget
The budget should be directly connected to the proposed research activities.
Applicants should justify costs related to personnel, research activities, testing, analysis, coordination, equipment and dissemination where relevant.
Step 9: Plan Knowledge Sharing
Applicants should explain how results will be shared with relevant stakeholders.
This may include researchers, industry actors, public authorities, coal regions, worker representatives and environmental stakeholders.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Submitting a project outside the coal sector focus
- Treating the proposal as a demonstration project instead of early-stage research
- Failing to identify the starting and target TRL
- Not showing progression from TRL 1–3 to TRL 4–5
- Providing a vague or weak research methodology
- Omitting the required benefit assessment
- Ignoring industrial, economic, social or environmental value
- Failing to show relevance to just transition, health and safety or environmental impact reduction
- Including partners from ineligible countries
- Providing an unrealistic or poorly justified budget
- Not explaining how research results may support future practical use
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Clearly align with RFCS coal sector objectives
- Define a specific research problem
- Show strong technical and scientific quality
- Explain expected TRL progression
- Demonstrate practical relevance to coal transition
- Include a realistic research plan
- Provide measurable expected outputs
- Assess industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits
- Include capable research and technical partners
- Show how results can support future innovation
- Present a clear budget and implementation timeline
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this RFCS Research Projects call?
The call supports investigative and experimental research that generates knowledge for practical objectives in the coal sector.
2. How much funding is available?
The total funding available under this topic is €7,000,000.
3. What focus areas are covered?
The call focuses on just transition of the coal sector and regions, health and safety, and minimising the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition.
4. Is there an annual priority?
No. There is no annual priority specified for this topic.
5. What TRL progression is expected?
Projects are expected to start at TRL 1–3 and progress to TRL 4–5 by the end of the project.
6. Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include public or private legal entities, undertakings, public authorities, research organisations, higher or secondary education establishments and other organisations involved in research and technological development.
7. Which countries are eligible?
Eligible countries include EU Member States, overseas countries and territories associated with the EU, and non-EU countries associated with the Research Fund for Coal and Steel.
Conclusion
The European Commission’s RFCS Research Projects call provides €7,000,000 to support early-stage research that advances practical objectives in the coal sector.
The call supports investigative and experimental work related to just transition, health and safety, and reducing the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition.
Applicants should prepare proposals that clearly demonstrate coal sector relevance, strong research methodology, TRL progression from 1–3 to 4–5, expected benefits and alignment with the Research Fund for Coal and Steel framework.
For more information, visit European Commission.
