Deadline: 16-Sep-2026
The European Commission is seeking grant applications under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel to support research projects that advance the steel sector through new knowledge, experimental work, and practical innovation. The call focuses on sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking, advanced steel grades, circular economy, resource conservation, environmental protection, and workforce-related challenges.
The total funding available under this call is €20,500,000. Eligible applicants include public and private legal entities, research organisations, education establishments, undertakings, and other organisations involved in research, technological development, demonstration activities, or substantial support to such activities.
Call Overview
The Research Fund for Coal and Steel Research Projects Call supports investigative and experimental research activities in the steel sector.
The call is designed to generate knowledge that helps achieve practical objectives for the future of steel production, processing, applications, sustainability, and workforce development.
Unlike priority-specific calls, this topic has no annual priority, meaning proposals may address any eligible research objective within the steel framework.
Main Objective
The main objective of the call is to support research that advances the steel sector through practical, knowledge-based innovation.
The call aims to:
- Support sustainable steel research
- Promote low-carbon steelmaking
- Improve steel finishing processes
- Develop advanced steel grades
- Expand steel applications
- Conserve resources
- Protect the environment
- Support circular economy solutions
- Improve workforce management
- Address working conditions in the steel sector
- Strengthen research, technological development, and demonstration capacity
Key Focus Areas
The call supports research across several major steel sector themes.
Key focus areas include:
- Sustainable steelmaking
- Low-carbon steelmaking
- Steel finishing processes
- Advanced steel grades
- Advanced steel applications
- Resource conservation
- Environmental protection
- Circular economy
- Workforce management
- Working conditions
- Steel sector innovation
- Research and experimental development
- Practical industrial objectives
What the Call Supports
The call supports research projects focused on investigative or experimental work.
Supported projects should help acquire new knowledge that can contribute to practical objectives in the steel sector.
Eligible research may include:
- Scientific investigation
- Experimental development
- Technology-oriented research
- Applied research linked to steel sector needs
- Knowledge development for practical implementation
- Research supporting future industrial improvements
- Research connected to environmental, technological, or workforce goals
Research Objectives Covered
Projects may address one or more research objectives related to the steel sector.
Eligible objectives include:
New, Sustainable and Low-Carbon Steelmaking
Projects may explore cleaner and more sustainable methods of producing steel.
This can include research into reduced emissions, improved process efficiency, and new steelmaking pathways.
Steel Finishing Processes
Projects may focus on improving finishing technologies that enhance steel performance, quality, durability, or usability.
Advanced Steel Grades and Applications
Projects may develop or investigate advanced steel materials and new applications for industrial, construction, energy, mobility, or other relevant sectors.
Conservation of Resources
Projects may focus on reducing material, energy, or water use in steel production and processing.
Environmental Protection and Circular Economy
Projects may support pollution reduction, recycling, reuse, waste minimisation, circular material flows, and more sustainable steel value chains.
Workforce and Working Conditions
Projects may address workforce management, occupational conditions, skills, safety, organisational practices, or working environments in the steel sector.
No Annual Priority
There is no annual priority for this topic.
This means proposals are not restricted to a single yearly theme.
Applicants may submit research projects from any eligible area covered by the steel research objectives, provided the project contributes to practical outcomes for the sector.
Funding Available
The total funding available under this call is €20,500,000.
Applicants should prepare budgets that are realistic, clearly justified, and directly linked to the proposed research activities.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants and affiliated entities must be legal entities involved in research, technological development, demonstration activities, or substantial support to such activities.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Public bodies
- Private bodies
- Undertakings
- Research organisations
- Higher education establishments
- Secondary education establishments
- Other legal entities carrying out research activities
- Other legal entities supporting technological development or demonstration activities
Eligible Countries
Eligible participants must be established in an eligible country.
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 programme
Applicants should confirm country eligibility before submitting a proposal.
What Makes a Project Suitable?
A suitable project should focus on research that generates useful knowledge for the steel sector.
A strong project should:
- Address a clear steel sector challenge
- Fit within one or more eligible research objectives
- Use a sound research methodology
- Show practical relevance
- Demonstrate potential contribution to industrial or policy objectives
- Include capable research and implementation partners
- Explain expected knowledge outputs
- Show how results may support future improvements in the steel sector
Why This Call Matters
The steel sector is central to European industry, infrastructure, manufacturing, and economic competitiveness.
At the same time, the sector faces major challenges related to emissions reduction, resource efficiency, environmental protection, circularity, and workforce transformation.
This call matters because it funds the research needed to support practical progress in these areas.
By supporting knowledge generation, the programme helps create the foundation for cleaner technologies, advanced materials, better working conditions, and more sustainable steel systems.
Expected Results
Funded projects are expected to contribute to knowledge and practical progress in the steel sector.
Expected results may include:
- New knowledge for low-carbon steelmaking
- Improved understanding of sustainable steel processes
- Research outputs supporting advanced steel grades
- Better approaches to resource conservation
- Stronger circular economy practices
- Improved environmental protection methods
- Insights into workforce management and working conditions
- Research that supports future technological development
- Practical knowledge for industrial application
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Proposal
Applicants should prepare a clear research proposal that demonstrates eligibility, technical quality, relevance, and practical value.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that all participating organisations are eligible legal entities and are established in eligible countries.
This includes checking the eligibility of affiliated entities where relevant.
Step 2: Select the Research Objective
Applicants should identify which steel sector objective their project addresses.
The proposal may focus on sustainable steelmaking, low-carbon processes, advanced steel grades, circular economy, environmental protection, workforce issues, or another eligible objective.
Step 3: Define the Research Problem
The proposal should clearly explain the research challenge.
Applicants should describe why the problem matters for the steel sector and what practical objective the research will support.
Step 4: Develop a Strong Methodology
Applicants should explain how the research will be carried out.
The methodology should include:
- Research questions
- Experimental design
- Data collection methods
- Analytical approaches
- Technical work packages
- Expected outputs
- Risk management measures
Step 5: Demonstrate Practical Relevance
The project should show how the research can contribute to practical steel sector objectives.
Applicants should explain the possible use of results in technology development, environmental improvement, process innovation, workforce management, or future demonstration activities.
Step 6: Build a Capable Consortium
Where relevant, applicants should include partners with complementary expertise.
A strong consortium may include research organisations, industrial partners, education institutions, or other organisations that can contribute to research and technological development.
Step 7: Prepare a Clear Budget
The budget should be linked directly to research activities.
Applicants should justify staff time, research costs, equipment needs, testing, analysis, coordination, and dissemination expenses where relevant.
Step 8: Plan Knowledge Sharing
Applicants should explain how research results will be shared with relevant stakeholders.
This may include reports, technical outputs, workshops, publications, industry engagement, or knowledge transfer activities.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Submitting a project outside the steel sector objectives
- Failing to define a clear research problem
- Providing weak or vague methodology
- Not explaining the practical relevance of the research
- Ignoring environmental, industrial, or workforce implications
- Submitting a proposal without eligible legal entities
- Including participants from ineligible countries
- Providing an unrealistic budget
- Failing to show how knowledge will be used or shared
- Treating the proposal as a commercial project without a clear research basis
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Clearly align with RFCS steel research objectives
- Define a focused research question
- Use rigorous investigative or experimental methods
- Demonstrate strong relevance to practical steel sector needs
- Include partners with appropriate expertise
- Explain expected knowledge outputs
- Show potential contribution to sustainability, innovation, or workforce improvement
- Include a realistic budget and work plan
- Demonstrate how results may support future technological development
- Ensure all participants meet eligibility requirements
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this European Commission steel research call?
The call supports research projects that generate knowledge to help achieve practical objectives in the steel sector.
2. How much funding is available?
The total funding available under this call is €20,500,000.
3. What topics are covered?
The call covers sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking, finishing processes, advanced steel grades and applications, resource conservation, environmental protection, circular economy, workforce management, and working conditions.
4. Is there an annual priority for this topic?
No. There is no annual priority for this topic, so projects from all eligible steel research objectives may be considered.
5. Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include public or private legal entities such as undertakings, public bodies, research organisations, higher or secondary education establishments, and other organisations involved in research, technological development, or demonstration activities.
6. What countries are eligible?
Eligible participants must be established in EU Member States, overseas countries and territories associated with the EU, or non-EU countries associated with the Research Fund for Coal and Steel programme.
7. What type of projects are supported?
The call supports research projects involving investigative or experimental work that helps acquire knowledge for practical steel sector objectives.
Conclusion
The European Commission’s Research Fund for Coal and Steel call provides €20,500,000 to support research projects that advance the steel sector through new knowledge and practical innovation.
The call supports work on sustainable steelmaking, low-carbon processes, advanced steel grades, circular economy, environmental protection, resource conservation, and workforce conditions.
Applicants should prepare proposals that clearly define the research problem, align with eligible steel objectives, use rigorous methods, demonstrate practical relevance, and meet all legal entity and country eligibility requirements.
For more information, visit European Commission.
