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Request for Applications: Coal Accompanying Measures

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Deadline: 16-Aug-2026

The European Commission is requesting grant applications under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel to support Accompanying Measures that advance knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement and transition support 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 €1,000,000. Eligible applicants include public and private legal entities, research organisations, undertakings, education establishments, public authorities and other organisations that carry out or substantially support research and technological development activities.

Call Overview

The RFCS Accompanying Measures Call for the Coal Sector supports activities that help promote, share and apply knowledge gained through research.

The call is part of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel framework.

It supports workshops, conferences, stakeholder engagement and knowledge-sharing activities related to RFCS projects or coal sector priorities.

Main Objective

The main objective of the call is to advance the objectives of the coal sector by promoting the use of research knowledge and strengthening stakeholder cooperation.

The call aims to:

What Are RFCS Accompanying Measures?

Accompanying Measures are support actions that help increase the use, visibility and impact of research knowledge.

They are not primarily designed to conduct new research.

Instead, they support activities that help share, discuss, apply and translate research outcomes into wider use.

Under this topic, Accompanying Measures may include:

Key Focus Areas

The call focuses on transition, safety and environmental improvement in the coal sector.

Key focus areas include:

No Annual Priority

There is no annual priority specified for this topic.

This means proposals may address any eligible coal sector objective covered by the RFCS framework, provided the project aligns with the call’s purpose and focus areas.

Applicants should clearly explain which coal sector objective their proposed Accompanying Measure supports.

What the Call Supports

The call supports activities that promote the use of knowledge from research activities.

Supported actions may include:

Just Transition in the Coal Sector

A just transition means supporting people, workers, communities and regions affected by the transformation of the coal sector.

Accompanying Measures may help coal regions by bringing together stakeholders to discuss research findings, transition needs and practical solutions.

Projects may address issues such as:

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder engagement is central to this call.

Projects should involve actors who are necessary for the successful transition of coal regions.

Relevant stakeholders may include:

A strong proposal should show how stakeholders will be meaningfully involved and how their input will shape project outputs.

Balanced Consortium Representation

Accompanying Measures are expected to ensure balanced representation within project consortia.

Consortia should include relevant participation from:

Balanced representation helps ensure that research knowledge is connected to real-world transition needs, policy discussion and practical implementation.

Link with the European Green Deal

The call may support policy suggestions that contribute to the transformation of coal communities in line with the European Green Deal.

This includes ideas that support:

Applicants should explain how their activities connect to wider European transition goals where relevant.

Funding Available

The total funding available under this topic is €1,000,000.

Applicants should prepare budgets that are realistic and clearly linked to the proposed Accompanying Measure activities.

Eligible costs should support activities such as coordination, events, stakeholder engagement, dissemination, policy dialogue and project communication.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include legal entities that carry out or substantially support research and technological development activities.

Eligible applicants may include:

Applicants should ensure that all participating entities meet the RFCS eligibility requirements.

Eligible Countries

Applicants must be established in an eligible country.

Eligible countries include:

Applicants should confirm country eligibility before submitting a proposal.

Expected Results

Funded Accompanying Measures are expected to strengthen the use and impact of research knowledge in the coal sector.

Expected results may include:

Why This Call Matters

Coal regions face complex social, economic, environmental and industrial challenges during transition.

Research can help identify solutions, but knowledge must be shared with the people and institutions responsible for action.

This RFCS Accompanying Measures call matters because it helps connect research findings with stakeholders, policymakers, industry actors and communities involved in coal sector transformation.

By supporting workshops, conferences and knowledge exchange, the call helps turn research knowledge into practical insight for coal regions in transition.

How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Proposal

Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the purpose, stakeholders, activities, outputs and expected contribution to RFCS coal sector 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 each organisation contributes meaningfully to research, technological development, dissemination or stakeholder engagement.

Step 2: Define the Coal Sector Objective

The proposal should identify the coal sector objective being addressed.

This may include just transition, health and safety, environmental impact reduction or wider sustainable transformation of coal regions.

Step 3: Explain the Accompanying Measure

Applicants should clearly describe the proposed activity.

This may include a workshop, conference, stakeholder dialogue, knowledge-sharing initiative, policy discussion or dissemination activity.

Step 4: Connect the Activity to RFCS Priorities

The proposal should show how the activity relates to RFCS projects or priorities.

Applicants should explain how the measure will promote the use of knowledge gained through research.

Step 5: Build a Balanced Consortium

Applicants should involve relevant partners from academia, research centres, industry, industry associations and just transition actors.

The proposal should explain the role of each partner and why their participation is important.

Step 6: Identify Stakeholders

Applicants should identify the stakeholders needed for successful coal region transition.

This may include regional authorities, community representatives, worker groups, environmental actors, industry partners and policy institutions.

Step 7: Plan Workshops or Conferences

If the proposal includes events, applicants should describe:

Step 8: Include Policy-Relevant Outputs

Where relevant, proposals may include policy suggestions that support digital, green and circular transformation.

These outputs should be practical, evidence-based and relevant to coal communities.

Step 9: Prepare a Realistic Budget

The budget should clearly connect costs to the proposed activities.

Applicants should justify costs related to coordination, facilitation, event organisation, communication, dissemination and stakeholder engagement.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:

Tips for a Strong Application

A strong application should:

FAQ

1. What is the purpose of this RFCS Accompanying Measures call?

The call supports activities that promote the use of research knowledge and support workshops, conferences and stakeholder engagement related to RFCS coal sector priorities.

2. How much funding is available?

The total funding available under this topic is €1,000,000.

3. What focus areas are covered?

The call covers just transition of the coal sector and regions, health and safety, and minimising environmental impacts of coal mines in transition.

4. Is there an annual priority?

No. There is no annual priority specified for this topic.

5. Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include public and private legal entities, undertakings, public authorities, research organisations, higher or secondary education establishments and other organisations involved in research and technological development.

6. What 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.

7. What types of activities can be supported?

Supported activities may include workshops, conferences, stakeholder dialogue, dissemination of research results, policy discussions and knowledge-sharing activities related to RFCS projects or priorities.

Conclusion

The European Commission’s RFCS Accompanying Measures call provides €1,000,000 to support knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue for the transition of the coal sector.

The call supports workshops, conferences and related activities that help apply research knowledge to just transition, health and safety, and environmental challenges in coal regions.

Applicants should prepare proposals that demonstrate strong RFCS relevance, balanced consortium participation, meaningful stakeholder engagement, clear outputs and practical value for the digital, green and circular transformation of coal communities.

For more information, visit European Commission.

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