Deadline: 16-Sep-2026
The European Commission is inviting grant applications under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) to support knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement, workshops and conferences linked to steel sector priorities. The call focuses on Accompanying Measures that promote the use of knowledge generated through research and support dialogue around the transformation of the steel industry.
The total funding available under this topic is €1,000,000. Eligible applicants include public and private bodies, undertakings, public authorities, research organisations, education institutions and other organisations involved in research and technological development activities in eligible countries.
Programme Overview
The RFCS Accompanying Measures Grant supports activities that help share, apply and promote knowledge generated through research in the steel sector.
The programme is part of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel framework.
It focuses on stakeholder engagement, workshops, conferences and knowledge-sharing activities that support the transformation of the European steel industry.
Main Objective
The main objective of this topic is to enhance knowledge sharing and stakeholder engagement in the steel sector.
The programme aims to:
- Promote the use of knowledge gained from research activities
- Support workshops and conferences linked to RFCS priorities
- Encourage collaboration between research, industry and policy stakeholders
- Support the digital, green and circular transformation of the steel sector
- Strengthen stakeholder engagement in steel regions
- Encourage policy suggestions linked to just transition
- Support balanced representation across project consortia
What Are Accompanying Measures?
Accompanying Measures are support actions that help maximise the use, visibility and impact of research knowledge.
Under this RFCS topic, Accompanying Measures may support:
- Workshops
- Conferences
- Knowledge-sharing events
- Stakeholder engagement activities
- Dissemination of research findings
- Dialogue between industry, researchers and policy actors
- Activities that connect research with practical transformation needs
These measures do not focus mainly on producing new research. They focus on sharing, using and applying existing research knowledge.
Key Focus Areas
The programme supports activities linked to RFCS steel priorities.
Focus areas include:
- Sustainable steelmaking
- Low-carbon steelmaking
- New steelmaking processes
- Steel finishing processes
- Advanced steel grades
- Advanced steel applications
- Resource conservation
- Environmental protection
- Circular economy
- Workforce management
- Working conditions
- Digital transformation
- Green transformation
- Just transition in steel regions
Projects from all relevant areas and domains within the RFCS framework are eligible.
Steel Sector Transformation Priorities
The call supports the transformation of the steel sector toward more sustainable, efficient and future-ready systems.
Key transformation priorities include:
- Reducing carbon emissions in steel production
- Improving resource efficiency
- Supporting circular economy models
- Developing advanced steel products
- Improving working conditions
- Supporting skills and workforce adaptation
- Strengthening regional transition strategies
- Connecting research outcomes with policy and practice
Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder engagement is central to this call.
Projects should involve relevant actors who can contribute to the future of the steel sector and steel regions.
Relevant stakeholders may include:
- Academic institutions
- Research centres
- Steel industry actors
- Industry associations
- Public authorities
- Regional development actors
- Just transition stakeholders
- Workforce representatives
- Training and education organisations
- Environmental and circular economy experts
A strong proposal should show how different stakeholders will be engaged meaningfully.
Consortium Representation
The programme encourages balanced representation within project consortia.
Consortia should include, where relevant:
- Academia
- Research centres
- Industry
- Industry associations
- Stakeholders involved in the just transition of the steel industry
Balanced participation helps ensure that research knowledge is shared across sectors and used in practical, policy and industrial contexts.
Link with the European Green Deal
The programme may contribute to policy suggestions that support the transformation of steel communities.
This includes alignment with the European Green Deal and its goals for a greener, more sustainable and circular European economy.
Projects may explore how the steel sector can move toward:
- Lower emissions
- Cleaner production
- Circular resource use
- Digital innovation
- Regional resilience
- Fair and inclusive transition pathways
Funding Available
The total funding available under this topic is €1,000,000.
Applicants should design proposals that clearly connect the requested budget to knowledge-sharing, stakeholder engagement, workshops, conferences and related activities.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include legal entities involved in or supporting 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 carrying out or supporting research and technological development
Applicants must be established in eligible countries.
Eligible Countries
Applicants must be established in countries eligible under the RFCS framework.
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 the Programme Supports
The programme supports knowledge-sharing and engagement activities linked to steel sector research and transformation.
Supported activities may include:
- Workshops on RFCS steel priorities
- Conferences on steel sector transformation
- Dissemination of research results
- Stakeholder consultations
- Policy dialogue activities
- Knowledge exchange between research and industry
- Events on low-carbon steelmaking
- Events on circular economy in steel
- Activities linked to just transition in steel regions
- Engagement with regional and industrial stakeholders
- Preparation of policy suggestions
Expected Results
Funded projects are expected to improve the use and visibility of research knowledge in the steel sector.
Expected results may include:
- Stronger knowledge exchange across the steel sector
- Wider dissemination of RFCS research outcomes
- Better engagement between researchers, industry and public authorities
- Increased awareness of sustainable steelmaking solutions
- Stronger dialogue on steel sector transformation
- Policy suggestions supporting green, digital and circular transition
- Improved stakeholder cooperation in steel regions
- Greater connection between research outputs and practical implementation
Why This Programme Matters
The steel industry is central to Europe’s industrial base, but it faces major challenges linked to decarbonisation, resource efficiency, circular economy and workforce transition.
Research alone is not enough. Knowledge must be shared, discussed and applied by the people and institutions responsible for transformation.
This RFCS Accompanying Measures topic matters because it helps connect research knowledge with industry needs, policy discussions and regional transition processes.
It also supports stakeholder cooperation that can help steel communities adapt to green, digital and circular change.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Proposal
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal focused on knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement and RFCS steel priorities.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that all participating entities are legal entities established in eligible countries.
They should also ensure that the consortium includes organisations relevant to research, industry, policy or stakeholder engagement.
Step 2: Define the RFCS Priority Area
The proposal should clearly identify the RFCS steel priority area being addressed.
This may include low-carbon steelmaking, advanced steel grades, circular economy, resource conservation, environmental protection, workforce issues or working conditions.
Step 3: Clarify the Accompanying Measure
Applicants should explain whether the project will organise workshops, conferences, consultations, dissemination activities or other knowledge-sharing events.
The proposal should show how the action will promote the use of knowledge from research activities.
Step 4: Build a Balanced Consortium
A strong consortium should include relevant organisations from research, industry and stakeholder communities.
Applicants should explain the role of each partner and how the consortium supports balanced representation.
Step 5: Design Stakeholder Engagement Activities
The proposal should describe how stakeholders will be identified, invited and engaged.
This may include participation from steel regions, public authorities, industry associations, workforce actors and just transition stakeholders.
Step 6: Link Activities to Steel Transformation
Applicants should explain how the project supports the green, digital and circular transformation of the steel sector.
The proposal should also show how activities align with European Green Deal objectives where relevant.
Step 7: Plan Workshops and Conferences
If the project includes events, applicants should describe:
- Event themes
- Target participants
- Expected outputs
- Dissemination plans
- Follow-up activities
- Knowledge-sharing methods
Step 8: Prepare a Clear Budget
The budget should be realistic and linked to the planned activities.
Applicants should ensure that costs are directly connected to workshops, conferences, stakeholder engagement, dissemination, coordination and reporting.
Step 9: Include Policy-Relevant Outputs
Where relevant, proposals should include policy suggestions or analytical outputs that support the transformation of steel communities.
These outputs should be clear, practical and based on stakeholder input.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Treating the action as a research project instead of an Accompanying Measure
- Failing to explain how research knowledge will be used or shared
- Providing weak stakeholder engagement plans
- Building a consortium without balanced representation
- Ignoring industry or just transition stakeholders
- Not linking activities to RFCS steel priorities
- Submitting vague workshop or conference plans
- Failing to explain expected outputs
- Providing a budget that is not clearly tied to activities
- Overlooking the European Green Deal and transformation context
- Not demonstrating relevance to steel regions or steel sector stakeholders
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Clearly define the knowledge-sharing objective
- Align with RFCS steel sector priorities
- Demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement
- Include a balanced consortium
- Connect research knowledge with industry and policy needs
- Show relevance to green, digital and circular transformation
- Include practical workshops or conferences
- Produce clear and useful outputs
- Engage stakeholders involved in just transition
- Provide a realistic budget and work plan
- Explain how results will be disseminated and used
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this RFCS Accompanying Measures call?
The call supports knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement, workshops and conferences that promote the use of research knowledge in the steel sector.
2. How much funding is available?
The total funding available under this topic is €1,000,000.
3. What sectors or themes are covered?
The call covers sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking, advanced steel grades, steel applications, resource conservation, environmental protection, circular economy, workforce management and working conditions.
4. Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include public and private bodies, undertakings, public authorities, research organisations, education institutions and other organisations involved in or supporting research and technological development.
5. What countries are eligible?
Applicants 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.
6. What activities can be funded?
Eligible activities may include workshops, conferences, stakeholder engagement, dissemination of research results, policy dialogue and knowledge exchange linked to RFCS priorities.
7. Why is stakeholder engagement important?
Stakeholder engagement helps ensure that research knowledge is shared with industry, public authorities, research institutions and actors involved in the just transition of the steel industry.
Conclusion
The European Commission’s RFCS Accompanying Measures call supports knowledge sharing and stakeholder engagement for the transformation of the steel sector.
With €1,000,000 available, the programme funds activities such as workshops, conferences and policy dialogue linked to sustainable steelmaking, circular economy, workforce issues and low-carbon industrial transformation.
Applicants should prepare proposals that clearly demonstrate RFCS relevance, balanced stakeholder participation, practical knowledge-sharing activities and strong alignment with the digital, green and circular future of Europe’s steel communities.
For more information, visit European Commission.
