The RFCS project has the following research objectives for the coal sector:

• Supporting the equitable transition of the coal sector and regions;
• Improving health and safety.
• Minimizing the environmental impact of coal mines in transition.

The RFCS Research Programme has the following research objectives for the steel sector:

• new, sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes;
• advanced steel grades and applications;
• conservation of resources, protection of the environment and circular economy;
• management of work force and working conditions.

The call objectives are:

• Cross cutting issues: digitalisation, skills and social innovation in the steel sector.
• CO2 neutral iron ore reduction (Increasing the use of pre-reduced iron carriers).
• Technologies to improve energy efficiency, increase heat recovery and enhance process integration (PI) approaches in steel production.
• Advanced steel alloys for special applications.
• Circular economy and sector coupling solutions to meet the zero-waste goal for steelmaking.
• Carbon capture of steel CO/CO2 gases.

50%

The Commission estimates that an EU contribution of €5 million to €25 million would allow the objectives of this call to be addressed appropriately.

This does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts.

Projects should be of a size and type of action that makes them eligible for RFCS funding.

• Education and training
• Environment and Climate Change
• New Entrepreneurship
• Research, Technological Development and Innovation

• Educational Institutions
• Legal Entities
• Natual person / Citizen / Individual
• Other Beneficiaries
• Private Bodies
• Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
• State-owned Enterprises

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

• be legal entities (public or private bodies, e.g. undertakings, public bodies, research organisations, higher or secondary education establishments or other legal entities) which carry out an RTD activity or substantially contribute to such an activity
• be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
  • non-EU countries:
    • countries associated to the RFCS (list of participating countries).

Consortium composition – Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of:

• minimum 2 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 2 different eligible countries

Independent — Independent means that none of the entities must be under the direct or indirect control of the other or under the same direct or indirect control as the other.

For this purpose, control may, in particular, take either of the following forms:

• the direct or indirect holding of more than 50 % of the issued share capital, or of a majority of the voting rights
• the direct or indirect holding, in fact or in law, of decision-making powers.

The following relationships do not in themselves constitute control:

• if the entities have the same public investment corporation, institutional investor or venture-capital company with a direct or indirect holding of more than 50% of the issued share capital or a majority of voting rightsif the entities are owned or supervised by the same public body.

For general information about the programme, if you have questions or want to share your views please contact us at: REA-RFCS@ec.europa.eu

• Funding&Tenders
• Call document