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Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS)

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Summary

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.

Programme Description

The Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) co-finances through grants research and innovation projects in the areas of coal and steel.

Every year, the fund supports projects at universities, research centres, and private companies.

RFCS is a EU funding programme supporting research projects in the coal and steel sectors. The RFCS has its own legal bases and stands outside the Multiannual Financial Framework. It is funded via the revenues generated by the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in liquidation assets, which are exclusively devoted to research in the sectors related to the coal and steel industry, in accordance with the provisions of Protocol (37) to the Treaties.

RFCS funded projects will cover:

  • steel production processes
  • optimised utilisation and conservation of resources, energy savings and industrial efficiency improvements
  • health and safety at work
  • environmental protection
  • technologies supporting coal regions in transition
  • emission reductions from steel production

The Clean Steel Partnership will support research and innovation activities from the pilot to the demonstration phase of breakthrough technologies for carbon neutral steel production. The Clean Steel Partnership relies on funds’ synergies to €700 million coming in equal parts from Horizon Europe and assets of the European Coal and Steel Community in liquidation.

Total Budget

€ 111 million

Thematic Categories

  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Industry
  • Other Thematic Category
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Educational Institutions
  • Large Enterprises
  • Private Bodies
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • State-owned Enterprises

Call Opening Date

01/01/2021

Call Closing Date

31/12/2027

EU Contact Point

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

Website

https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/research-fund-coal-and-steel-rfcs_en
Programme/Sub-programme/Plan Calls

  • RFCS-2024-CSP-Big Tickets for Steel

    Opened

    Code: 32574 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2024-CSP | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 01/02/2024 | End submission calls: 25/04/2024

    This topic focuses on the following six objectives:

    • Cross cutting issues: digitalisation, skills and social innovation;
    • 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;
    • Preparation of steel CO/CO2 gases for Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS).

    More Partnerships

  • RFCS-2024-JT-Big Tickets for Coal

    Opened

    Code: 32572 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2024-JT | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 01/02/2024 | End submission calls: 25/04/2024

    The call objectives are:

    • Repurposing of former coal and lignite mines and coal-related infrastructure including power supply services;
    • Materials and waste reuse, and development of alternative materials, including recovery of critical raw materials;
    • Land monitoring, modelling, stabilisation and/or restoration;
    • Processing of methane emissions;
    • Monitoring, management and/or treatment of mine water and water tables in coal mines in the process of closure and formerly operating mines.

    More Partnerships

  • Coal Research Projects

    Closed

    Code: 29650 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2023-01-RPJ | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 15/06/2023 | End submission calls: 20/09/2023

    Proposals presented under this topic shall address one or several of the RFCS objectives for coal as set out in the RFCS Regulation, and should clearly identify which work packages address which objective(s) i.e.:

    • supporting the just transition of the coal sector and regions
    • improving health and safety
    • minimising the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition

    More Partnerships

  • Steel Accompanying Measures

    Closed

    Code: 29648 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2023-02-AM | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 15/06/2023 | End submission calls: 20/09/2023

    Proposals presented under this topic shall address one or several of the RFCS objectives for steel as set out in the RFCS Regulation, and should clearly identify which work packages address which objective(s) i.e.:

    • 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

    More Partnerships

  • Coal Accompanying Measures

    Closed

    Code: 29646 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2023-01-AM | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 15/06/2023 | End submission calls: 20/09/2023

    Proposals presented under this topic shall address one or several of the RFCS objectives for coal as set out in the RFCS Regulation, and should clearly identify which work packages address which objective(s) i.e.:

    • supporting the just transition of the coal sector and regions
    • improving health and safety
    • minimising the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition

    More Partnerships

  • Steel Research Projects

    Closed

    Code: 29642 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2023-02-RPJ | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 15/06/2023 | End submission calls: 20/09/2023

    Proposals presented under this topic shall address one or several of the RFCS objectives for steel as set out in the RFCS Regulation, and should clearly identify which work packages address which objective(s) i.e.:

    • 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.

    More Partnerships

  • Coal Pilot and Demonstration Projects

    Closed

    Code: 29640 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2023-01-PDP | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 15/06/2023 | End submission calls: 20/09/2023

    Proposals presented under this topic shall address one or several of the RFCS objectives for coal as set out in the RFCS Regulation, and should clearly identify which work packages address which objective(s) i.e.:

    • supporting the just transition of the coal sector and regions
    • improving health and safety
    • minimising the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition

    More Partnerships

  • RFCS-2023-JT-Big Tickets for Coal

    Closed

    Code: 27681 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2023-JT | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 02/02/2023 | End submission calls: 04/05/2023

    The topic focuses on the following objectives:

    • Mine water monitoring, management and/or treatment in coal mines in the process of closure and formerly operating mines;
    • Land monitoring, modelling, stabilisation and/or restoration;
    • Waste and/or spoil treatment of mines in transition;
    • Energy recovery associated with the mitigation and monitoring of methane emissions from formerly operating coal mines, coal mines identified for eventual closure in Territorial Just Transition Plans or coking coal mines (e.g. ventilation air methane (VAM) or abandoned mine methane (AMM) projects that oxidise methane and produce useful energy) and/or geothermal energy systems;
    • Materials recycling and development of alternative materials, including recovery of critical raw materials;
    • Repurposing of former coal and lignite mines as well as coal-related infrastructure, including power supply services, with projects for energy storage, renewable energy, hydrogen or hybrid solutions that enable sector coupling or restoring the environment of former installations and their surroundings.

    More Partnerships

  • RFCS-2023-CSP-Big Tickets for Steel

    Closed

    Code: 27679 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2023-CSP | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 02/02/2023 | End submission calls: 04/05/2023

    This topic focuses on the following five objectives:

    • CO2 neutral iron ore reduction (Increasing the use of pre-reduced iron carriers);
    • Developing technologies to reduce the specific energy required to produce steel;
    • Circular economy and sector coupling solutions to meet the zero-waste goal for steelmaking;
    • Preparation of steel CO/CO2 gases for Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS);
    • Process Integration (PI) in steel plants to reduce the use of fossil carbon and associated CO2 emissions.

    More Partnerships

  • Coal Accompanying Measures

    Closed

    Code: 23553 | Identifier Code: RFCS-01-2022-AM | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 22/06/2022 | End submission calls: 22/09/2022

    This topic covers all research objectives for the coal sector, as set out in the RFCS Regulation, i.e.:

    • supporting the just transition of the coal sector and regions
    • improving health and safety
    • minimising the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition

    More Partnerships

  • Coal Pilot and Demonstration Projects

    Closed

    Code: 23551 | Identifier Code: RFCS-01-2022-PDP | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 22/06/2022 | End submission calls: 22/09/2022

    This topic covers all research objectives for the coal sector, as set out in the RFCS Regulation, i.e.:

    •  supporting the just transition of the coal sector and regions
    • improving health and safety
    • minimising the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition

    More Partnerships

  • Steel Research Projects

    Closed

    Code: 23543 | Identifier Code: RFCS-02-2022-RPJ | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 22/06/2022 | End submission calls: 22/09/2022

    This topic covers all research objectives for the steel sector, as set out in the RFCS Regulation, i.e.:

    • 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.

    More Partnerships

  • Steel Pilot and Demonstration Projects

    Closed

    Code: 23536 | Identifier Code: RFCS-02-2022-PDP | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 22/06/2022 | End submission calls: 22/09/2022

    This topic covers all research objectives for the steel sector, as set out in the RFCS Regulation, i.e.:

    • 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

    More Partnerships

  • Steel Accompanying Measures

    Closed

    Code: 23534 | Identifier Code: RFCS-02-2022-AM | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 22/06/2022 | End submission calls: 22/09/2022

    This topic covers all research objectives for the steel sector, as set out in the RFCS Regulation, i.e.:

    • 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

    More Partnerships

  • Coal Research Projects

    Closed

    Code: 23532 | Identifier Code: RFCS-01-2022-RPJ | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 22/06/2022 | End submission calls: 22/09/2022

    This topic covers all research objectives for the coal sector, as set out in the RFCS Regulation, i.e.:

    • supporting the just transition of the coal sector and regions improving health and safety
    • minimising the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition

    More Partnerships

  • RFCS-2022-JT-Big Tickets for Coal

    Closed

    Code: 19775 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2022-JT | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 03/03/2022 | End submission calls: 03/05/2022

    The call objectives are:

    • Mine water monitoring, management and/or treatment;
    • Land monitoring, modelling, stabilisation and/or restoration;
    • Waste and/or spoil treatment;
    • Energy recovery associated with the mitigation and monitoring of methane emissions from formerly operating coal mines, coal mines identified for eventual closure in Territorial Just Transition Plans or coking coal mines (e.g. ventilation air methane (VAM) or abandoned mine methane (AMM) projects that oxidise methane and produce useful energy) and/or geothermal energy systems;
    • Materials recycling and development of alternative materials, including recovery of critical raw materials;
    • Repurposing of former coal and lignite mines as well as coal-related infrastructure, including power supply services, with projects for energy storage, renewable energy, hydrogen or hybrid solutions that enable sector coupling.

    More Partnerships

  • RFCS-2022-CSP-Big Tickets for Steel

    Closed

    Code: 19767 | Identifier Code: RFCS-2022-CSP | Programme name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) | Start submission calls: 03/03/2022 | End submission calls: 03/05/2022

    The call objectives are:

    • Preparation of steel CO/CO2 gases for Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS)
    • Process Integration (PI) in steel plants to reduce the use of fossil carbon and associated CO2 emissions;
    • CO2 neutral iron ore reduction (Increasing the use of pre-reduced iron carriers);
    • Developing technologies to reduce the specific energy required to produce steel.

    More Partnerships