RFCS-2025 Steel Pilot and Demonstration Projects
RFCS Project Grants
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
24/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the RFCS-2025 Steel Pilot and Demonstration Projects Call?
Grant Description
This call supports research and innovation projects aiming to develop and demonstrate near-zero-carbon steelmaking processes, advanced steel grades and applications, resource conservation and circular economy approaches, and workforce management solutions in the steel sector. It addresses the need to decarbonise energy-intensive industries, contribute to European Green Deal objectives for a sustainable, resource-efficient and competitive economy with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, an...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
• Demonstration of breakthrough near-zero-carbon steelmaking processes capable of delivering a zero-carbon steel production route by 2030.
• Significant reductions in CO₂ emissions, energy consumption, carbon footprint and other environmental impacts, combined with resource conservation.
• Improved steel product quality, higher productivity and extended service life through advanced process control and new steel grades.
• Development of new near-zero-carbon steel grades with enhanced mechanical, physical and application-specific properties, including high-performance steels for mobility and lightweight design.
• Validated digital tools (modelling, AI, big data) for predictive simulation of microstructures, properties and production processes.
• Integrated demonstration projects combining steel processes with zero-carbon energy or clean hydrogen solutions.
• Enhanced circular-economy outcomes: higher scrap recyclability, recovery of secondary raw materials (e.g. slags), reduced waste emissions and optimized waste-heat recovery.
• Improved workplace safety, ergonomics and workforce competencies aligned with digitalisation and lifelong learning principles.
• Measurable industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits contributing to a just and sustainable transition in the EU steel sector.
• Significant reductions in CO₂ emissions, energy consumption, carbon footprint and other environmental impacts, combined with resource conservation.
• Improved steel product quality, higher productivity and extended service life through advanced process control and new steel grades.
• Development of new near-zero-carbon steel grades with enhanced mechanical, physical and application-specific properties, including high-performance steels for mobility and lightweight design.
• Validated digital tools (modelling, AI, big data) for predictive simulation of microstructures, properties and production processes.
• Integrated demonstration projects combining steel processes with zero-carbon energy or clean hydrogen solutions.
• Enhanced circular-economy outcomes: higher scrap recyclability, recovery of secondary raw materials (e.g. slags), reduced waste emissions and optimized waste-heat recovery.
• Improved workplace safety, ergonomics and workforce competencies aligned with digitalisation and lifelong learning principles.
• Measurable industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits contributing to a just and sustainable transition in the EU steel sector.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Alignment with European Green Deal objectives: net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, resource efficiency decoupled from growth, just transition to sustainable economy.
• Address at least one research area defined in the RFCS Regulation: Article 8 (near-zero-carbon steelmaking), Article 9 (advanced steel grades and applications), Article 10 (resource conservation, environmental protection, circular economy) or Article 10a (workforce management and working conditions).
• Proposals must include a detailed assessment of anticipated industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits per Article 26 of the RFCS Regulation.
• Consortia must comprise legal entities from eligible EU Member States or associated countries (see section 6 of call document).
• Demonstrated financial and operational capacity of all participants (see section 7 of call document).
• Submission of a complete application using the Standard Application Form (Part A and Part B) and Detailed Budget Table templates available in the Submission System.
• Adherence to page limit and layout requirements (section 5 of call document).
• Single-stage submission by 24 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Compliance with evaluation and award criteria, scoring thresholds and indicative timeline (sections 8, 9 and 4 of call document).
• Address at least one research area defined in the RFCS Regulation: Article 8 (near-zero-carbon steelmaking), Article 9 (advanced steel grades and applications), Article 10 (resource conservation, environmental protection, circular economy) or Article 10a (workforce management and working conditions).
• Proposals must include a detailed assessment of anticipated industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits per Article 26 of the RFCS Regulation.
• Consortia must comprise legal entities from eligible EU Member States or associated countries (see section 6 of call document).
• Demonstrated financial and operational capacity of all participants (see section 7 of call document).
• Submission of a complete application using the Standard Application Form (Part A and Part B) and Detailed Budget Table templates available in the Submission System.
• Adherence to page limit and layout requirements (section 5 of call document).
• Single-stage submission by 24 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Compliance with evaluation and award criteria, scoring thresholds and indicative timeline (sections 8, 9 and 4 of call document).
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Single-stage submission only; the choice of action (RFCS-PJG) and model grant agreement (RFCS-AG) at registration is final and cannot be changed.
• No topic-specific Q&A; general portal FAQs and IT Helpdesk support available.
• Use of Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and Terms & Conditions.
• Compliance with EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 and RFCS Decision 2008/376/EC (amended by EU 2021/1094).
• Legal and financial set-up of grants governed by the RFCS Model Grant Agreement and Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA).
• All partners must undergo legal entity validation, LEAR appointment and financial capacity assessment according to portal rules.
• No topic-specific Q&A; general portal FAQs and IT Helpdesk support available.
• Use of Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and Terms & Conditions.
• Compliance with EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 and RFCS Decision 2008/376/EC (amended by EU 2021/1094).
• Legal and financial set-up of grants governed by the RFCS Model Grant Agreement and Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA).
• All partners must undergo legal entity validation, LEAR appointment and financial capacity assessment according to portal rules.
Important dates
Open from: 18/06/2025
Deadline:24/09/2025
Application period has ended
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