Under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS), the European Commission funds research on:
- New, sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes
- Advanced steel grades and applications
- The conservation of resources, protection of the environment and circular economy
- The management of workforce and working conditions
2026 RFCS Big tickets call for proposals – Steel
Big Tickets under the Clean Industrial Deal 2026 call for proposals
1 objective Recycling technologies
50 million Overall indicative budget
RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-CID
- 17 February 2026Launch of the call for proposals
- 19 February 2026Info Day
- 06 May 2026Deadline for applicants to submit proposals
- September-October 2026Notification of applicants if their proposal has been selected (TBC)
- Q1 2027Grant agreement signature for successful projects (TBC)
- Q1 2027EU-funded projects start (TBC)
2026 RFCS Big tickets call for proposals – Steel
Big Tickets under the Steel and Metals Action Plan 2026 call for proposals
2 objectives Low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes; advanced steel grades and applications
25 million Overall indicative budget
RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-SMAP
- 17 February 2026Launch of the call for proposals
- 19 February 2026Info Day
- 06 May 2026Deadline for applicants to submit proposals
- September-October 2026Notification of applicants if their proposal has been selected (TBC)
- Q1 2027Grant agreement signature for successful projects (TBC)
- Q1 2027EU-funded projects start (TBC)
2025 RFCS Big tickets call for proposals – Steel
RFCS Big tickets 2025 call for proposals
6 Objectives e.g. Digitalisation and social innovation; circular economy; supporting CO2 neutral iron ore reduction; improve energy efficiency
100 million Overall indicative budget
RFCS-2025-CSP-Big Tickets for Steel (RFCS-2025-CSP)
- 04 February 2025Launch of the call for proposals
- 06 May 2025Deadline for applicants to submit proposals
- 11 September 2025Notification of applicants if their proposal has been selected (TBC)
- January 2026Grant agreement signature for successful projects (TBC)
- February 2026EU-funded projects start (TBC)
RFCS-2024-CSP-Big Tickets for Steel (RFCS-2024-CSP)
- 27 February 2024RFCS Big Tickets calls Info Day
- 25 April 2024Deadline for applicants to submit proposals
6 proposals submitted, competing for €100 million
- September-October 2024Notification of applicants if their proposal has been selected
- October-December 2024Grant agreement signature for successful projects
- January 2025 (tbc)EU-funded projects start
2023 RFCS Big tickets call for proposals – Steel
2023 RFCS Big tickets call for proposals Proposals now under evaluation
5 Objectives e.g. CO2 neutral iron ore reduction; Developing technologies to reduce the energy required to produce steel; Circular economy for zero-waste
130 million Overall indicative budget
RFCS-2023-CSP-Big Tickets for Steel (RFCS-2023-CSP)
- 2 February 2023Launch of the call for proposals
- 4 May 2023Deadline for applicants to submit proposals
9 proposals submitted, competing for €130 million
- September-October 2023Applicants are informed if their proposal has been selected
- October/December 2023Grant agreement signature for successful projects
- January 2024 (tbc)EU-funded projects start
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The content of this page is for information purposes only. The relevant legal instruments and the text of the call shall take precedence over the information contained on this page. The European Commission and the European Research Executive Agency do not accept responsibility for any use made of the information contained therein.