Research Fund for Coal and Steel : a summary of the findings of the steel research technical groups : 2024

The 2024 assessments of the RFCS Technical Groups (TGA1-TGA5) confirm the steel sector's critical role in achieving EU climate and industrial goals. Projects demonstrate strong alignment with the European Green Deal and Clean Steel Partnership, advancing decarbonisation, circularity, and digitalisation. Key achievements include hydrogen-based steelmaking, smart factories, and advanced steel grades for renewables and mobility. However, critical research gaps persist as low-TRL innovation is underfunded, casting and scrap quality need deeper focus, and hydrogen-compatible materials and standards remain underdeveloped. Workforce upskilling, regulatory harmonisation, and lifecycle-based design are essential to scale innovations. Future RFCS calls must balance high-risk research with industrial deployment, foster cross-sector collaboration, and ensure policy alignment. A strategic shift is needed to accelerate the transition to a competitive, climate-neutral, and resilient European steel industry.