contact@welcomeurope.com
+33(0)1 42 54 60 64
Login
Logo Welcomeurope

RFCS – 2025

RFCS – The Research Fund For Coal and Steel aims at helping the transformation of the steel strategic sector towards the green, digital and circular transitions and contributing to make the European steel industry even more competitive globally, in a sustainable way.

2025-09-24
40 million euros
Close

Call synthesis

Call reference RFCS-2025
Programme RFCS
Institution European Commission
Sectors Buildings & Public Works Business & Industry Employment Energy Environment & Climate Health Research & Innovation Technology & Digital Territorial Development Transport
Beneficiaries Consular Chamber & Agency Large company (> 250 employees) Local Authority & Affiliated Entity Research centre & university Smes & Start-Ups (< 249 Employees) State administration & affiliated entities Training organisation & school

Content reserved for subscribers

Call reference

RFCS-2025



Register for free to access the content

Free access to all information

Priorities and funded actions

Objectives

  • To align with the European Green Deal
  • To support clean steel breakthrough technologies leading to zero-carbon steelmaking by 2030, phasing out coal
  • To reinforce initiatives on cross-cutting climate and environment issues
  • To focuse on regions and sectors most affected by the transition, and protecting vulnerable people and workers by providing access to re-skilling programmes and jobs in new economic sectors
  • To supporting the just transition of the coal sector and region
  • To improving health and safety
  • To minimise the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition
  • To develop new, sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes
  • To advanced steel grades and applications
  • To conserve the resources, protect the environment and circular economy
  • To develop the management of work force and working conditions

Among financed actions

  • Research projects
  • Pilot projects
  • Worshops
  • Exchange of good practices
  • Conferences

Eligibility

  • Be a legal person
  • Be a public or private entity e.g. undertakings, public bodies, research organizations, 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:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories)
    • Non-EU states: countries associated to the RFCS (Click here)
  • A consortium composed of
    • at least 3 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries which complies different conditions (see details on the call document) must be constituted (RFCS-2025-02-AM, RFCS-2025-01-AM)
    • at least 3 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 2 different eligible countries which complies different conditions (see details on the call document) must be constituted (RFCS-2025-01-RPJ, RFCS-2025-02-RPJ)
    • at least 2 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 2 different eligible countries which complies different conditions (see details on the call document) must be constituted (RFCS-2025-01-PDP, RFCS-2025-02-PDP)

Additional information

  • Initial duration of the action:
    • RFCS-2025-02-AM, RFCS-2025-01-AM: between 18 and 36 months
    • RFCS-2025-01-PDP, RFCS-2025-01-RPJ, RFCS-2025-02-RPJ, RFCS-2025-02-PDP: between 36 and 42 months
  • Contact: REA-RFCS@ec.europa.eu

Useful

Financement
  • Total budget of the call: 40 million euros
  • Budget per topic:
    • RFCS-2025-01-AM Coal Accompanying Measures: 1 million euros
    • RFCS-2025-01-RPJ Coal Research Projects: 7 million euros
    • RFCS-2025-01-PDP Coal Pilot and Demonstration Projects: 2.880.000 euros
    • RFCS-2025-02-AM Steel Accompanying Measures: 1 million euros
    • RFCS-2025-02-RPJ Steel Research Projects: 20.500.000 euros
    • RFCS-2025-02-PDP Steel Pilot and Demonstration Projects: 7.620.000 euros
  • Amount of the grant:
    • RFCS-2025-02-AM, RFCS-2025-01-AM: between 300,000 and E500,000 euros
    • RFCS-2025-01-RPJ, RFCS-2025-02-RPJ: between 1 million euros and 3 million euros
    • RFCS-2025-01-PDP, RFCS-2025-02-PDP: between 1.500.000 euros and 3 million euros for coal and to range between 3 million euros and 5 million euros for steel
  • Funding rate:
    • RFCS-2025-01-AM Coal Accompanying Measures : up to 100 % of the eligible costs
    •  RFCS-2025-02-AM Steel Accompanying Measures : up to 100 % of the eligible costs
    • RFCS-2025-01-RPJ Coal Research Projects : up to 60 % of the eligible costs
    • RFCS-2025-02-RPJ Steel Research Projects : up to 60 % of the eligible costs
    • RFCS-2025-01-PDP Coal Pilot and Demonstration Projects: up to 50 % of the eligible costs
    • RFCS-2025-02-PDP Steel Pilot and Demonstration Projects: up to 50 % of the eligible costs