RFCS – RFCS-2026 – 2026

Objectives

• To support the just transition of the coal and steel sector and regions
• To improve health and safety
• To minimise the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition
• To develop advanced steel grades and applications

Eligibility

• Be legal entities (public or private bodies, 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 (list of participating countries)
• Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register before submitting the proposal.
• A consortium composed of :
  • for Accompanying Measures, minimum 2 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 2 different eligible countries must be constituted
  • for Research projects, minimum 3 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 2 different eligible countries must be constituted
  • for Pilot and Demonstration projects, minimum 2 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 2 different eligible countries must be constituted

Additional information

• Initial duration of the action: between 18 and 42 months

Projects of longer duration may be accepted in duly justified cases. Extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment.

• Contact: REA-RFCS@ec.europa.eu

Useful

• Guidelines: Click here
• Other call documents: Click here
• Executive Agency website: Click here
• More information: Click here

• Total budget of the call: 40 million euros
• Budget per topic:
  • RFCS-2026-01-AM Coal: 1 million euros
  • RFCS-2026-01-RPJ Coal: 7 million euros
  • RFCS-2026-01-PDP Coal: 2.88 million euros
  • RFCS-2026-02-AM Steel: 1 million euros
  • RFCS-2026-02-RPJ Steel: 20.5 million euros
  • RFCS-2026-02-PDP Steel: 7.62 million euros
• Amount of the grant: between 300.000 and 5.000.000 euros

The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

• Funding rate: between 50% and 100% of the total eligible costs