The Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) is a European grant program that provides financial support for research and innovation in the coal and steel industries. Building on the foundation of the former European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), its main goal is to advance modernization, green transformation, and safety in these key industrial sectors.
Unlike standard operational programs, the fund is financed through interest generated by the assets of the dissolved ECSC, serving as a critical tool for realizing European Green Deal objectives and decarbonizing heavy industry.
Purpose of the Fund
The RFCS is designed to finance innovative projects addressing contemporary industrial challenges. It provides capital for technological developments that lower carbon emissions while helping regions adapt to the decline of mining activities.
Primary objectives:
- Supporting the ecological transformation of the coal sector (clean coal utilization, carbon capture and storage, and re-purposing of industrial sites),
- developing technologies for low-carbon steelmaking (so-called "green steel"),
- improving occupational health and safety conditions in production environments,
- alleviating the socio-economic effects on coal regions in transition.
Scope and Supported Activities
The fund awards financial grants across a broad spectrum of initiatives, ranging from applied research and technological development to large-scale operational testing.
Typical programs and activities:
- Research and innovation projects (annual calls aiming to improve manufacturing processes and technologies),
- Large pilot and demonstration projects (RFCS Big Tickets) with significant impact on European industry, driving technology adoption on a major scale,
- Preparatory and accompanying studies designed to assess markets and share technical know-how.
Who Can Apply
Entities established in any EU Member State are eligible to apply for RFCS funding. As a rule, applicants must form an international consortium.
- Industrial enterprises (primarily from the steel and coal sectors),
- small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and innovative start-ups,
- research organizations and scientific institutions,
- universities and higher education establishments.
The program is not intended for the general public and does not fund private purchases, home insulation, or civic initiatives.
How It Differs from Standard Grants
- The fund operates on returns from former community assets, remaining independent of the EU's multiannual financial framework.
- Submitted projects must address issues with a European-wide scope, rather than purely localized problems.
- Depending on the project type and applicant profile, grants can cover between 70% and 100% of eligible costs (with maximum support rates offered mainly to SMEs and universities).
