RFCS-2026-Steel-Big Tickets under the Steel and Metals Action Plan

RFCS-2026 Steel Big Tickets under the Steel and Metals Action Plan is a single-stage EU call funding large pilot and demonstration projects that advance low-carbon steelmaking or advanced steel grades with projects expected to reach TRL 7–8 by completion. The total call budget is €75,000,000 with €25,000,000 allocated to the SMAP topic, indicative project contributions of €5–€25 million, and a 50% funding rate on eligible costs; projects should normally last 36–54 months. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in eligible countries forming consortia of at least two independent beneficiaries from two different eligible countries, and proposals must quantify CO2 reductions, demonstrate technical and economic feasibility at scale, and include a credible exploitation and deployment plan.

RFCS-2026-Steel-Big Tickets under the Steel and Metals Action Plan (RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-SMAP)

This is a single-stage call for proposals under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS), dedicated to large pilot and demonstration projects that advance new, sustainable, and low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes, as well as advanced steel grades and applications. The topic implements flagship actions of the EU Steel and Metals Action Plan and supports the European Partnership for Clean Steel. It targets high-TRL innovations with clear industrial integration paths, quantified decarbonisation gains, and robust exploitation strategies.

Official topic page:RFCS-2026 topic page: RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-SMAP ¹

Key facts and timeline

Programme and call:Programme: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS). Call: RFCS-2026-Steel-Big Tickets (RFCS-2026-BT-Steel). Topic: RFCS-2026 (under the Steel and Metals Action Plan). Type of action: RFCS-PJG RFCS Project Grants. Model Grant Agreement: RFCS Action Grant Budget-Based [RFCS-AG]. Managing authority: European Research Executive Agency (REA).

Submission model and window:Submission: single-stage. Opening date: 17 February 2026. Deadline: 06 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Electronic submission only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System on the topic page.

Evaluation and grant preparation timeline (indicative):Evaluation: May to July 2026. Information on results: September to October 2026. Grant Agreement signature: October to December 2026.

Objectives, scope, expected outcomes and impacts

Objectives (choose one objective per proposal)

• New, sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes (Article 8 of Council Decision 2008/376/EC). Proposals must address objectives listed in Article 8.
• Advanced steel grades and applications (Article 9 of Council Decision 2008/376/EC). Proposals must address objectives listed in Article 9.
• Important: If the central focus is on recycling, apply under the companion topic RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-CID (Clean Industrial Deal).

Scope

• Type of projects: pilot or demonstration projects (Articles 15 and 16 of Council Decision 2008/376/EC).
• Targeted maturity: projects are expected to reach TRL 7–8 by completion.
• Policy alignment: proposals must be consistent with the memorandum of understanding of the European Partnership on Clean Steel under Horizon Europe.
• Industrial integration: include a detailed exploitation strategy outlining potential industrial integration of project outcomes (including pilots/demonstrators) and a preliminary assessment of economic viability.
• Performance quantification: targeted improvements relative to existing installations or relevant ETS benchmark must be clearly quantified and validated through energy system and material balance assessments, including emissions, with clear methodological definitions by applicants.

Expected outcomes (projects must contribute to all)

• Quantified CO2 reduction and other positive environmental effects achieved in the steel sector.
• Technical and economic feasibility of novel technologies and processes demonstrated and validated at suitable scale, achieving at least current product quality.
• Where relevant, demonstration of positive health and safety effects of the technology and/or approach.
• A scalable deployment plan supported by a robust, viable business case.
• Wide dissemination of results and contribution to skills development and job creation or conversion.

Expected impacts (strategic alignment)

• Progress towards the European Green Deal objectives and full decarbonisation of the steel sector, in line with Commission policy guidelines for the steel industry.
• Progress towards the Clean Industrial Deal and relevant pillars of the Steel and Metals Action Plan.
• Support to innovation and competitiveness in the steel sector as a strategic element of European industrial strength and autonomy.

Budget and funding conditions

Total call budget and topic envelopes:Total call budget: €75,000,000. Topic envelopes: €50,000,000 for RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-CID (Clean Industrial Deal) and €25,000,000 for RFCS-2026 (Steel and Metals Action Plan). The granting authority may reallocate funds between topics depending on evaluation outcomes.

Indicative grant size and project duration:Indicative EU contribution per project: €5 million to €25 million. Project duration: typically 36 to 54 months; longer durations possible if duly justified.

Funding rate and cost model:Funding rate: 50% of eligible costs. Grant type: RFCS budget-based mixed actual cost grant with unit-cost and flat-rate elements. Indirect costs: 35% flat-rate applied to eligible personnel costs (category A, excluding volunteers). Non-deductible VAT is eligible; VAT paid by public bodies acting as public authority is not eligible.

Eligible budget categories:A. Personnel costs (A.1 employees; A.2 natural persons under direct contract; A.3 seconded persons; A.4 SME owners and natural person beneficiaries via EU-approved unit costs). B. Subcontracting costs. C.2 Equipment (default: depreciation over the action period; renting/leasing allowed within depreciation-equivalent caps; full capitalised costs only for listed equipment where permitted in the call; PDP-only for full cost as per call fiche). C.3 Other goods, works, services, including raw materials, consumables, energy, transport of inputs and outputs, maintenance/repair/alteration of existing equipment, IT and other specific services, analyses and tests, dedicated workshop organisation, CFS and bank guarantee costs, protection of knowledge, and assistance from third parties. E. Indirect costs (flat-rate as above).

Admissibility, eligibility and consortium requirements

Admissibility and page limits:Proposals must be submitted electronically before the deadline using the forms in the Submission System. Part B page limit: 70 pages; excess pages will not be evaluated. Use the official templates only. Mandatory annexes: detailed budget table (template in system) and list of previous projects (last 4 years in the topic area). CVs and annual activity reports are not applicable.

Eligible applicants and countries:Applicants must be legal entities established in eligible countries: EU Member States (including OCTs) and non-EU countries associated to RFCS (see list of participating countries on the Portal). Entities must perform or substantially contribute to RTD activities. Natural persons are eligible. International organisations are not eligible as beneficiaries. EU bodies cannot participate, except the Joint Research Centre where applicable. Entities without legal personality may participate if representation and financial safeguards are met.

Consortium composition:Minimum consortium: at least 2 independent applicants from 2 different eligible countries. Independence means no direct or indirect control relationships. Associated partners may participate without funding only if participation is in the EU interest. Affiliated entities may participate; they do not count toward the consortium minimum. Financial support to third parties is not allowed.

Geographic location of activities:Activities must take place in eligible countries. Projects must comply with EU policy interests and values, including environmental, social, security, industrial and trade policy dimensions; reputational considerations apply to capacity building, policy support, awareness and dissemination activities.

Evaluation, scoring, thresholds and tie-breakers

Award criteria and thresholds:Excellence (5 points), Impact (5 points), Quality and efficiency of the implementation (5 points). Individual thresholds: 3/5 per criterion. Overall threshold: 10/15. Proposals passing thresholds compete within available budget envelopes.

Evaluation process:Standard one-step evaluation by a committee assisted by independent experts, with admissibility and eligibility checks. A Hearing step is foreseen; applicants will be invited to a central evaluation week meeting in Brussels. A balanced portfolio may be ensured across objectives after ranking, provided thresholds are passed.

Tie-breakers and prioritisation:For ex aequo proposals, priority is given to higher Impact score, then Excellence, then Implementation. If still tied, the proposal with the higher percentage of participants that are private for-profit organisations ranks first; if still tied, the one with the higher percentage of budget allocated to private for-profit organisations ranks first.

Grant agreement, financial provisions and reporting

Model Grant Agreement and key legal points:Model Grant Agreement: RFCS MGA (Multi & Mono), updated to Financial Regulation 2024/2509. Mixed actual cost grant with possible unit and flat-rate elements. No-profit rule applies; any profit for for-profit entities is deducted at final payment. Non-compliance may lead to rejections, reductions, suspensions, or termination.

Payments and guarantees:Prefinancing: normally around 20% of the maximum grant; prefinancing guarantee may be required. Interim payments based on accepted costs and contributions, subject to an interim ceiling. Final payment reconciles total accepted EU contribution, maximum grant amount, and no-profit rule.

Mandatory deliverables and communication:Mandatory deliverables include a communication and dissemination plan, a comprehensive project overview by month 6, and a public publishable report in the last month. EU visibility rules apply: European flag and funding statement must be displayed on all communication, dissemination, and major assets funded.

Record-keeping, audits and certificates:Keep all technical and financial records at least 5 years after final payment. CFS is required at final payment for beneficiaries with requested EU contribution to costs equal to or above €325,000. Checks, reviews, audits and OLAF/EPPO/ECA investigations may occur during and up to 5 years after project end.

Ethics, values, IPR and data:Projects must adhere to highest ethical standards and EU law. Proposals involving ethics issues may undergo ethics review and specific conditions. IPR: beneficiaries own results; background and access rights must be managed; RFCS-specific IPR rules apply. Personal data must be processed in compliance with GDPR and the Portal Privacy Statement.

Submission package and references

Submission documents:Part A (online admin forms and summary budget), Part B (technical description, 70-page limit), Annexes: Detailed budget table (RFCS template) and List of previous projects (last 4 years). Use the templates available in the Submission System; documents uploaded outside the provided slots will not be evaluated.

Reference documents and tools:Call fiche and call document: RFCS-2026-BT-Steel call fiche (PDF). Model Grant Agreement: RFCS MGA. Detailed budget table template: Detailed budget table (XLSX). Application form guidance: RFCS Application Form (Part A/B) example. Online Manual: Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual. Clean Steel MoU reference: European Partnership for Clean Steel MoU.

Budget planning specifics and cost eligibility highlights

• Personnel: daily-rate method for employees; SME owner and natural person unit costs available under Commission Decision C(2020)7715; monthly signed time declarations or reliable time-recording are required.
• Equipment: by default, declare eligible depreciation corresponding to actual use during the action; renting/leasing cannot exceed depreciation-equivalent and must exclude financing fees; full capitalised costs only where the call or grant explicitly lists eligible items (PDP-specific allowance).
• Operating costs (C.3): raw materials, consumables, energy, transport of raw materials/consumables/equipment/products/feedstock/fuel, maintenance/repair/alteration of existing equipment, IT and specific services, analyses/tests, dedicated workshop organisation, knowledge protection, CFS and bank guarantee costs, and assistance from third parties are eligible when necessary and proportionate.
• Indirect costs: 35% of eligible personnel costs (category A, excluding volunteers).
• Non-eligible: excessive or reckless expenditure, return on capital, debt service, provisions for future losses, interest owed, currency exchange losses, bank transfer costs charged by the beneficiary’s bank, deductible/refundable VAT, costs during GA suspension, double funding across EU grants (except allowed synergy cases), and normal administrative tasks of public administrations.

Who should apply and typical project profiles

• Consortia led by steel producers, plant and equipment suppliers, process technology companies, and their research partners targeting near-zero-carbon iron and steelmaking and finishing routes.
• Materials and metallurgical innovation teams developing advanced steel grades and downstream applications compatible with low-carbon primary and secondary routes.
• Industrial pilot and demonstration deployers integrating hydrogen-based reduction, electrified or plasma processes, CCUS-ready configurations, advanced heat management, and digitalised control to achieve TRL 7–8.
• Consortia prepared to quantify ETS-benchmark-referenced performance gains via robust energy and material balances and to present scale-up roadmaps and business cases.

How to apply and support

Electronic Submission Service:Start from the topic page, select RFCS Project Grants [RFCS-PJG], Model Grant Agreement RFCS-AG, and follow the wizard. Ensure all participants have a validated PIC in the Participant Register.

Partner search and Q&A:Partner search announcements can be posted by LEARs, Account Administrators, self-registrants, and users with a public Person profile. Topic Q&As are accessible on the topic page. For call-related support, contact REA-RFCS@ec.europa.eu. For IT issues, use the Funding & Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk.

Evaluation readiness checklist

• Align your proposal explicitly with Article 8 or Article 9 objectives and with the Clean Steel Partnership MoU.
• Demonstrate TRL progression to 7–8, including site, permitting status where relevant, and demonstrator specifications.
• Quantify CO2 and environmental benefits and provide traceable energy and material balance methodologies, including emissions and system boundaries.
• Present a deployment roadmap, market and policy context, customer and offtake perspectives, and a credible business case.
• Detail HSE benefits and risk mitigation measures at pilot/demonstration scale.
• Provide a concrete exploitation and dissemination plan, with stakeholder mapping and skills development components.
• Ensure the budget is balanced, costs are eligible, and the 35% indirect cost flat-rate on personnel is applied correctly.
• Respect the 70-page limit in Part B and include the detailed budget table and list of previous projects.

Context and policy alignment

The call operationalises the EU Steel and Metals Action Plan pillars by de-risking decarbonisation projects via lead markets and public support, while promoting affordable clean energy access, carbon leakage prevention, circularity, skills, and competitiveness. It complements the Clean Industrial Deal and the European Green Deal and is consistent with the European Partnership for Clean Steel, which mobilises public and private investments to transform steelmaking to near-zero-carbon technologies and advanced steel product portfolios fit for net-zero value chains.

Summary: What this opportunity is and how to explain it

RFCS-2026-Steel-Big Tickets under the Steel and Metals Action Plan is a major EU grant opportunity for large pilot and demonstration projects that will bring breakthrough steelmaking and advanced steel product innovations to near-market readiness. The topic funds high-TRL (7–8) technologies and processes under two objectives: low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes and advanced steel grades and applications. Proposals must quantify decarbonisation impacts against ETS benchmarks or existing installations using rigorous energy and material balances, validate technical and economic feasibility at a relevant scale, show health and safety benefits where relevant, and provide a credible scale-up and business case. Projects are typically 36–54 months, seek €5–€25 millionEU contributions at a 50% funding rate, and must include an exploitation strategy aligned with the European Partnership for Clean Steel. Consortia must comprise at least two independent entities from two eligible countries, with activities in eligible countries and clear compliance with EU values and policies. Evaluation emphasises impact, excellence, and implementation quality, with strict admissibility rules, a hearing step, and tiebreakers favouring higher impact and private-sector engagement. With a topic envelope of €25 million under SMAP and a complementary €50 million recycling-focused CID topic, this call is designed to de-risk and accelerate the industrial deployment of clean steel technologies and advanced steel applications, strengthening EU industrial competitiveness and autonomy while delivering measurable progress toward the European Green Deal and the Clean Industrial Deal.

Footnotes

1. 1Authoritative details, conditions and templates are provided in the official call fiche and topic page: RFCS-2026-BT-Steel call fiche (PDF) at ec.europa.eu and topic page at ec.europa.eu.

RFCS-2026-Steel-Big Tickets under the Steel and Metals Action Plan — Call Overview

Programme: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS). Topic: RFCS-2026 — RFCS-2026-Steel-Big Tickets under the Steel and Metals Action Plan. Type of action: RFCS-PJG RFCS Project Grants. Model Grant Agreement: RFCS Action Grant Budget-Based [RFCS-AG]. Managing authority: European Research Executive Agency (REA). Call budget: €75,000,000 across two topics, with €25,000,000 allocated to RFCS-2026 and €50,000,000 to RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-CID. Opening: 17 February 2026. Deadline: 06 May 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission and one-step evaluation including a Hearing. Topic page: RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-SMAP. Key documents: Call fiche and annexes, Model Grant Agreement, application templates and detailed budget table available via the topic page and Portal reference documents.

Purpose, Objectives, Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Purpose: Accelerate the decarbonisation, competitiveness, and innovation capacity of the European steel sector, aligned with the Steel and Metals Action Plan, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the European Green Deal. Projects must be pilot or demonstration actions that bring innovative steel technologies towards market deployment.

Objectives (choose one of the following):1) New, sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes (Article 8 of Council Decision 2008/376/EC). 2) Advanced steel grades and applications (Article 9 of Council Decision 2008/376/EC). Proposals with a primary focus on recycling must apply under the sister topic RFCS-2026-Steel-Big Tickets under the Clean Industrial Deal (CID), not under SMAP.

Expected Outcomes:Quantified CO2 reduction and other positive environmental effects; technical and economic feasibility of novel technologies to produce products of at least equal quality to current processes, validated at suitable scale; demonstration of positive health and safety effects where relevant; credible, scalable deployment plan supported by a viable business case; wide dissemination, skills development, and contribution to job creation/conversion.

Expected Impacts:Progress towards the full decarbonisation of the steel sector in line with European Green Deal policy guidelines; contribution to the Clean Industrial Deal and the Steel and Metals Action Plan; strengthened innovation and competitiveness of the EU steel sector as a strategic pillar for Europe’s industrial base and autonomy.

Scope and Technical Maturity

• Project types: Pilot projects or Demonstration projects (Articles 15 and 16 of Council Decision 2008/376/EC).
• Technological maturity: Projects are expected to reach TRL 7–8 by the end of the project.
• Consistency: Proposals must be consistent with the MoU for the European Partnership on Clean Steel – Low Carbon Steelmaking under Horizon Europe. See partnership background: European Partnership for Clean Steel – Low Carbon Steelmaking.
• Exploitation strategy: Required, detailing potential industrial integration of outcomes (including pilots/demonstrators) and preliminary economic viability.
• Performance quantification: Targeted improvements versus existing installations or relevant ETS benchmarks must be clearly quantified and demonstrated through defined energy system and material balance assessments, including emissions.

Call Conditions, Timeline, Evaluation

Key dates:Call publication: 03 February 2026. Opening: 17 February 2026. Deadline: 06 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Evaluation: May–July 2026. Information on results: September–October 2026. Grant Agreement signature: October–December 2026.

Submission and format:Single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Part A (online admin and summary budget) and Part B (technical narrative uploaded as PDF), with mandatory annexes. Part B page limit: 70 pages; excess pages are disregarded. Paper submissions not accepted.

Evaluation process:One-step evaluation with an expert panel and an in-person Hearing in Brussels during central evaluation week. Award criteria and thresholds: Excellence (max 5; min 3), Impact (max 5; min 3), Quality and efficiency of implementation (max 5; min 3). Overall threshold 10/15. Tie-breakers prioritize Impact, then Excellence, then Implementation; if still tied, highest share and then budget share to private for-profit participants.

Budget, Funding Rate, Cost Eligibility

Available budget:Total call budget: €75,000,000. Allocation: RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-CID €50,000,000; RFCS-2026 €25,000,000.

Indicative EU contribution per project:€5,000,000 to €25,000,000 per proposal is considered appropriate; other amounts are allowed.

Funding rate and grant form:Budget-based action grants with a 50% funding rate on eligible costs. Mixed actual cost grant with unit cost and flat-rate elements as per RFCS MGA.

• Indirect costs: 35% flat-rate applied to eligible personnel costs (category A, excluding volunteers).
• Personnel: Employees, natural persons under direct contract, seconded persons; SME owner and natural person unit costs allowed (Commission Decision C(2020)7715).
• Equipment: Typically depreciation; full costs only for specifically listed equipment per call/MGA options. For RFCS Big Tickets, full costs are allowed only for listed items and typically for PDP-type actions as specified in call/MGA.
• Other goods, works and services (operating costs) are eligible, including raw materials, consumables, energy, transport of inputs/equipment/products/fuel, maintenance and alteration of equipment, IT and specific services, analyses and tests, dedicated workshop organization, protection of knowledge, CFS and bank guarantee costs.
• VAT: Non-deductible VAT is eligible; VAT paid by public bodies acting as a public authority is not eligible.
• Financial support to third parties: Not allowed.
• Budget flexibility: Transfers allowed without amendment if they do not change the action’s substance; specific exceptions require amendment or simplified approval as per MGA.

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

• Eligible participants: Legal entities (public or private bodies, undertakings, public bodies, research organisations, higher or secondary education establishments, or other legal entities) carrying out RTD activity or substantially contributing to it; natural persons are eligible. International organisations are not eligible. EU bodies (except the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre) cannot be beneficiaries.
• Geographic eligibility: EU Member States (including OCTs) and non-EU countries associated to the RFCS (participating countries list available via the Portal). Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or covered by specific Commission guidelines are ineligible.
• Consortium composition: Minimum 2 independent applicants (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities) from 2 different eligible countries.
• Activity location: Activities must take place in eligible countries.
• Project duration: Typically 36 to 54 months; longer possible if duly justified.
• Operational and financial capacity: Required and assessed; may trigger guarantees, staged prefinancing, or other mitigations if insufficient.
• Ethics and EU values: Highest standards apply; ethics review may be required; compliance with environment, social, security, industrial and trade policy priorities.

Who Should Apply — Target Sectors, Themes and Technologies

• Steel manufacturers and plant operators with pilot/demonstration capacity for near-zero-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes.
• Producers/users of advanced steel grades seeking to meet user requirements for new near-zero-carbon products and applications.
• Equipment and technology providers for hydrogen-based steelmaking, electric steelmaking (EAF/ESF), direct reduction (DRI), alternative ironmaking routes, low-carbon downstream processes and finishing lines.
• Industrial digitalization and AI solution providers supporting process control, quality, and energy/material balance optimization.
• Energy system and process integration experts able to quantify ETS-benchmarked improvements and emissions reductions.
• Research institutes, universities, and RTOs working on metallurgy, materials science, process engineering, safety and ergonomics, and industrial scale-up.
• Industrial consortia aiming at TRL 7–8 pilots/demonstrators consistent with the European Partnership on Clean Steel MoU.

Application Process, Templates and Mandatory Annexes

Submission channel:EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Start from the topic page, select RFCS Project Grants [RFCS-PJG], RFCS Action Grant Budget-Based [RFCS-AG].

Forms and templates:Use the application templates available in the Portal Submission System. Part A is completed online; Part B and annexes are uploaded. Reference templates: Application Form Administrative Forms Part A and Technical Description Part B, and the Detailed Budget Table.

• Part A (online): Administrative data for coordinator, beneficiaries, affiliated entities; summary budget; declarations; GHG avoidance fields; implementation countries; basic keywords and abstract.
• Part B (PDF upload): Technical narrative with required structure and page limits. Sections include 1) Excellence (objectives and ambition; methodology), 2) Impact (pathways to impact; dissemination, exploitation and communication plan), 3) Quality and efficiency of implementation (work plan; work packages, resources and risk management; consortium capacity), 4) Other (ethics; security), 5) Declarations. Includes standard tables for WP descriptions, milestones, deliverables, staff effort, subcontracting, equipment (full-cost requests if applicable), timetable, and risks.
• Mandatory annexes: Detailed budget table (formerly Form B3), List of previous projects (key projects over the last 4 years in the topic area). CVs and annual activity reports are not applicable.
• Budget table template: Structured by participant with A Personnel, B Subcontracting, C.2 Equipment (purchase or rental; allocation method based on actual use), C.3 Other goods, works and services, and E Indirect costs (35% of A). Includes sections for estimated eligible project costs, project income (own resources, other resources), and guidance notes on proportional allocation and rental cost ceilings. Template link: RFCS Detailed Budget Table (xlsx).
• Model Grant Agreement: RFCS MGA Multi & Mono V1.1 (01.11.2024) with updated Financial Regulation references and detailed provisions on costs, payments, audits, IPR, communication and visibility. MGA link: RFCS Model Grant Agreement.
• Call fiche and full call document: Call fiche RFCS-2026-BT-Steel.
• Online Manual and Portal Terms/Privacy: Guidance on registration, submission, evaluation, and reporting available via the Portal.

Evaluation Criteria — Detailed Expectations

• Excellence: Clarity and consistency of project objectives and planning; fit with topic themes and priorities; ambition beyond state of the art; sound methodology, concepts, models, assumptions, interdisciplinarity, TRL alignment.
• Impact: Credible pathways to specified outcomes and impacts; scale and significance of contributions to EU steel sector decarbonisation and competitiveness; high-quality dissemination, exploitation and communication plan, including target groups, standardisation where relevant, policy feedback opportunities, and plausible path to commercialisation for pilots/demonstrators.
• Implementation: Technical quality and logic; robust work plan, WPs, milestones, deliverables; realistic timetable; risk assessment and mitigation; resource allocation and cost-effectiveness; consortium quality, roles, cooperation mechanisms; operational capacity and access to needed infrastructure.

Administrative Notes and Compliance

• Minimum consortium size must be met; affiliated entities do not count towards the minimum.
• Associated partners may participate only if participation is in the EU interest and will not receive EU funding.
• Subcontracting should normally be limited; any subcontracting beyond 30% of total eligible costs must be justified. Coordinator tasks cannot be subcontracted.
• No double funding; no-profit rule applies for for-profit beneficiaries; revenue declaration required at final reporting if applicable.
• Communication and visibility obligations: Use EU emblem and funding statement; follow dissemination plan and quality of information standards.
• Record-keeping: Maintain auditable records for at least 5 years after final payment (3 years for low-value grants). Time declarations or reliable time-recording for personnel are required; alternative evidence may be accepted if providing adequate assurance.
• Payments: Prefinancing typically 20% of maximum grant; one or more interim payments; balance payment with revenue and no-profit checks. Prefinancing guarantees may be requested for risk mitigation.
• Reviews, audits, and investigations may occur during implementation and up to 5 years after final payment.

Categorisation and Structured Information

Eligible Applicant Types:SME; large enterprise; university; research institute; higher or secondary education establishment; nonprofit; government or public body; public-private partnership; individual (natural person). International organisations are not eligible. EU bodies cannot be beneficiaries except the Joint Research Centre.

Funding Type:Grant (RFCS budget-based action grant with a 50% funding rate on eligible costs).

Consortium Requirement:Consortium of at least 2 independent beneficiaries from 2 different eligible countries. Associated partners optional without funding; affiliated entities may participate but do not count towards the minimum.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States including OCTs; countries associated to the RFCS as listed on the Portal. Activities must take place in eligible countries. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible.

Target Sector:Steel; industrial processes/components; advanced materials; manufacturing; environment and climate; energy transition; hydrogen-enabled steelmaking; digitalization and AI for industrial processes; health and safety in industrial environments; innovation and scale-up for Clean Steel.

Mentioned Countries:Regionally specified: European Union and countries associated to RFCS. No individual third countries are explicitly named in the topic text.

Project Stage:Pilot or demonstration with end-of-project TRL 7–8; validation at suitable operational scale and readiness for scalable deployment.

Funding Amount:Indicative EU contribution per project: approximately €5,000,000 to €25,000,000. Total topic envelope for SMAP: €25,000,000.

Application Type:Open call; single-stage; electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Nature of Support:Monetary grant support for eligible costs; non-financial support includes guidance, evaluation feedback, and Portal tools but no formal services beyond the grant framework.

Application Stages:1 stage submission; 1-step evaluation including a Hearing.

Success Rates:Not specified in the call documentation.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. The EU funding rate is 50% of eligible costs; applicants must secure the remaining 50% from own or third-party resources (e.g., own funds, revenues, in-kind not eligible as costs). No financial support to third parties is permitted.

Practical Guidance and Contact

• Topic page and submission: RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-SMAP.
• Call document and annexes, application templates, Model Grant Agreement and Online Manual are accessible via the topic and Portal reference pages.
• Helpdesk and call-specific queries: REA-RFCS@ec.europa.eu. IT issues: Portal IT Helpdesk via webform.

Templates — Outline to Structure Your Application

1. 1Part A — Administrative forms: Project title, duration, abstract, keywords; participant data (coordinator, beneficiaries, affiliated entities); budgets per participant; declarations; GHG avoidance fields; countries of implementation; past submissions.
2. 2Part B — Technical description (max 70 pages): 1) Excellence: Objectives and ambition (SMART; fit with Article 8 or 9; beyond state of the art; TRL start/end), Methodology (concepts, models, assumptions; compliance with do no significant harm where relevant; links to other R&I; interdisciplinarity; SSH where relevant for safety/working conditions). 2) Impact: Pathways towards expected outcomes and impacts with quantified baselines and benchmarks; target groups; scale and significance; barriers and mitigations; revenues and business case; societal and environmental co-benefits and potential negative effects at scale and their management. Measures to maximise impact: first version of communication, dissemination and exploitation plan; IP strategy; standardisation and policy feedback; plausible path to commercialisation for pilots/demonstrators. 3) Implementation: Work plan overview; detailed WPs with tasks, roles (COO, BEN, AE, AP), milestones, deliverables; staff effort; subcontracting table; equipment table including any full-cost requests; Gantt/timetable; critical risks and mitigations; consortium capacity, access to infrastructure, value chain coverage, industrial involvement, gender balance. 4) Other: Ethics and research integrity; security (classification if any). 5) Declarations: Double funding statements.
3. 3Detailed Budget Table (annex to Part B): Per participant breakdown for A Personnel, B Subcontracting, C.2 Equipment (purchase or rental with usage allocation), C.3 Other goods, works and services, E Indirect costs; project income (own and other resources).
4. 4List of previous projects (annex): Key projects in the last 4 years relevant to the topic; roles, amounts, references, and links.

What This Opportunity Is About — Summary

The RFCS-2026-Steel-Big Tickets under the Steel and Metals Action Plan (SMAP) is a high-impact, single-stage grant call to fund large pilot and demonstration projects that advance near-zero-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes or deliver advanced steel grades and applications, in line with Articles 8 and 9 of the RFCS Decision. With an expected end-of-project TRL of 7–8, projects must prove technical and economic feasibility at suitable operational scale, quantify CO2 and environmental benefits against existing installations or ETS benchmarks, and present a credible plan for scalable deployment supported by a robust business case. The call seeks multidisciplinary consortia led by industrial actors and supported by research organizations, with the capacity to integrate pilots or demonstrators within industrial settings and to disseminate results that build skills and quality jobs. Grants are awarded at a 50% funding rate, with indicative project sizes between €5 million and €25 million, and a total topic budget of €25 million. Proposals must align with the European Partnership on Clean Steel MoU and the EU’s policy framework, including the Clean Industrial Deal and the Steel and Metals Action Plan. Applications are submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using standardized Part A and Part B templates and a detailed budget table. Evaluation emphasizes clear ambition beyond the state of the art, quantified impact pathways, high-quality exploitation and communication measures, and strong, efficient implementation plans. This is a strategic opportunity for European steelmakers, technology providers, and RTOs to validate breakthrough decarbonisation technologies, deliver advanced steel products, and accelerate the sector’s transition toward climate neutrality while enhancing Europe’s industrial competitiveness.

RFCS-2026-Steel-Big Tickets under the Steel and Metals Action Plan

Funding Opportunity Overview

This call for proposals forms part of the European Union's flagship initiatives under the Steel and Metals Action Plan (SMAP), supporting the transition towards climate-neutral steel production. The Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) offers dedicated funding for pilot and demonstration projects targeting innovative low-carbon steelmaking and advanced steel grades. The opportunity is aligned with the European Green Deal, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the REPowerEU plan, focusing on achieving around 30% of primary steel production decarbonisation by 2030 using renewable hydrogen.

Call Details and Timeline

Opening and Submission Dates:The call opened on February 17, 2026, with a single-stage submission deadline on May 6, 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time). Evaluation is expected to occur from May to July 2026, with evaluation results communicated in September-October 2026. Grant agreement signatures are anticipated between October and December 2026.

Project Duration:Projects should normally range between 36 and 54 months. Longer durations may be accepted in duly justified cases through amendments.

Funding Budget and Allocation

The granting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds or to redistribute them between call priorities depending on the proposals received and evaluation results. Estimated EU contributions per project typically range from €5 million to €25 million, though this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting different amounts.

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

Eligible Participants

Applicants must be legal entities (public or private bodies, including undertakings, research organisations, and educational establishments) that carry out or substantially contribute to research, technological development and demonstration activities. They must be established in an eligible country, including EU Member States and countries associated with the RFCS programme.

Consortium Composition

• Minimum 2 independent applicants (beneficiaries) from 2 different eligible countries
• Independence requirement: None of the entities must be under direct or indirect control of another
• Affiliated entities may participate with similar rights and obligations as beneficiaries but do not count toward minimum eligibility criteria
• Associated partners may participate without funding if their participation is in the EU interest
• Subcontractors may implement specific tasks; subcontracting should normally constitute a limited part and must be justified if exceeding 30% of total eligible costs

A consortium agreement is recommended to establish internal arrangements regarding operation, coordination, and distribution of payments. For multi-beneficiary grants, a formal coordinator must be designated to act as intermediary with the granting authority.

Eligible Project Objectives

RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-SMAP Topic Focus Areas

• New, sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes (Article 8): Development, demonstration and improvement of near-zero-carbon steel production processes
• Advanced steel grades and applications (Article 9): Meeting steel user requirements and developing new near-zero-carbon products

Projects focusing on recycling should be submitted under the RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-CID (Clean Industrial Deal) topic instead. All proposals must be consistent with the memorandum of understanding for the European Partnership on Clean Steel launched under Horizon Europe.

RFCS-2026-BT-Steel-CID Topic Focus Areas

• Metal or mineral recovery from pyrometallurgical, leaching or electrochemical processes, including recovery of critical raw materials from iron and steelmaking residues
• Residue valorisation in low-carbon production routes
• Scrap detection, separation and management technologies combined with digitalisation and AI techniques
• Recycling at steel production facilities rethinking processes for new low-carbon installations
• Secondary carbon carriers in iron and steelmaking processes
• Applications of slags from various furnace types
• Dynamic environmental impact analysis and simulation of by-product pre-treatment
• Use of raw materials with low iron content in smelting processes
• Scrap upcycling through efficient metallurgy and downstream processes
• Repurposing of existing coking plant infrastructure for bio-based secondary carbon carrier processing

Expected Outcomes and Impact

All projects are expected to contribute to the following mandatory outcomes: quantify CO2 reduction and other positive environmental effects achieved in the steel sector; make novel technologies and processes technically and economically feasible to produce products of equivalent quality to current industrial processes, demonstrated and validated at suitable scale; demonstrate positive health and safety effects where relevant; outline a scalable deployment plan supported by a viable business case; and disseminate results widely to support skills development and job creation or conversion ¹.

Projects should contribute to broader impacts aligned with the European Green Deal, Clean Industrial Deal, and Steel and Metals Action Plan, supporting innovation and competitiveness as strategic elements for strengthening the European industrial base and autonomy.

Project Requirements and Specifications

Technology Readiness Level:Projects must achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7-8 by completion, demonstrating system prototype demonstration in an operational environment or system completion and qualification.

Project Type:Applicants may submit proposals for either pilot or demonstration projects as defined in Articles 15 and 16 of Council Decision (EU) 2008/376/EC. Proposals must address application of innovative technologies related to at least one specified objective.

Exploitation and Assessment Requirements:All proposals must include an exploitation strategy outlining possible industrial integration of project outcomes and preliminary assessment of economic viability. Targeted improvements relative to existing installations or relevant ETS benchmarks must be clearly quantified and demonstrated using energy system and material balance assessments, with emissions clearly defined by applicants.

Funding Structure and Financial Terms

Funding Rate:The grant provides a 50% funding rate of eligible costs. This is a budget-based mixed actual cost grant reimbursing only eligible costs actually incurred, not budgeted costs.

Grant Form and Payment:Grants are action grants under the RFCS Action Grant Budget-Based model. Initial prefinancing of approximately 20% of the maximum grant amount is typically provided 30 days from entry into force or 10 days before project starting date, whichever is latest. Interim and final payments follow periodic reporting approval. Payment timing: 90 days from receiving interim or final periodic report.

Eligible Cost Categories:Budget categories include: A) Personnel costs (employees, direct contract workers, seconded persons, SME owners/natural persons); B) Subcontracting costs; C) Purchase costs (equipment with depreciation or full cost for listed equipment; other goods, works and services); E) Indirect costs at 35% flat-rate of eligible personnel costs. Non-deductible VAT is eligible. No financial support to third parties is allowed.

No-profit rule applies: grants must not produce profit (surplus of revenues plus grant over costs). For-profit organisations must declare revenues, with profit deducted proportionally from final grant amount ².

Submission and Evaluation Process

Application Requirements

• Submission exclusively via EU Funding and Tenders Portal electronic submission system (paper submissions not accepted)
• Part A: Administrative information filled directly online in submission system
• Part B: Technical description (70-page maximum) downloaded template, completed, converted to PDF and uploaded
• Mandatory annexes: Detailed budget table (template provided), previous projects list (last 4 years in topic area), certificates if required
• All documents must be readable, accessible and printable in correct categories
• Proposals exceeding page limits will have excess pages disregarded by evaluators

At proposal submission, applicants must confirm they have mandate to act for all participants and certify that information is correct and complete. Each beneficiary and affiliated entity must sign a declaration of honour confirming compliance with eligibility, financial and operational capacity, and exclusion conditions before grant signature.

Evaluation Criteria and Scoring

An evaluation committee assisted by independent outside experts assesses proposals after formal admissibility and eligibility checks. A hearing step during central evaluation week in Brussels provides opportunity for applicants to present and support committee assessment. For ex aequo proposals with identical scores, priority is determined by: (1) Impact score, then Excellence score, then implementation quality score; (2) if all equal, highest percentage of private for-profit organisation participation and budget allocation.

Successful proposals receive invitation for grant preparation, not formal funding commitment. Further legal checks (entity validation, financial capacity, exclusion verification) occur during grant preparation dialogue, which may require proposal adjustments to address evaluation committee recommendations. Compliance is pre-condition for grant signature.

Legal and Financial Obligations

Financial and Operational Capacity

Beneficiaries must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources for successful project implementation and contribution of their share. For multi-project participation, organisations must show capacity to implement all projects. Financial capacity checks typically exclude public bodies and grants under €60,000. The granting authority may require additional measures including joint and several responsibility for all beneficiaries, phased prefinancing, prefinancing guarantees, or beneficiary replacement if capacity is unsatisfactory.

Operational capacity requires demonstrated know-how, qualifications and resources for successful implementation including sufficient experience in comparable projects. Assessment occurs alongside award criterion Quality and efficiency of implementation evaluation. Applicants must provide consortium participant descriptions and list of key previous projects from last 4 years.

Exclusion Grounds

• Bankruptcy, winding up, or similar insolvency procedures
• Breach of social security or tax obligations
• Grave professional misconduct including violation of ethical standards or false declarations
• Fraud, corruption, criminal organisation links, money laundering, terrorism-related crimes, child labour or human trafficking
• Significant deficiencies in complying with EU procurement or grant agreement obligations
• Irregularities as per EU Regulation 2988/95
• Creation under different jurisdiction to circumvent fiscal or legal obligations
• Intentional obstruction of investigations or audits without proper justification

Applicants subject to EU exclusion decisions or exclusion situations cannot participate in any capacity, including as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, or subcontractors. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures and those meeting Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05 are ineligible.

Record-Keeping and Reporting

Beneficiaries must maintain records and supporting documents for at least 5 years after final payment (or 3 years for grants not exceeding €60,000) to prove proper action implementation and justify all declared amounts. For actual costs, comprehensive accounting records enabling direct reconciliation between declared amounts, accounts, and supporting documents are required. Personnel time records must be supported by monthly signed declarations unless reliable alternative systems are in place. Original documents must be preserved; digital and digitalised documents are acceptable if authorised by national law.

Continuous reporting occurs via Portal Continuous Reporting tool for deliverables and progress monitoring. Periodic reports (technical and financial) are submitted according to payment schedule. Financial statements detail eligible costs by budget category; final reports must include revenue declarations. All costs incurred should be declared even if exceeding estimated budget amounts. By signing financial statements, beneficiaries confirm information completeness, cost eligibility, documentation availability, and revenue disclosure ³.

Key Considerations for Applicants

The call emphasises dual-use research potential and defence research implications consistent with the Clean Industrial Deal framework. Projects should demonstrate clear pathways toward industrial deployment and market viability, critical for Big Tickets initiatives targeting large-scale pilot and demonstration activities. Applicants should pay particular attention to quantifiable emissions reductions, using consistent methodologies across consortium partners and establishing realistic baselines and benchmarks.

Consortium composition is critical: partners should represent full value chains and bring complementary expertise. Large-scale equipment and infrastructure investments require careful cost justification and depreciation/full-cost methodology selection. Green hydrogen and renewable electricity integration are central to competitive proposals, particularly given stated policy focus on 30% primary steel decarbonisation by 2030 using renewable hydrogen sources.

Budget flexibility allows transfers between participants and categories without amendment if changes do not imply substantive alterations to action description. However, changes to volunteer cost categories, lump sum/flat-rate categories, higher-rate categories, or beyond 30% subcontracting require amendment or simplified approval procedures. Applicants should ensure detailed budget table amounts align precisely with online summarised budget; discrepancies result in online amounts prevailing.

Contact and Support:Non-IT questions should be directed to REA-RFCS@ec.europa.eu with clear call and topic references. IT helpdesk support available for submission system issues. The Online Manual, Portal FAQ, and Topic Q&A pages provide detailed guidance. Applicants should submit well in advance of the May 6, 2026 deadline to avoid technical problems; call deadlines cannot be extended.

Footnotes

1. 1Expected outcomes are medium-term effects of projects during or shortly after project end fostered by dissemination and exploitation measures. Expected impacts are broader long-term societal, economic and scientific effects materialising after project completion.
2. 2No-profit rule may be waived under specific EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Article 195(3) conditions, applicable to actions reinforcing beneficiary financial capacity, ensuring post-action continuity through generated income, direct support to natural persons in need, financing not linked to costs, or exclusively non-profit organisation implementation.
3. 3Beneficiaries declaring ineligible or insufficiently substantiated costs face rejection of those costs, which may lead to grant reductions and other Chapter 5 consequences including potential termination. False statements or misrepresentations may result in administrative sanctions under EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.