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Welcome to the Research Fund for Coal and Steel website

This website provides an overview of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS). The RFCS supports research projects in coal and steel sectors. These projects cover: production processes; application, utilisation and conversion of resources; safety at work; environmental protection and reducing CO2 emissions from coal use and steel production.

The revenues generated from the assets of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) which have been transferred to the European Union in 2002 are used to support the RFCS research programme activities. After undergoing a smoothening operation to avoid excessive fluctuations in yearly allocation to the research fund, revenues generated in year Y are awarded following evaluations of the proposals submitted by the September cut-of date of Y+1 and effectively make up the RFCS budget of Y+2 (projects starting in Y+2).
A yearly financial report on the activities of these assets, giving the budgets allocated to the RFCS Programme, is published by the Commission, Directorate General for Economic and Social Affairs (ECFIN). The distribution of the budgets between coal (27,2%) and steel (72.8%) is defined in Council decision (2003/76/EC) of 1 February 2003. The budgets are used for financing the RFCS research programme activities, the biggest part being the co-financing of successful proposal; a minor amount is also allocated to the programme support activities (evaluations, monitoring, etc.).

Every year around € 55 million is made available to universities, research centres and private companies to fund projects.

Please find attached a leaflet summarising the RFCS activities.

Visit our pages for information concerning our activities:

• 10th Anniversary RFCS page with information on speakers, presentations and supporting documents
• Programme management meetings schedule
• enroll as an expert to evaluate proposals

Last updated on: 2013-06-12