New RFCS 2026 program: financing opportunities for steel and mining

Key data

Steel companies, mining firms and R&D centers aspiring to European financing face a change in the rules. The Council Decision (EU) 2026/1561, published on 17 July 2026, establishes a new Research Program of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) that completely replaces the previous regulations in force since 2003 and 2008. Any future call for grants will be governed by this new framework: ignoring it means being left out of available financing.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/1561 approves three key elements that structure the new program:

• New RFCS Research Program: defines the general framework for financing R&D projects in the coal and steel sectors within the EU.
• Multi-year technical guidelines: guide the research lines that will be eligible for financing in upcoming calls. They expressly include decarbonization technologies and industrial efficiency as priority areas.
• Multi-year financial guidelines: regulate the management of the assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, that is, how the money available for grants is administered.

The regulation expressly repeals Decisions 2003/77/EC and 2008/376/EC, which were the previous framework. This means that the rules of the game change completely: eligibility criteria, thematic priorities and financial procedures are updated. Any project designed under the parameters of the previous regulation must be reviewed to ensure its alignment with the new guidelines.

Economic and operational impact

The RFCS is one of the few European R&D financing programs with its own budget, managed through the assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel. The renewal of the regulatory framework has direct consequences for organizations that participate or want to participate in its calls:

• Financing opportunity: steel and mining companies, together with universities and research centers, can access non-reimbursable European funds for R&D projects. Decarbonization and industrial efficiency are now explicit priorities, opening the door to energy transition projects in these sectors.
• Change in operational framework: projects that were being designed under the 2008 guidelines must be reviewed. The new multi-year technical guidelines define which research lines are eligible for financing and which are not.
• Updated financial management: the new financial guidelines regulate how the fund's assets are managed, which may affect payment timelines, justification requirements and conditions for expense eligibility.
• Future calls under new framework: all calls published from now on will be governed entirely by Decision 2026/1561. Participating without knowing the new rules poses a real risk of exclusion or proposal rejection.

Who does it affect?

• Steel sector companies with activity in the EU that develop or want to develop R&D projects.
• Mining sector companies (especially coal) with applied research or technological transition projects.
• Universities and research centers that collaborate with the steel or mining industry on R&D projects financed with European funds.
• R&D+i departments and European project offices of large industrial groups with presence in affected sectors.
• Consultancies and European fund managers that advise companies in these sectors on preparing proposals for RFCS calls.

Practical example

A Spanish steel company with an R&D department was preparing a proposal for the next RFCS call focused on emission reduction technologies in electric arc furnaces. Until now, it had designed the project following the technical guidelines of Decision 2008/376/EC.

With the entry into force of Decision 2026/1561, those guidelines are repealed. The company must review its proposal against the new multi-year technical guidelines approved in 2026 to confirm that its project remains eligible and that the prioritized research lines (decarbonization and industrial efficiency) fit with its approach. If it does not carry out this review before submitting the application, it risks the proposal being rejected for non-compliance with the new regulatory framework.

What should companies do now?

1. Review R&D projects in progress or in preparation to verify their alignment with the new multi-year technical guidelines of Decision 2026/1561, especially if they were designed under the previous framework (2003/77/EC or 2008/376/EC).
2. Identify if the activity fits the priority areas of the new program: decarbonization technologies and industrial efficiency in the coal and steel sectors.
3. Consult the new financial guidelines to learn about updated management requirements, expense justification and eligibility conditions that will apply in upcoming calls.
4. Monitor the publication of new RFCS calls under the new framework, as all future ones will be governed entirely by Decision 2026/1561.
5. Involve the European projects office or a specialized consultancy to adapt proposals to the new regulatory framework before the next call opens.

Official source

Consult full regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601561