The Future of EU Steel Research - How to foster EU steel leadership
This event will gather Leading figures from across Europe’s steel industry, research community, and policy institutions at the SMS Campus in Mönchengladbach, and online, for “The Future of EU Steel Research: How to Foster EU Steel Leadership.” The high-level conference will address how innovation and research can propel Europe’s steel sector toward climate neutrality while strengthening competitiveness and industrial resilience.
📍 Location: SMS Group Campus, Mönchengladbach, Germany and Online
🕒 Date: 26 November 2025 09:30 - 16:30 (CET)(Hybrid – in-person and online)
🔗 Registration and Agenda: Register here via the European Research Executive Agency
Organized under the framework of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS), the event comes at a pivotal moment as the European Union seeks to reconcile its ambitious decarbonization goals with economic security and industrial competitiveness. Participants will explore how RFCS-funded projects are generating critical knowledge for the transition toward low- and zero-emission steelmaking and how their results can inform EU industrial and climate policies.
The conference features two key sessions:
“Low to Zero Emission Iron and Steel Production” — focusing on hydrogen-based iron production, electrification of processes, and advanced energy efficiency technologies.
“Closing the Loop: Circularity, Competitiveness, and Industrial Symbiosis” — exploring innovative recycling, scrap quality management, and digital solutions that boost circularity and industrial cooperation.
Speakers include prominent EU officials and industry leaders such as Maria Cristina Russo (European Commission, DG RTD), Marc Tachelet (Research Executive Agency), Axel Eggert (EUROFER), and Annika Roos (ESTEP). The sessions will also highlight contributions from major players including SMS Group, Ugitech, Sidenor, Tata Steel, and ThyssenKrupp.
Panel discussions throughout the day will address how steel research can accelerate Europe’s green transition, enhance competitiveness, and strengthen industrial symbiosis. The event will close with remarks from Danny Croon (EUROFER) and Klaus Peters (ESTEP), underscoring the shared vision for a sustainable and innovative European steel industry.
For more information or to register, visit the European Research Executive Agency event page.