The European steel industry is a technological leader in its field, largely thanks to an elaborate and informal network of individuals and organisations active in the field of steel research and development (R&D).
The steel R&D network has been built up during almost 50 years of collaborative steel R&D under the auspices of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) research and technical development programme and its successor the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS).
Obviously to maintain the technological leadership research and innovation is important for the European steel industry. The steel industry, and hence European society in general, can benefit from collaborative research where efforts are co-ordinated and shared, and results are discussed with and made available to all interested parties. The result is an enhanced effect of scale in industrial innovation
The R&D activities carried out by Eurofer are mainly aimed at:
EUROFER view on post-ECSC Treaty steel research
EUROFER position paper on draft review of RFCS Model Grant Agreement
Networking in European Steel Research (NEST)
Energy intensive industries, and especially the steel industry, provide the material basis of the society. The significant innovative potential of these industries can be a driver of furthur development. In this respect, research and development is an important and necessary facilitator. The actual access of energy intensive industries, and especially the steel industy, to these framework programmes is insufficient in relation to the expected benefits. Against this background Eurofer proposes measures to increase successful participation of energy industries in the Framework Programmes.
The objectives of the Communities' R&D policies are impaired by eccessive administration. Also in this respect Eurofer proposes measures for improvement.