The Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) was established in 2002 to contribute to thecompetitiveness of the European Coal and Steel sectors by supporting collaborativeresearch, pilot and demonstration projects. A Monitoring and Assessment exercise of theRFCS programme covering the period 2003–2011 was carried out by an Expert Committeecomprising four coal and six steel experts appointed by the European Commission. Theassessment exercise involved the analysis of the 198 projects completed during thisperiod, with special emphasis on the benefits for beneficiaries, Sectors and Society.Based on actual fact and figures provided by the project partners, it was established that1 euro spent in the project budget delivered a benefit of about 2 euros for the projectpartners. Extrapolated at the level of the coal and steel sectors with very conservativeassumptions, the potential benefit of the projects was estimated at about 700 M€/year. Tocapture this potential benefit, additional efforts and budget must be spent at the companylevel for implementing the relevant technological solutions.
