As part of our website, we use cookies to provide you with the highest level of service, including services tailored to your individual needs. By continuing to use the website without changing your cookie settings, you agree to the placement of cookies on your device as described in our Privacy Policy. You can change your cookie settings in your web browser at any time. Acceptance of essential cookies is required for the proper functioning of the website. For more detailed information, please refer to our PRIVACY POLICY.

International project: Sustainable future steel production… (SUPER)

International Projects

Sustainable future steel production and people recruiting and skilling

Finansowane przez UE z programu Fundusz Badawczy Węgla i Stali

Title: Sustainable future steel production and people recruiting and skilling

Acronym: SUPER

Start: 01.06.2025 / End: 31.05.2027

Co-financing for Łukasiewicz – GIT: EUR 16 402.50

Total value of the project: EUR 673 847.70

Executive Agency: European Commission (REA)

Programme Name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel

Consortium:

  • VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH [Coordinator]
  • Rina Consulting – Centro Sviluppo Materiali S.p.A.
  • K1-MET GmbH
  • Technische Universität Dortmund
  • EIT RawMaterials GmbH
  • Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e Perfezionamento Sant’Anna
  • Łukasiewicz Research Network – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology
  • ESTEP Plateforme Technologique Européenne de L’Acier

Kierownik projektu:
Wojciech Szulc, BEng, PhD, DSc
Tel.: 32 2345 226
E-mail: wojciech.szulc@git.lukasiewicz.gov.pl

Objective:

The steel industry faces a major challenge in its transformation towards decarbonisation. New technologies, production plants, energy sources and process media create numerous technical challenges, but also generate a significant demand for new know-how. At the same time, the industry is undergoing a transformation within its workforce, driven by a wave of retirements. Young talent is scarce and often holds a critical perception of the steel sector, associating it with high emissions and a lack of innovation.

These two challenges must be addressed simultaneously, and unfortunately, under conditions of intense economic pressure. The coming years will be decisive for both the survival of the steel industry and the achievement of CO2 reduction targets. While considerable efforts have been made in technical R&D as well as in recruitment and skills development, the SUPER project adopts a new approach that combines both aspects, focusing on the synergies that can support these challenges jointly.

Such synergies are expected through the integration of R&D activities at local, national and EU levels, across the entire maturity chain up to industrial implementation, as well as through a cross-industrial perspective. Interdisciplinary communication and collaboration are central to this initiative, bridging technical and social dimensions.

Digitalisation can generate synergies for both transformations; however, it also requires appropriate skills and well-coordinated implementation. Therefore, skills development is a key enabler, and it must go hand in hand with image building. It is essential for the sector to demonstrate its strong potential for emission reduction and its innovative capacity.

The SUPER project conducts talent training (RACE), desk research and stakeholder consultations, and initiates interdisciplinary knowledge dissemination and networking activities. The results and feedback will be used to formulate recommendations for future actions and policy initiatives aimed at maximising these synergies. This comprehensive approach is made possible by the strong engagement of the project team and consortium partners in ongoing initiatives and within the ESTEP community.

This will close in 0 seconds