- 26 May 2025
INCITE sectoral workshops will review and help to fast-track the uptake of innovative techniques with the potential to accelerate the transition towards a greener and more competitive industry, starting with energy-intensive sectors.
The first INCITE technical workshop, dedicated to innovative techniques in the iron and steel sector, started on 13 May in Seville, Spain, and online. Over 3 days, participants reviewed key European and global industrial projects aiming to achieve zero pollution, climate neutrality, increased resource efficiency and circularity in the Iron and Steel sector.
Organised by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, under the leadership of the European Innovation Centre for Industrial Transformation and Emissions (INCITE), this event aimed to accelerate the industrial transformation of the iron and steel industry, driving it towards a more competitive, energy-efficient and sustainable sector.
As stated in the Steel and Metals Action Plan, INCITE’s findings will inform financial support and investment decisions of public authorities, the financial sector and private investors. The content and conclusions of the workshop will feed into INCITE’s annual report, which is expected to be released at the beginning of 2026 and will cover key innovative technologies for the transformation of energy-intensive industries.
INCITE findings will also frontload information on innovative techniques and facilitate their potential inclusion in the elaboration of Best Available Techniques reference documents (BREFs). BREFs contain the environmental norms for industry (i.e. the BAT conclusions) and constitute the reference for issuing permits for industrial installations to operate in EU Member States.
The agenda of the first INCITE technical workshop featured presentations and discussions on key projects and cutting-edge technologies that can help the iron and steel sector increase its competitiveness and reduce its environmental impact.
On the first day, the workshop was introduced by Caroline Lambert (Head of Unit, DG JRC B.5. Circular Economy and Sustainable industry, in Seville). The policy context was introduced by Joan Canton (Head of Unit, DG GROW I.1. Raw Materials, Energy Intensive Industries, based in Brussels) highlighting the recent initiatives from the European Commission to support the Iron and Steel sector as part of the Clean Industrial Deal and Steel and Metals Action plan, but also by Toon Smets (Policy Officer at DG ENV B.2. Industrial Emissions and Safety, based in Brussels) who presented the revised Industrial Emissions Directive under which INCITE was created.
“This workshop is not only about showcasing innovative techniques, it is also the time and place to raise questions about their technological maturity, environmental performance, and their cost-effectiveness. We want to co-design them with you.”
Caroline Lambert, Head of Unit, B5, JRC Seville
The key objectives of the workshop were introduced by the INCITE team, with a welcome presentation from Serge Roudier, head of the EU-BRITE team, and Eric Aries, the event moderator. To set the scene, further presentations from EUROFER, two Member States (Germany and Sweden), a Think Tank organisation (E3G) and Pr. Lars Nilsson from Lund University were also included in the programme.
The event also informed participants about the INCITE information platform, an online public space for both submitting and consulting data and information on innovative techniques that are implemented at the pilot scale (TRL 6 or higher) and that could play a key role during the industrial transition.
The technical programme covered both decarbonisation and depollution as well as circular economy innovative techniques. Concerning decarbonisation and depollution, technical presentations on optimised blast furnace processes, carbon capture and utilisation, smart carbon usage and direct smelting technology were presented and discussed. The second day focused on technical presentations describing direct reduction technologies, electrification, and technologies for electrolysis of iron ore. The final day focused on circular economy and industrial symbiosis technologies, exploring opportunities for better scrap characterisation and management, by-products valorisation, and carbon capture and utilisation in the sector.
The workshop brought together a large and diverse group of stakeholders, with around 70 participants in person and more than 200 online, including industry leaders, technology providers, financiers, research and technology organisations, Member States’ authorities including permit writers of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) installations, as well as European and national policymakers. The objective was to offer a space to share knowledge, showcase innovative technologies, and discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with the sector's transition. Participants had the opportunity to discuss the potential for collaboration and knowledge-sharing across industries.
As the European Commission continues to support the sector's transition, this workshop was an opportunity to be part of the conversation and help shape the future of European industry. INCITE thanks all participants for their commitment and efforts to a transition to a more competitive and sustainable EU industry.
INCITE’s next sectoral workshop will be held in late October and will focus on the cement, lime and magnesium oxide industry. More information will be shared soon on INCITE’s webpage.
More information and agenda of the Iron and Steel workshop: