REFFRACTEUR · Digital REFractory FRAmework for a Carbon neutral and Resilient indusTry in EURope.

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners. CORDIS does not always give exact coordinates for projects before 2014. These points are placed at city or country level.

Project objective

Europe’s high-temperature industries (steel, cement, glass) depend on refractory materials for safe, efficient, and sustainable operations. As the EU undergoes Green and Digital Transitions, the refractory sector faces urgent challenges: decarbonisation, circularity, and digitalisation. Current practices are limited by empirical design, fragmented data, and low recycling rates, while new regulations require traceability and lower carbon footprints. REFFRACTEUR brings together a unique consortium covering the entire refractory value chain, from raw materials to end-users, across academia and industry. The project will train 15 Doctoral Candidates through an innovative programme combining advanced research in materials science, process engineering, digital tools (AI, digital twins), and sustainability (life cycle assessment). Each researcher will benefit from dual academic/industrial supervision and spend at least 50% of their time in industry, ensuring strong intersectoral skills and real-world impact. REFFRACTEUR will deliver: (1) new sustainable refractory materials with improved durability and recyclability; (2) the first unified circularity framework for refractories, integrating digital product passports and life cycle assessment; (3) validated digital twins and AI-based decision-support systems for predictive maintenance and energy optimisation; and (4) an open, standardised data backbone to accelerate innovation and knowledge transfer. By embedding training, research, and innovation in a single European network, REFFRACTEUR will strengthen Europe’s industrial sovereignty, reduce dependency on critical raw materials, and position the EU as a global leader in sustainable, digitalised refractory technologies. The project’s outcomes will directly support the EU’s climate, circular economy, and skills agendas, creating lasting impact for industry, society, and future researchers.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisCoordinatorFrance
• ASSOCIATION POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT ET LA PROMOTION DU POLE EUROPEEN DELA CERAMIQUE · LimogesFrance
• CERAME-UNIE · Bruxelles / BrusselCity levelBelgium
• CERAQUITAINE · Saint Aulaye-PuymangouCountry levelFrance
• Centre-Sciences CCSTI de la région Centre-Val de Loire · OrleansCity levelFrance
• ELKEM SILICON PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AS · KristiansandNorway
• EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY AISBL · MonsCity levelBelgium
• FESIOS GMBH · GmundenCity levelAustria
• FORSCHUNGSGEMEINSCHAFT FEUERFEST EV · HOHR GRENZHAUSENGermany
• Federation for International Refractory Research and Education · MontrealCanada
• IMERYS ALUMINATES · ParisFrance
• LSA-LASER ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS & AUTOMATION GMBH · AACHENGermany
• MONTANUNIVERSITAET LEOBEN · LeobenAustria
• RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN · AachenGermany
• RHI MAGNESITA GMBH · WienAustria
• SAFRAN SA · ParisFrance
• SHS - STAHL-HOLDING-SAAR GMBH & CO.KGAA · DillingenGermany
• SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT OESTERREICH · WienAustria
• TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY BV · Velsen NoordNetherlands
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET BERGAKADEMIE FREIBERG · FreibergGermany
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN · WienAustria
• UNIVERSIDADE DO MINHO · BragaPortugal
• UNIVERSITE D'ORLEANS · Orleans Cedex 2France
• UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE · LIEGEBelgium
• UNIVERSITE DE LIMOGES · LimogesFrance
• UNIVERSITETET I SOROST-NORGE · HortenNorway
• VESUVIUS GROUP SA · GhlinBelgium

Links

• View on CORDIS
• DOI: 10.3030/101312113