The European Coal and Steel Community Treaty (ECSC) had origins that date back to the reconstruction of Europe following the Second World War By the time of its expiry in 2002, the research activities that had previously been funded through this route had been transferred to the Research Fund for Coal and Steel. For organisations such as SCI, who have benefited from this source of funding for many years, the transition was seamless. Although funding is only partial, and reimbursable based on the time actually spent on a project, it remains one of the primary sources of funding for us to carry out work that has anything other than very short term benefit for the client. These projects also provide an excellent opportunity for building networks and relationships with Universities and industrial partners across Europe.
The fund itself covers much more than just construction, but even within that limited area a broad range of topics can be considered. We have recently completed a number of projects covering such diverse topics as composite construction (new rules for shear connection), the use of high strength steels, the use of stainless steels in bio-digesters, active thermal mass in buildings, and the use of structural adhesives. In previous years ECSC and RFCS support was key to our knowledge building concerning light steel framing and beams with large web openings, to name but two areas.
In all cases we use the knowledge gained to better serve our members, with technical advice, and project clients through the application of our expertise to meet their commercial needs.
More information on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel can be found here.