Steel, cement, glass, and superalloys are essential materials in our society. Steel is the most reliable material for engineering, construction, automobiles, white goods, and industrial equipment. With a global steel production of 1.8 billion tons annually and an expected growth rate of 1-1.4 % per year, the global steel demand will be around 1.9 billion tons by 2035. The Iron & Steel (I&S) industry is the largest end-user of refractory products, accounting for 68 % of the international market. The competition in and out of the European territory is very intense. Due to rising production costs and the European Green Deal, the urgent challenge for the industry is to stay competitive and invest in breakthrough technologies for decarbonization.

CESAREF (Concerted European Action on Sustainable Applications of REFractories) is an MSCA Doctoral Network that aims to train researchers in the fields of engineering and industry through international collaboration with a focus on innovation. The program emphasizes the sustainable management of refractory materials used in I&S processes, addressing the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency. It involves a partnership between 10 academic and 16 industrial organizations across the EU.

CESAREF’s objectives are identified through seven individual Work Packages (WPs). The activities of WP4 are led by the Institute of Energy Systems and Thermodynamics at TU Wien in partnership with ArcelorMittal and Tata Steel Nederland, which focuses on enhancing energy efficiency and durability in steelmaking. This involves developing advanced digital methods and real-time monitoring models incorporating mathematical programming, machine learning, and detailed simulations. The insights gained will inform decision-making regarding the reuse and recycling of materials, with the goal of reducing resource consumption and emissions, thereby supporting the objectives of the European Green Deal.

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