Sustainable recycling and resource efficiency in the steel industry are the drivers of the currently proposed IRONER R&D service. The steel industry is committed to global climate targets and aims to achieve a significant reduction of CO₂ emissions from production by at least 50% by 2030. Steel scrap, an essential secondary raw material for steel production, represents a cornerstone for a more climate-neutral steel industry. The melting of steel scrap requires fewer resources than primary steel production, and thus, enables environmental and economic benefits in terms of CO₂ emission and resource demand. Increased and optimized recycling of secondary resource steel scrap to produce high-performance steels requires precise knowledge of available scrap grades. Old scrap grades often fail to meet quality criteria in terms of composition (proportions of non-metallic impurities or non-ferrous metals such as copper). This induces a currently export rate being very high nowadays, and thus, an exclusion from the material cycle. Environmental protection and circular economy are central topics of the steel sector and require measures and improved technologies for scrap processing to minimize the export of the valuable resource scrap. With this background, the IRONER project aims to identify innovation potential for the sustainable recycling of steel.

IRONER stands out due to its unique consortium of excellent leading research institutions for metallurgical process technology, materials development, circular economy, and climate research. The outstanding coupled methodology of model-based material flow analysis, metallurgical and materials engineering related considerations, and stakeholder surveys will generate excellent technical and scientific know-how on scrap management and the influence of scrap on material qualities and the environmental balance of steel production, that goes beyond the current state of knowledge. One objective of IRONER is the compilation of a scrap material flow balance for Austria and neighbouring countries to compare the availability of certain scrap classes with the demand for crude steel production. This has not yet been realized in this form. In addition, surveys of all Austrian steel producers as well as companies in the scrap industry and metallurgical plant engineering will be used to define necessary technical and digital innovations, which must be considered and implemented through further research funding initiatives.

The results of the material flow analysis, the metallurgical and stell material related considerations and the stakeholder surveys will ultimately be used to draw up a position paper, that will identify necessary research questions. This summary can serve as preparation for future national funding initiatives. Only by a considerable funding program, the Austrian steel industry can maintain its leading role in terms of circular economy and product development in a European and global comparison and remains competitive.