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Department of Social Sciences

SUPER project launched – Social Research Centre supports qualification strategy for a sustainable steel industry

SUPER project logo: Silhouette of a head with a cogwheel and two green leaves on it. Next to it the lettering “SUPER” and the full name of the project. © sfs
In the SUPER project, the Social Research Centre is contributing its expertise in linking social and technological innovation to develop qualification strategies for the sustainable transformation of the steel industry.

In July 2025, the European research project SUPER – Sustainable fUture steel Production and pEople Recruiting and skilling – was launched. The aim is to combine training and technical innovations for the transformation of the steel industry towards climate neutrality. The focus is on challenges such as the shortage of skilled workers, change through digitalisation and a modern image for the industry.

The Social Research Centre at TU Dortmund University is contributing its extensive expertise in pro-active skills adjustment for a sustainable steel and process industry and in the fields of social innovation and industrial change. It is responsible for key tasks in evaluating SUPER recruitment and training activities based on existing initiatives (e.g. ESSA, SPIRE-SAIS, Skills4EII) and in providing scientific support for online training via platforms such as steelHub and SKILLS4Planet. In addition, TU Dortmund University conducts an evaluation survey of training programmes and, on this basis, develops improvement strategies for recruitment in the steel sector.

SUPER is coordinated by VDEh Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH Düsseldorf (BFI) and implemented in cooperation with six partner institutions and one associated partner. The results will contribute to the development of European strategies for a socially and ecologically sustainable industry.