The HEPHAESTUS project held an online Steering Committee meeting on 7 July 2026, marking Month 50 of the project. Originally planned for a duration of 54 months, the project has now been officially extended to 62 months. The project, which started on 1 June 2022, was initially scheduled to finish on 30 November 2026 and will now continue until 31 July 2027. The extension will provide additional time to complete key technical activities and maximise the impact of the project's results.

During the meeting, project partners discussed the recently approved project amendment and reviewed the progress of the Italian demonstrator pilot plant, which remains one of the key milestones of HEPHAESTUS. The consortium also reviewed the status of ongoing technical work across the different work packages and coordinated the next steps for the final phase of the project.

Communication and dissemination activities were another important topic of discussion. KU Leuven has recently submitted a new scientific publication, further contributing to the project's growing scientific output. In addition, the consortium has submitted an abstract to the ESTEP Annual Event 2026, where HEPHAESTUS aims to present its innovative technology to key stakeholders from the European steel sector. Feedback on the abstract is expected in August 2026.

Finally, partners discussed the organisation of the next in-person consortium meeting, which will provide an opportunity to review technical progress, strengthen collaboration across the consortium, and coordinate the activities planned for the final year of the project. With partners continuing to make steady progress across research, demonstration, communication, and exploitation activities, HEPHAESTUS remains on track to deliver innovative solutions for the sustainable recycling of steelmaking residues.