ONDERZOEKSCENTRUM VOOR AANWENDING VAN STAAL NV

Their core work

OCAS (Research Centre for the Application of Steel) is a Belgian applied materials research company that develops and tests advanced metallic alloys and surface coatings for demanding industrial environments. Their core work involves engineering materials that can withstand extreme heat, corrosion, and mechanical wear — whether in next-generation solar power plants or high-energy industrial processing equipment. In EU projects, they contribute as a specialist materials partner, providing expertise in alloy design, thermal spray deposition, laser cladding, and performance testing under real-world stress conditions. They also apply machine learning and knowledge-based engineering methods to accelerate materials development and coating selection.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Both H2020 projects began in 2020 and ran concurrently, so the keyword split between "early" and "recent" reflects parallel project tracks rather than a genuine timeline shift. One track targets extreme-temperature energy materials (supercritical CO2, solar power), while the other targets industrial coating durability (corrosion, erosion, thermal spray). The inclusion of machine learning and knowledge-based engineering in the FORGE project suggests that OCAS is actively building computational capabilities alongside their traditional experimental materials work — a direction that is likely to expand as the coatings field increasingly relies on data-driven alloy and process optimization.

OCAS appears to be broadening from core steel application research into data-assisted materials design, making them an increasingly attractive partner for consortia that need both experimental materials expertise and computational materials engineering capability.

How they like to work

OCAS participates exclusively as a consortium partner — they have not led any H2020 project — which positions them as a focused specialist contributor rather than a project driver. Despite only two projects, they have engaged with 26 distinct partners across 10 countries, suggesting they slot into large, multi-partner Research and Innovation Actions. This wide network relative to a small project count indicates OCAS is valued as a niche technical resource that diverse consortia seek out specifically for materials expertise.

OCAS has built a network of 26 unique consortium partners spanning 10 countries through just two projects, reflecting the large, internationally diverse consortia typical of RIA-funded energy and advanced materials research. Their Belgian base in Zelzate (near Ghent) places them within a strong industrial corridor, though their project partnerships extend well across Europe.

What sets them apart

OCAS occupies a rare niche as an industry-owned (private company, non-SME) applied research centre focused specifically on steel and advanced metallic materials — a profile that sits between a university research group and a full industrial R&D department. This means they bring application-oriented rigour and industrial relevance that academic partners cannot, while also offering experimental depth that most industrial companies outsource. For consortium builders in energy, manufacturing, or heavy industry, OCAS represents a credible bridge between materials science and real-world deployment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FORGE
  The largest of OCAS's two projects by funding (€381,502), FORGE targets a commercially high-value problem — durable coatings for industrial wear — and uniquely combines physical deposition methods (thermal spray, laser cladding) with machine learning, signalling a methodological evolution in how OCAS approaches materials engineering.
• COMPASsCO2
  This project places OCAS in the concentrated solar power and supercritical CO2 energy transition space, demonstrating that their materials expertise extends beyond traditional manufacturing into next-generation clean energy infrastructure — a strategically important expansion of their portfolio.