The movement of the Iron & Steelmaking (I&S) industry towards Net-Zero emissions and digitalized processes through disruptive, breakthrough technologies will be achieved through the use of Hydrogen. The biggest challenge for the refractory industry is to continue to meet the performance expectations while, at the same time, moving to a more sustainable production direction. The complexity and urgency of these technological changes, highlighted by the European Green Deal, requires ambitious, international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral projects, bringing together institutes from across the global value chain, to carry out cutting edge research. The European Union, through its flagship doctoral training program, MSCA, has, and continues to support research and development as well as the promotion of the refractory industry in Europe. An introduction to two MSCA projects and some of the results achieved are highlighted within this article.