A study supported by the InterAct programme has developed a digital roadmap to fast-track the UK steel sector’s transition to net zero.
Developed by a team of academics from the University of Warwick, the research identifies the most pressing barriers to adopting Industrial Digital Technologies (IDTs) and provides actionable guidance on how these barriers can be overcome towards decarbonising one of the UK’s most vital industries.
The UK steel industry – comprising over 1,100 companies and contributing £2.3 billion to the national economy – is under increasing pressure to
reduce its environmental footprint, accounting for a significant portion of global CO2 emissions.
While steel can be endlessly recycled, its production remains energy-intensive, making the drive toward greener, more efficient practices an urgent national and global priority.
Supported by InterAct, part of the Made Smarter Innovation initiative, the research project explored how IDTs can be leveraged to support the industry's shift to resource and energy efficiency (REE), with a special focus on overcoming sector-specific adoption challenges.
The result is a seven-layer hierarchical framework that maps the interdependencies between 12 critical barriers
– including investment uncertainty, skills shortages, regulatory complexity, and environmental considerations – and provides clear priorities for policymakers and industry leaders.
Using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) modelling technique complemented with MICMAC analysis, the research team – comprising Dr Taofeeq Ibn-Mohammed, Dr Mehmet Chakkol and Dr Aitana Uclés Fuensanta with support from Dr Temidayo Akenroye (University of Missouri–St. Louis) – not only identified what’s holding the sector back but laid out a practical roadmap for digital transformation.
“Our research provides targeted, actionable recommendations that empower decision-makers to focus their efforts where
they’ll have the greatest impact,” said Dr Ibn-Mohammed. “A strategic blend of policy reform, technological innovation, organisational change, and smart economic planning is key to overcoming these barriers and building a greener, more competitive steel industry.”
The team’s findings have already been well received, including at AISTech, the Iron and Steel Technology Conference in the U.S., where the research drew praise from international stakeholders. Plans are now underway to publish a dedicated practitioner’s report to further inform industry strategy and support cross-sectoral collaboration.
“This is the first empirical analysis of its
kind to map the causal relationships between barriers to IDT adoption,” said Dr Aitana Uclés Fuensanta, the project’s lead researcher. “Our insights will enable stakeholders to prioritise action, share best practices, and drive meaningful progress toward net zero.”
In addition to transforming the steel sector, the methodologies developed through this research are already being applied to other industries, including ceramics and glass, reinforcing the UK's leadership in industrial sustainability innovation.
“By addressing both the regulatory and operational challenges facing the sector, we can enable smarter, more adaptive policies and unlock the full potential of digital transformation in UK manufacturing,” added Dr Ibn-Mohammed.