Join Us and Forge the Future of Steel!
We are building a unified front of industry leaders representing the full lifecycle of steel systems including: mills, processors, manufacturers, engineering firms and trade associations. Together we will advance the steel industry through the R³ Framework. By becoming a member, you aren’t just a donor; you are securing your seat at the table to direct the future of steel infrastructure.
See more below on details of member benefits and logistics.
Beyond Research: The R³ Member Advantage
Industry-Wide Investment
- Pooled Investment for High-Impact: By leveraging pooled resources we can tackle the research that shows that steel is holistically outperforming the competition
- The Multiplier Effect: Your investment serves as a strategic catalyst. These contributions launch high-impact pilot projects that provide the proof-of-concept data required to secure major grants from federal agencies (NSF, DOE) and private foundations. By joining us, you are amplifying your R&D budget and ensuring steel remains the reliable choice for a renewable and resilient future.
- Strategic Direction: Membership ensures your investment is funneled into research that benefits the entire supply chain. You help decide which problems we solve.
Active Technical Collaboration
- Affiliated Practitioners: Don’t just wait for the final report, “temper” research with industry applications. Appoint your engineers to work alongside our students and researchers, providing real-world context and ensuring the data we produce is “fabrication-ready.”
- Featured Guest Lectures: Take the podium as an industry expert. Provide engineering deep-dives to our students to demonstrate how your products contribute to holistic steel applications.
Access the Talent Pipeline
- Student Matchmaking: Gain priority access to UW–Madison’s top engineering talent through exclusive internship and career placement opportunities.
- Hands-on Lab Collaboration: Through your Affiliated Practitioners, collaborate directly with students in our design spaces and structural & materials labs, putting your products into the hands of future designers today.
Annual Membership Cycle & Investment Tiers
The membership cycle runs from June 1st through May 31st and includes:
- Members Meetings (Sponsors) – 1x annually to:
- Review and provide feedback on consortium activities
- Brainstorm and vote on project ideas
- Get final project results
- Planning Committee Meetings (elective appointment w/min investment*) – 2x annually to:
- Guide implementation of the consortium’s mission
- Translate member priorities into actionable research and direction
- Assemble project teams
- Provide oversight of projects
- Project Team Meetings (Affiliated Practitioners) – as needed to:
- Advise projects
- Review project data analysis
- Integrate industry applications/applicability into projects
Choose the tier that reflects your role in the steel value chain:
| Tier Category | Annual Investment Minimum |
| Steel Mills or Steel Processors | $27,000+ |
| Contractors and Distributors | $15,000+ |
| Steel Products Manufacturers | $10,000+ |
| Engineering Firms: (Company-wide) (Branch Office) |
$10,000+ $5,000+ |
| Trade Associations | $7,000 + |
| Small Businesses | $5,000+ |
Strategic Mission Oversight
An investment of at least $10,000 secures your company a seat on the Planning Committee, enabling your team to guide the implementation of the consortium’s mission. Meeting twice annually, this committee translates member priorities into actionable research and direction.
To maintain direct project accountability and practitioner-led results, Planning Committee seats are reserved for our individual corporate industry members. While trade associations provide vital industry-wide perspective and advocacy, this committee focuses on the technical oversight and actionable deliverables driven by our individual industry members.
Commitment to Transparency
In the interest of transparency and stewardship, we provide all sponsors with an annual report highlighting consortium activities, research outcomes, and project deliverables.