Komar Kawatra has received funding from the National Science Foundation and the iron and steel industry for a "Collaborative Research Center for Fundamental Studies of Advanced Sustainable Iron and Steel." It is expected thtaht the center funding will be on the order of $250 to $500 K per year.

The National Science Foundation has established the NSF Center for Fundamental Studies of Advanced Sustainable Iron and Steel. The industry-university cooperative research center will operate as a partnership between Michigan Tech and the University of Utah, with Michigan Tech serving as the lead institution. Its goal is to improve sustainability in the iron and steel industry by making maximum use of renewable resources and developing innovative methods to prevent pollution and reduce emissions while increasing energy efficiency. Thirteen companies have already committed to participating

NSF Center for Fundamental Studies of Advanced Sustainable Iron and Steel