The Federation for International Refractories Research & Education (FIRE) is organised as an outsourcing network of academic and industrial partners, its mission to train highly qualified engineers for the refractory industry. Initially comprising four academic institutions in Austria, Brazil, France and the USA and three refractories companies - RHI, Magnesita, and Pyrotek - the Federation has grown into a collaboration of 10 academic groups from 8 countries which now include Germany, Japan, China and Canada, supported by 17 industrial companies from 11 countries. Today, the organisation is a multinational group representing the refractory world constituency and working in a common language, English. To promote the education system in refractory materials engineering education at the MS and PhD levels, FIRE offers graduate students the opportunity to acquire an international perspective through international study programs and student exchanges. To meet the cultural, educational and research needs of the refractory industry, FIRE has established education programs based on research programs under the direction and approval of its board members. Research programs centre on selected themes and last 3-4 years.
