The European External Action Service (EEAS) announced on Wednesday the launch of a third joint call for proposals between the European Union and India, focusing on electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling to advance green and clean energy collaboration.
This initiative falls under Working Group 2 for Green and Clean Energy Technologies of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC), backed by a €15.2 million package from the EU’s Horizon Europe program and India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries. It targets innovative recycling technologies to secure critical raw materials like lithium, graphite, and cobalt, turning battery waste into a “virtual mine” for high-purity reuse in new batteries.
Priorities include high-efficiency material recovery, handling mixed battery chemistries, digitalized and inclusive collection systems integrating informal sectors, and second-life battery applications with safety monitoring. A standout feature is establishing a joint EU-India pilot line in India for real-world testing and industrial scaling, aiming for Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7-8.
Open to EU and Indian consortia -including businesses, SMEs, startups, universities, and research bodies- proposals require balanced participation and joint design. The deadline is September 15, 2026, building on prior efforts like the 2024 startup tech exchange and aligning with EU Batteries Regulation and India’s Battery Waste Management Rules.
EU Ambassador to India, Hervé Delphin, stressed batteries’ role in the green transition, bridging research to deployment for raw material security and climate goals. The TTC, launched in 2023 after a 2022 announcement by Ursula von der Leyen and Narendra Modi, supports resilient supply chains via over 200 joint projects since the 2001 agreement renewed in 2020.
(Source: CNA)