Key Takeaway:
- The initiative establishes a joint India-EU industrial pilot line in India to test high-efficiency recycling technologies.
- Applications for research and industrial project funding are open until September 15, 2026.
- The program specifically targets the recovery of minerals from “mixed battery chemistries” and supports second-life battery applications.
India and the European Union have launched a €15.2 million, or about ₹169 crore, initiative to develop electric vehicle battery recycling technologies, strengthen critical mineral recovery and support sustainable mobility through joint research and industrial pilot projects.
The initiative was announced under the India-EU launch EV Battery Trade and Technology Council Working Group-2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies. Applications for the programme will remain open until Sept. 15, 2026.
Funding will come through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries. Officials said the collaboration marks the third coordinated India-EU call for proposals focused on clean technology and sustainability.
India, EU Expand Cooperation on Clean Energy
The programme aims to improve access to critical raw materials used in EV batteries while promoting a circular economy for battery production and recycling.
Officials said the initiative will focus on advanced recycling technologies, including high-efficiency recovery systems, digitalised battery collection networks and pilot-scale demonstration projects. A joint India-EU pilot line will also be established in India to test technologies at an industrial scale.
The collaboration comes as India-EU launch EV battery market continues to grow rapidly, increasing demand for materials such as lithium, graphite and cobalt. Policymakers have identified battery recycling as a key strategy to reduce import dependence and improve supply chain resilience.
Ajay Kumar Sood, principal scientific adviser to the Government of India, said the programme would strengthen long-term cooperation between India and the EU while supporting India’s clean energy goals.
“With India’s rapidly expanding EV market, building a domestic battery recycling ecosystem is essential for resource security and environmental sustainability,” Sood said.
Programme Targets Critical Mineral Recovery
The initiative will prioritise higher recovery rates for battery materials and address challenges linked to mixed battery chemistries and second-life battery applications.
Officials said the programme also seeks to improve logistics integration and safety standards across the recycling chain. The effort includes plans to involve both formal and informal sectors in the recycling ecosystem.
Parvinder Maini, scientific secretary at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, said the project would help create a more inclusive and technology-driven recycling network in India.
“The initiative supports the development of a digital and inclusive recycling ecosystem, including participation from the informal sector,” Maini said.
European Union officials said the partnership is designed to accelerate the movement of research innovations into commercial deployment.
Leaders Highlight Green Transition Goals
Hervé Delphin, the European Union ambassador to India, said batteries remain central to the global transition toward cleaner energy systems.
“This programme will help move innovation from research to market deployment while strengthening mineral security,” Delphin said.
Marc Lemaître, director-general for research and innovation at the European Commission, said the partnership would help create a cross-continental value chain for critical raw materials needed in the clean energy transition.
The initiative reflects broader cooperation between India-EU launch EV battery in green technology, electric mobility and resilient supply chains as governments worldwide seek to secure access to critical minerals and reduce carbon emissions.
The programme is expected to support research institutions, startups, and industrial players working on sustainable battery recycling and resource recovery technologies.
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