Key Points
- Joint call worth €15.2 million targets lithium, graphite and cobalt recovery
- Proposals due by 15 September 2026 under India-EU Trade and Technology Council
- Pilot recycling line to be set up on Indian soil for industrial deployment
India and the European Union on Wednesday opened a joint €15.2 million (approximately ₹169 crore) call for proposals on electric vehicle battery recycling, targeting recovery of lithium, graphite and cobalt as both economies seek to reduce dependence on imported critical minerals.
The announcement was made under Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). Proposals must be submitted by 15 September 2026. The European side will be funded through the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme, while India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries will back the domestic component.
The call seeks proposals on high-efficiency recovery of battery materials, safe and digitised collection systems and pilot-scale demonstration of new recycling processes. A joint India-EU pilot line will be set up on Indian soil to validate technologies and prepare them for industrial deployment, with researchers, industry and start-ups eligible to participate.
Critical minerals at the centre of clean energy push
The targeted minerals are lithium, graphite and cobalt, with secondary focus on mixed-chemistry handling, logistics, worker inclusion and second-life applications — the repurposing of used EV batteries for stationary energy storage before final recycling.
India’s electric vehicle market has expanded rapidly over the past three years, with two-wheelers leading adoption and four-wheeler volumes climbing off a low base. However, the country processes only a small fraction of its lithium-ion battery waste at present. Industry estimates suggest existing recycling capacity will need to scale several times over by 2030 to absorb retiring EV batteries and stationary storage units.
India currently imports the bulk of its lithium-ion cells from China, Japan and South Korea, along with most of the critical minerals used in their manufacture.
“This launch is a pivotal moment in the India-EU strategic partnership,” Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood said. “As India’s EV market continues its rapid expansion, creating a robust domestic recycling ecosystem is essential for our resource security and environmental commitments.”
EU Ambassador to India Hervé Delphin said batteries sat “at the core of the green transition” and that the goal of the call was to take innovations from the development phase into real-world deployment. He described it as a direct investment in mineral security and shared climate goals.
Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary in the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, said the initiative would work towards a digitised and inclusive logistics model. This includes integration of India’s large informal recycling sector while maintaining safety standards for second-life battery use.
Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, said the partnership was about building “a resilient, cross-continental value chain” that would keep strategic materials within the two economies.
India’s push for supply chain security
The Trade and Technology Council, set up in 2023, is the principal high-level mechanism through which New Delhi and Brussels coordinate on technology, trade and security issues. Earlier coordinated calls under Working Group 2 have focused on green hydrogen and solar energy, with Indian institutions partnering European counterparts on early-stage research.
The Centre has earmarked roughly ₹1,500 crore for incentives to recyclers of e-waste, lithium-ion batteries and end-of-life vehicles. The 2025-26 Union Budget removed customs duty on cobalt powder and battery scrap. A National Critical Mineral Mission has been launched to reduce dependence on imports.
Domestic players such as Attero, Lohum, Tata Chemicals and Gravita have moved into hydrometallurgical recycling — a process that uses chemical solutions to extract metals from spent batteries. Several claim recovery rates above 90 per cent for lithium, cobalt and nickel. However, formal recycling captures only a sliver of end-of-life batteries, with the bulk still flowing through informal markets in areas such as Delhi’s Seelampur.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the India-EU EV battery recycling call about?
India and the EU have jointly launched a €15.2 million (₹169 crore) call for proposals on electric vehicle battery recycling. It targets high-efficiency recovery of lithium, graphite and cobalt, with a pilot recycling line to be set up in India.
When is the deadline for submitting proposals?
The deadline for submissions is 15 September 2026. The European component is funded through Horizon Europe, while India's Ministry of Heavy Industries backs the domestic side.
Why is India focusing on battery recycling now?
India's EV market is expanding rapidly but the country processes only a small fraction of lithium-ion battery waste. Most cells and critical minerals are imported from China, Japan and South Korea, creating supply chain vulnerabilities.
Which Indian companies are already in battery recycling?
Domestic players including Attero, Lohum, Tata Chemicals and Gravita have moved into hydrometallurgical recycling, with several claiming recovery rates above 90 per cent for lithium, cobalt and nickel.
