India and the European Union have launched a new joint initiative on Electric Vehicle (EV) battery recycling under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) framework.
Announced on May 5, 2026, the coordinated call for proposals will support research and industrial collaboration on technologies that improve the recovery and reuse of critical battery materials such as lithium, graphite, and cobalt. The initiative is backed by a combined funding pool of €15.2 million (~₹169 crore) through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries.
The collaboration focuses on several strategic areas, including high-efficiency material recovery, recycling of mixed battery chemistries, digital tracking and collection systems, and safe “second-life” applications for used batteries.
A major component of the initiative is the creation of a joint India-EU pilot line in India, designed to test recycling technologies under real industrial conditions and accelerate commercial deployment.
The programme also aims to improve battery collection and recycling logistics by integrating startups, research institutions, industries, and parts of the informal waste sector into more structured and safer value chains.
Key Technical and Strategic Focus Areas
High Recovery Rates: Maximizing the extraction of critical minerals from spent batteries.
Mixed Chemistry Handling: Developing processes capable of recycling various battery types simultaneously.
Joint Pilot Line: Setting up a demonstration facility in India to bridge the gap between research and industrial application.
Digitalised Logistics: Implementing secure, inclusive collection systems that integrate informal sector workers.
Safety & Second Life: Ensuring recovered materials meet safety standards for reuse or alternative storage applications.
What is the "India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC)"?
The India-EU TTC is a strategic coordination mechanism that allows both partners to tackle challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted technology, and security. It serves as a high-level platform to deepen bilateral cooperation on digital governance, green technologies, and resilient supply chains. Under Working Group 2 (Green & Clean Energy Technologies), the council specifically focuses on co-developing innovations that drive the net-zero transition, such as the current EV battery recycling initiative, to ensure that strategic materials remain within their respective economies.
Policy Relevance
Mineral Security: By creating a robust domestic recycling ecosystem, India reduces its dependence on the import of critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, which are essential for the EV revolution.
Formalising the Informal Sector: The emphasis on inclusive logistics aims to integrate India's existing informal recycling networks into a digitalised, safe, and regulated framework.
Circular Economy Goals: The initiative supports India’s environmental commitments by ensuring that battery waste is treated as a resource rather than a pollutant.
Industrial Deployment: The establishment of a joint pilot line ensures that laboratory innovations are successfully translated into real-world industrial capacity.
Strategic Partnerships: This joint call reinforces the cross-continental value chain between India and the EU, aligning shared climate goals with economic resilience.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Ministry of Heavy Industries ensure that the established joint pilot line effectively accommodates the unique logistical challenges of India's dispersed informal recycling sector?
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