The European Union and India have launched a joint initiative worth €15.2 million ( ₹169 crore) aimed at strengtheningelectric vehicle (EV) battery recycling and promoting a circular economy for critical raw materials.

The initiative, announced under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), seeks to address growing concerns around battery waste, resource recovery, and supply chain resilience as EV adoption accelerates globally.

The programme will focus on developing technologies for battery recycling, recovering critical raw materials, and supporting sustainable value chains for EV batteries. It will also seek to strengthen cooperation between Indian and European industries, research institutions, start-ups, and policymakers.

The collaboration comes at a time when both regions are seeking to reduce dependence on imported critical minerals while building domestic recycling and recovery ecosystems for lithium-ion batteries and associated materials.

The programme will support joint research and innovation projects between Indian and European stakeholders, while also facilitating pilot projects, knowledge exchange, and technology transfer in the areas of battery recycling, second-life applications, and raw material recovery.

As per the release, the initiative aims to improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental risks associated with battery disposal, while contributing to climate and clean mobility goals.

Commenting on the development, H.E. Mr. Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India, said, “Batteries sit at the core of the green transition, with their components far too strategic to be discarded after a single use. By launching this joint call, we are uniting European and Indian expertise into a single team to solve one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Our goal is to take these innovations all the way from the development phase to real-world deployment- a move that represents a direct investment in our mineral security and our shared climate goals”.

He further added: “The EU and India are natural partners in driving sustainable innovation and industrial transformation. This initiative reflects our shared commitment to building resilient and sustainable value chains for clean energy technologies.”

“By combining Europe’s technological expertise with India’s growing industrial and innovation ecosystem, we can jointly address global challenges linked to battery waste, critical raw materials, and circular economy transitions,” Delphin stated.

Marc Lemaître, Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (RTD), European Commission, said, “This coordinated call is a testament to the strengthening bond between the EU and India in the field of green innovation. By pooling our resources and expertise under the Horizon Europe framework, we are not just recycling batteries; we are co-creating a resilient, cross-continental value chain. This initiative will ensure that the strategic materials of tomorrow remain within our circular economies, driving both global competitiveness and our shared climate goals.”

Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, said, “The launch of this joint call marks a pivotal moment in the India-EU strategic partnership. As India’s EV market continues its rapid expansion, creating a robust domestic recycling ecosystem is essential for our resource security and environmental commitments. By integrating advanced digital solutions and engaging the informal sector, this collaboration will turn battery waste into a high-value resource, fostering an innovation-led 'virtual mine' that supports our vision of a sustainable, self-reliant future.”

Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, stated, “This joint initiative marks a critical leap in India’s circular economy, establishing a beyond state-of-the-art pilot line designed to transform battery waste into a strategic resource. Through these efforts, we are poised to secure a domestic supply of critical minerals and also catalyze momentum for pioneering a digitalized, inclusive logistics model that integrates the informal sector while ensuring the highest safety standards for second-life applications.”

The release noted that the initiative is expected to contribute to the development of standards, policy frameworks, and technical capabilities required for scaling battery recycling ecosystems.

India has been rapidly expanding its EV ecosystem under various policy measures, including incentives for advanced chemistry cell manufacturing and localisation of battery supply chains. However, the country is also expected to witness a sharp rise in end-of-life batteries over the coming years, increasing the need for organised recycling infrastructure and material recovery systems.

The programme also seeks to support innovation-led businesses and start-ups working in battery circularity and critical material recovery.

According to the release, collaboration under the initiative will include stakeholders from academia, industry, technology providers, and government agencies from both India and the EU.

The TTC, established in 2022, serves as a strategic coordination platform between India and the EU to address challenges at the intersection of trade, trusted technology, and sustainable development.

The announcement added that battery recycling and critical raw material recovery have emerged as priority areas due to growing demand for EV batteries and concerns over resource security, environmental sustainability, and geopolitical supply chain risks.