India-EU Launch $15.2 Million EV Battery Recycling Call to Power Green Transition

India and the European Union have launched a third coordinated call for proposals focused on the recycling of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, adding a fresh implementation step to their Trade and Technology Council cooperation. The initiative, announced on 5 May 2026, aims to support critical raw material security, circular economy solutions and industrial research collaboration between the two sides.

India and the EU have launched a new EV battery recycling call to drive clean technology, critical raw material recovery and circular economy solutions.

Joint call under TTC

The new call has been issued under Working Group 2 of the India-EU Trade & Technology Council, which covers green and clean energy technologies. Project submissions will be accepted until 15 September 2026, giving research groups and industry partners a defined window to prepare joint proposals.

The combined funding pool for the initiative stands at €15.2 million, or about ₹169 crore. On the European side, financing will come through Horizon Europe, while the Ministry of Heavy Industries will support the Indian component.

Focus on battery recycling

The programme is designed to support advanced recycling technologies for EV batteries, with emphasis on high-efficiency material recovery, safe and digitalised collection systems, and pilot-scale demonstration of innovative processes. It also seeks to encourage a joint India-EU pilot line in India, which will allow technologies to be tested in real-world settings before wider deployment.

The call specifically highlights high recovery rates, mixed chemistry handling, logistics and inclusion, and safety and second-life applications. It is expected to address minerals such as lithium, graphite and cobalt, which are essential to battery manufacturing and the broader clean energy transition.

India and the EU are advancing circular economy cooperation through a new push on EV battery recycling and clean technology.

Circular economy priorities

Officials said the call is intended to secure critical raw materials, accelerate the transition to a circular economy and strengthen India-EU relations. By focusing on battery recycling, the initiative supports a more resource-efficient value chain and reduces dependence on primary extraction of key materials.

The joint pilot line in India is expected to bring together researchers, industries and start-ups from both sides for validation and industrial deployment. That design gives the programme a practical dimension, linking laboratory work with application at scale.

India-EU technology link

The announcement reflects the wider India-EU effort to connect trade, technology and sustainability through the Trade and Technology Council. Working Group 2 is the TTC platform for cooperation on green and clean energy technologies, and this call adds a concrete project-based mechanism to that framework.

The initiative also fits into the broader push by India and the EU to build resilient and mutually beneficial supply chains in strategic sectors. For both sides, EV battery recycling offers a route to support clean mobility while advancing industrial cooperation and climate goals.

The information in this article is based on the official Press Information Bureau release on PRID 2258320 and the Government of India’s announcement under the India-EU Trade & Technology Council, published on the PIB website and the PIB press release detail page.