India and the European Union have launched a €15.2 million (about ₹169 crore) joint initiative to accelerate electric vehicle battery recycling under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council’s Working Group on green and clean energy technologies. Announced on May 5, 2026, the coordinated call for proposals focuses on recycling of EV batteries, with submissions open until September 15, 2026.
The funding pool will be drawn from the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and the Indian component will be supported by the Ministry of Heavy Industries. The programme is designed to secure critical raw materials, support the transition to a circular economy, and deepen the India-EU strategic relationship.
Projects selected under the call are expected to develop advanced recycling technologies, including high-efficiency material recovery, safe and digitalised collection systems, and pilot-scale demonstrations of innovative processes. The initiative also envisages a joint India-EU pilot line in India to enable real-world validation and industrial deployment, bringing together researchers, industry participants, and startups.
The call will target high recovery rates, the handling of mixed chemistries, logistics and inclusion, as well as safety and second-life applications for critical minerals such as lithium, graphite, and cobalt. Officials from both sides framed the initiative as central to resource security, environmental commitments, mineral security, and shared climate goals, and as a step towards a more resilient, cross-continental value chain for strategic materials.
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