India and EU Join Forces with ₹169 Crore EV Battery Recycling Mission — A Circular Economy Leap

India and the European Union announced a landmark ₹169 crore joint initiative on May 5, 2026 to develop advanced electric vehicle battery recycling technologies — a partnership that strikes at the heart of both nations’ clean energy security and critical mineral independence. GIN Tech & Environment Desk | May 8, 2026 | Technology · Green Economy

The initiative, launched under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council’s Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies, is backed by a combined €15.2 million funding pool — with the EU contributing through its Horizon Europe programme and India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries supporting the domestic component. Proposals are open until September 15, 2026, inviting joint consortia of companies, SMEs, startups, research institutions, and universities from both sides.

The technical focus areas are precisely targeted: high-efficiency recovery of critical battery materials including lithium, graphite, cobalt, and nickel; safe and digitalised battery collection systems integrating the informal recycling sector; development of second-life battery applications; and pilot-scale demonstration of innovative recycling processes. A flagship component is the establishment of a joint India-EU pilot line inside India — a physical facility for real-world industrial testing and deployment of recycling technologies.

“This launch is a pivotal moment in the India-EU strategic partnership — catalysing momentum for a digitalised, inclusive logistics model that integrates the informal sector while ensuring the highest safety standards.” — Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

The strategic logic is compelling for both sides. India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer, imports over 85 per cent of its crude oil — an energy vulnerability the EV transition aims to correct. But that transition creates a new dependency: critical minerals for batteries, most of which are currently mined and processed in China. By developing domestic recycling capacity, India can recover these scarce materials from used batteries, reducing mining dependency and building a circular economy.

NITI Aayog estimates India will generate approximately 128 GWh of recyclable battery capacity by 2030. The EV battery recycling market in India is expected to grow exponentially by 2035. The India-EU initiative directly addresses this opportunity window — and positions both partners to build resilient, mutually beneficial supply chains in one of the 21st century’s most strategically important industrial sectors.