India and EU Launch Joint Call on EV Battery Recycling under the Trade and Technology Council
The Government of India and the European Union have launched a new €15.2 million / approximately ₹169 crore joint initiative focused on the recycling of electric vehicle batteries. The call has been announced under the India–EU Trade and Technology Council, Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies, with proposals due by 15 September 2026.
The Government of India and the European Union have announced a new coordinated call for proposals focused on the recycling of electric vehicle batteries, under the framework of the India–EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies.
The initiative brings together a combined funding pool of €15.2 million / approximately ₹169 crore, with support from the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries. The call aims to strengthen sustainable battery value chains, support the recovery of critical raw materials, and contribute to the global transition towards a circular economy.
The programme will focus on the development of advanced recycling technologies, including high-efficiency material recovery, safe and digitalised collection systems, and pilot-scale demonstration of innovative processes. It will also support the establishment of a joint India–EU pilot line in India for real-world validation and industrial deployment.
Key focus areas include:
* High recovery rates
* Mixed chemistry handling
* Logistics and inclusion
* Safety and second-life applications
The call is particularly relevant to universities, research institutions, industry partners, start-ups, SMEs, and innovation ecosystems working in areas such as clean energy technologies, circular economy, critical minerals, sustainable mobility, materials recovery, and responsible green transition.
For Nordic higher education and research institutions, this development highlights the growing importance of India–Europe collaboration in green and clean energy technologies. It also points to significant opportunities for research-led partnerships in areas where Nordic universities have strong expertise, including sustainability, circular economy, battery technologies, climate innovation, and industrial transition.
The Nordic Centre in India continues to support Nordic member institutions in identifying and developing meaningful India partnerships across higher education, research, mobility, and innovation.
Deadline for proposals: 15 September 2026
Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2258320®=3&lang=1
