Coordinated topic with India on recycling of EV batteries

The EU grant opportunity HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D2-04 focuses on a coordinated initiative with India for the recycling of electric vehicle (EV) batteries as part of the broader HORIZON Innovation Actions framework. The call is set to open on May 5, 2026, with a deadline of September 15, 2026. The total allocated budget for this opportunity is €9,400,000, intended to support one project.

Eligible applicants include research institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, and consortia primarily based in EU Member States. Indian entities can only participate as associated partners and will be funded through India's Ministry of Heavy Industries. The project underscores the necessity for collaboration between EU and Indian partners in research activities.

The funding type is a grant, specifically under the HORIZON-IA budget-based action category. A consortium of multiple applicants is mandatory, emphasizing coordinated efforts between EU and Indian teams to enhance cooperation and resource sharing.

Geographically, the beneficiaries must be established in the EU, with projects expected to operate a jointly managed pilot recycling line in India. The initiative targets the energy storage and recycling sectors, particularly focusing on lithium-ion batteries and processes that can efficiently reclaim critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Environmental sustainability is a key aim of this initiative, aligning with both the EU's and India's regulatory frameworks.

The project is expected to progress from development to the demonstration stage, showcasing innovative recycling processes and validating the effectiveness of new technologies through real-world applications. Successful projects are anticipated to collaborate closely on logistics, sorting, and discharge practices for end-of-life batteries.

An open call allows applicants to submit full proposals with no preliminary screening, with assessments based on comprehensive evaluation criteria. Due to the substantial budget and competitive nature, success rates are estimated to be low, likely between 10% to 20%. Co-funding is required from the Indian side, with the Indian Ministry of Heavy Industries contributing matched funding to ensure balanced financial commitment.

In summary, this opportunity aims to foster bilateral EU-India cooperation in advancing sustainable battery recycling technologies, improving both regions' capacity to manage waste and promoting a circular economy. The focus on creating a joint recycling facility in India and the emphasis on innovative processes highlight the strategic priorities for both regions in addressing the challenges associated with battery waste and material recovery.

This EU funding opportunity, HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D2-04, is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically within the BATTERIES and ENERGY (HORIZON-CL5-2026-09) call. It focuses on a coordinated topic with India on the recycling of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The planned opening date is May 5, 2026, with a deadline of September 15, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The action grant is budget-based.

The expected outcome of this topic is to improve the sustainability, safety, and affordability of innovative battery recycling processes for battery recyclers based in both the EU and India. It also aims to facilitate the exchange of experience on recycling logistics, including informal processes and supply chain constraints, between stakeholders in the EU and India. Furthermore, it seeks to support and strengthen cooperation between key researchers, institutions, and industries active in battery recycling in both regions.

The scope of the projects should include building a jointly operated recycling pilot line on Indian soil. This pilot line should demonstrate innovative recycling processes for lithium-ion batteries that surpass the current state of the art in terms of recycling efficiency (particularly for Lithium), environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with various battery types, including those currently available and anticipated in the future. The pilot line must be capable of processing black mass, including mixed chemistries, with Lithium as the end product, achieving a purity level suitable for Cathode Active Material (CAM). The recovery of graphite or silicon/graphite in various compositions should also be addressed. Adequate benchmarking figures must be provided to demonstrate progress beyond the current state of the art.

Projects should also demonstrate the effective use of technologies for logistics, sorting, collection, and discharging of end-of-life batteries, involving the informal sector (end users, collection points, sales channels). This includes:

Development of innovative and digitalized waste collection systems towards zero-risk to improve quantity, quality, safety of the stored End of Life batteries.

Safe, fast, cost-efficient ways for large-scale discharging/deactivation End of Life batteries (both damaged and scraps), anticipating the development for new chemistries.

The projects are expected to assess the environmental impact of the piloted innovations in the recycling processes through Life Cycle Analysis.

Projects must align with the missions, policies, and priorities in the area of battery recycling in both India and the EU. In India, alignment with relevant regulatory and strategic frameworks is expected, such as the Battery Waste Management Rules (2022) and the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage. EU projects should build upon the activities of past and ongoing recycling-related projects under the BATT4EU partnership and the implementation of the Battery Passport. Projects should also comply with the Batteries Regulation (Regulation 2023/1542, particularly sections on recycling efficiency) and the Safe and Sustainable by Design guidelines.

The exploitation of results, including Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), should be addressed in the proposal.

Joint work should leverage the Indian and European experience in battery recycling. Aligned projects should have the same start date, duration, and targets, and must demonstrate how coordination will bring added scientific value. Project implementation should reflect genuine EU-Indian cooperation through coordinated research activities in a jointly developed research plan. Independent, non-aligned projects will be considered ineligible. Proposals must include detailed explanations of tasks and effort for the coordinated proposal and cross-references to the other part of the proposal.

The coordinated call aims to exploit synergies between India and Europe in terms of scientific expertise and resources in topics related to battery recycling by implementing coordinated projects. Potential areas for collaboration include:

Demonstration of more flexible and adaptable recycling processes capable of treating mixed battery chemistries.

Innovative and digitalized waste collection systems.

Advanced sorting systems.

Active monitoring systems for high level of safety.

Safe, fast, and cost-efficient discharging/deactivation (gen4 included).

Prediction for second-life use of batteries, diagnostics including State of Health.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Government of India, has made funding available for the coordinated projects on the Indian side. A balanced effort and matched budget between Europe and India are expected.

This Destination contributes to the Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations of ‘Green transition’, ‘Digital transition’, and ‘A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe’. It aims to facilitate a clean and sustainable transition of the energy and transport sectors towards climate neutrality through cross-cutting solutions.

The main impacts to be generated by topics under this Destination are:

Increased competitiveness and strategic autonomy of a complete EU value chain while maximizing sustainability.

Reducing dependency on raw materials and upscaling processing capacity, also for recycled materials.

Creating an integrated European battery sector for next-generation batteries, from design to manufacturing and all the way to end of life, reducing environmental impact.

Improving energy storage technologies to enhance the resilience of the EU’s energy system, facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources.

Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.

General conditions for admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation, award, and legal and financial setup are described in the relevant annexes of the Horizon Europe Work Programme and the Online Manual.

Specific conditions include the requirement for a work package dedicated to coordinated activities with the linked project awarded by the Ministry of Heavy Industry of the Government of India (MHI). Participation of legal entities established in India is only possible as associated partners.

The granting authority may object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years after the end of the action.

Grants awarded under this topic will be linked to the coordinated project funded by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Government of India.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, along with standard application and evaluation forms, a HE Programme Guide, and Model Grant Agreements (MGA).

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidance documents related to legal entity validation, financial capacity assessment, and grant management.

The total budget for HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D2-04 is 9,400,000 EUR, with an indicative number of 1 grant to be awarded.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

The submission system is planned to open on May 5, 2026.

This funding opportunity is designed to foster collaboration between European and Indian entities to advance battery recycling technologies, focusing on building a pilot recycling line in India and developing innovative solutions for logistics, sorting, and safe discharging of end-of-life batteries. The goal is to enhance the sustainability, safety, and affordability of battery recycling processes while promoting a circular economy and reducing reliance on raw materials. The project requires a coordinated approach with a linked project funded by the Indian Ministry of Heavy Industries, ensuring a balanced effort and budget between the European and Indian partners. The initiative aligns with broader EU strategies for green and digital transitions, contributing to climate neutrality and the competitiveness of the European battery sector.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe calls and the focus on research and innovation actions, eligible applicants could include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other legal entities capable of conducting research and innovation activities in the field of battery recycling. Given the emphasis on building a pilot line and demonstrating technologies, participation from industry and technology providers is also highly probable.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. Both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA) are mentioned, indicating different funding schemes depending on the project's focus (research-oriented vs. innovation-oriented).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The text explicitly states that "Projects are expected to build a jointly operated recycling pilot line," and "Joint work should benefit from the Indian and European experience in battery recycling." Furthermore, "To ensure a project implementation that reflects a genuine EU-Indian cooperation, aligned projects should involve properly coordinated research activities between EU and India in the jointly developed research plan of the two coordinated projects." This strongly suggests a consortium approach is necessary, involving both EU and Indian entities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes both the EU and India. The call is specifically designed as a coordinated topic with India, and projects are expected to build a pilot line on Indian soil. While EU entities are the primary beneficiaries of the Horizon Europe funding, Indian entities participate as associated partners and through coordinated funding from the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Government of India. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate.

Target Sector: The program targets the battery recycling sector, with a specific focus on lithium-ion batteries. It also encompasses related areas such as:
* Green and Clean Energy Technology
* Circular Economy
* Waste Management
* Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage
* Logistics and Supply Chain
* Digitalization (in waste collection systems)

Mentioned Countries:
* India
* China (mentioned as ineligible)
* European Union (EU) member states

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is at the demonstration and validation stage. The call emphasizes building a jointly operated recycling pilot line on Indian soil, demonstrating innovative recycling processes, and assessing the environmental impact through Life Cycle Analysis. This suggests that the projects should be beyond the initial research phase and ready for practical implementation and testing.

Funding Amount: The funding range varies depending on the specific topic within the call. Based on the "Budget overview," the indicative contributions and number of grants are as follows:
* HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D2-01 (HORIZON-RIA): EUR 28,300,000 (around EUR 7,100,000 per grant, 4 grants)
* HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D2-04 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 9,400,000 (around EUR 9,400,000 per grant, 1 grant)
* HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D3-03 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 93,000,000 (around EUR 93,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
* HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-01 (HORIZON-RIA): EUR 15,750,000 (around EUR 5,250,000 per grant, 3 grants)
* HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-02 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 28,000,000 (around EUR 7,000,000 per grant, 4 grants)
* HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-03 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 15,750,000 (around EUR 5,250,000 per grant, 3 grants)
* HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-04 (HORIZON-RIA): EUR 15,000,000 (around EUR 5,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
* HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-08 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 18,000,000 (around EUR 9,000,000 per grant, 2 grants)

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support their research and innovation activities.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates can be estimated based on the "Budget overview" section, which provides the "Indicative number of grants" for each topic. For example, if a topic has a budget of EUR 15,000,000 and aims to fund 3 projects, the success rate will depend on the number of proposals received. Without knowing the number of applications, it is not possible to determine the success rate.

Co-funding Requirement: A balanced effort and matched budget between Europe and India regarding the two coordinated calls are expected. This suggests that while direct co-funding from the EU applicants might not be explicitly required, the overall project should demonstrate a balanced financial commitment between the European and Indian partners, with the Indian side being funded by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Government of India.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, under the BATTERIES and ENERGY program, focuses on fostering EU-India cooperation in battery recycling. It aims to improve the sustainability, safety, and affordability of innovative recycling processes for lithium-ion batteries. Projects are expected to build a jointly operated recycling pilot line on Indian soil, demonstrate advanced technologies for logistics, sorting, and discharging of end-of-life batteries, and assess the environmental impact through Life Cycle Analysis. The call requires a consortium approach, involving both EU and Indian entities, with coordinated research activities and a balanced budget. Funding is provided through HORIZON Action Grants, with varying amounts depending on the specific topic, and the application process involves a single-stage submission. The initiative seeks to strengthen the EU-India Strategic Partnership and contribute to a clean and sustainable transition of the energy and transport sectors. Legal entities from China are not eligible to participate.