Improvement of Adaptability, Flexibility and Efficiency of Existing Recycling Processes (BATT4EU Partnership)

Overview

The Horizon Europe funding opportunity titled "Improvement of Adaptability, Flexibility and Efficiency of Existing Recycling Processes" under the BATT4EU Partnership is classified as HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D2-05. This initiative is set to open on December 3, 2026, with a deadline for proposals by March 31, 2027. The total budget for this call is €18.8 million, with the expectation of two grants each amounting to a maximum of €9.4 million.

Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, and industrial organizations involved in battery recycling technologies. Legal entities must demonstrate financial and operational capacity for the proposed activities. Participation is open to entities from EU member states as well as associated countries, with potential provisions for certain non-EU participants.

The funding provided comes through grants under the HORIZON Innovation Actions category, specifically focusing on the demonstration and validation of innovative technologies in real-world environments. A consortium of multiple applicants is required, bringing together diverse expertise from various sectors. The expected project stages range from validation and demonstration to commercialization, particularly aimed at improving existing recycling technologies, including hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes.

Projects should additionally focus on enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of processes, addressing the recovery of critical materials from lithium-ion batteries while ensuring compliance with EU Regulations regarding recycling efficiency. Proposals also need to plan for scalability and potential commercialization paths.

The application process involves a single-stage submission, with comprehensive evaluation by independent experts. While specific success rates for this call are not published, similar Horizon Europe calls generally exhibit success rates ranging from 10% to 39%. Co-funding is not explicitly required, but applicants are encouraged to seek additional funding sources to support project deployment.

This funding opportunity is crucial for advancing Europe's technological capabilities in battery recycling, aiming to reduce reliance on imported materials and promote a circular economy within the energy storage sector.

Detail

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically under the BATTERIES and ENERGY (HORIZON-CL5-2027-02) call, focusing on improving the adaptability, flexibility, and efficiency of existing battery recycling processes. It is a HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions, with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] Model Grant Agreement. The deadline model is single-stage. The planned opening date is 03 December 2026, and the deadline is 31 March 2027, 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcome of proposals should contribute to: Improving cost and recovery efficiency of existing scaled recycling technologies, demonstrating technological solutions capable of efficiently recycling diverse feedstocks, including production scrap, and mixed lithium-ion battery chemistries, improving European competitiveness by reducing EU dependence on imported raw materials through improved recycling processes, and demonstrating compliance with the targets and requirements set by the EU Batteries Regulation, including recycling efficiency and material recovery rates.

The scope of the proposals should specifically address innovation actions that enhance the adaptability, flexibility, and operational efficiency of existing battery recycling processes. Projects are expected to explicitly target improvements for processing mixed input streams, particularly production scrap and various lithium-ion battery chemistries. Proposals are expected to clearly demonstrate technical innovations in black mass processing, resulting in the efficient recovery of high-purity battery-grade materials suitable for reintroduction into the European battery manufacturing value chain.

Proposals are expected to address all of the following points: Development and demonstration of recycling technologies capable of handling variable composition feedstocks, potentially within the same batch. Optimization of hydrometallurgical and/or pyrometallurgical processes for enhanced recovery rates of critical raw metals, aiming to at least achieve recovery efficiencies requirements set by the EU Batteries Regulation. Detailed techno-economic assessments (TEA) and comprehensive life-cycle assessments (LCA), demonstrating significant improvements in energy efficiency, CO2 and ecological footprint reduction, and economic viability. Where required, proposals should include robust and digitalised sorting technologies and other advanced pre-treatment technologies. The Commission initiative for Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) sets a framework for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials which should be considered as a reference for project proposals. Whenever the expected exploitation of project results entails developing, creating, manufacturing and marketing a product or process, or in creating and providing a service, the plan for the exploitation and dissemination of results must include a strategy for such exploitation. The exploitation plans are expected to include preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment (feasibility study, business plan) indicating the possible funding sources to be potentially used (in particular the Innovation Fund). Proposals could consider the involvement of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) whose contribution could consist of providing added value regarding various aspects of battery circularity and sustainability. For further information on the JRC’s possible contribution to the projects, please, search for additional publicly available information on the JRC’s website (EU Science Hub) on the NCP portal, or request specific information from the JRC (JRC-NCP-Network@ec.europa.eu). JRC will assure that all the other applicants receive the same information on the JRC’s possible contribution to the project (e.g., via the topic-specific FAQs under the Funding and Tenders Portal). This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on Batteries (Batt4EU). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on the results to the European Partnership on Batteries (Batt4EU) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.

The general conditions include: Admissibility Conditions (proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form), Eligible Countries (described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide), Other Eligible Conditions (use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS for projects using satellite data, JRC participation as a consortium member or associated partner), Financial and operational capacity and exclusion (described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes), Evaluation and award (award criteria, scoring, and thresholds described in Annex D, submission and evaluation processes described in Annex F and the Online Manual, indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F), and Legal and financial set-up of the grants (granting authority's right to object to transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results up to 4 years after the action, described in Annex G).

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme. Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) details are provided, including the standard application form (HE RIA, IA) and evaluation form (HE RIA, IA). Guidance is available in the HE Programme Guide and HE MGA. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 (General Introduction, Climate, Energy and Mobility, General Annexes), HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview lists several HORIZON-CL5-2027-02 topics, their corresponding budget in EUR for the year 2027, the type of action (HORIZON-IA or HORIZON-COFUND or HORIZON-CSA), the stages (Single-stage), the opening date (2026-12-03), the deadline (2027-03-31), the contributions, and the indicative number of grants.

There is a partner search announcement section for finding collaborators. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header. There are no topic Q&As listed. General FAQ and support information are provided, including links to the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk, the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment, and Partner Search.

In summary, this Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to foster innovation in battery recycling technologies, focusing on improving the efficiency, adaptability, and sustainability of existing processes. It encourages projects that can handle diverse battery feedstocks, recover high-purity materials, and comply with EU regulations, ultimately contributing to a more circular and competitive European battery value chain. The call provides detailed guidelines on eligibility, proposal preparation, evaluation criteria, and available support resources.

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Breakdown

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of Horizon Europe Innovation Actions and Coordination and Support Actions, eligible applicants could include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant organizations involved in battery technology and recycling. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) can also participate as a member of a consortium.

Funding Type: The primary funding mechanism is grants, specifically HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND) under the Horizon Europe Programme. These are budget-based action grants.

Consortium Requirement: The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding as a beneficiary with zero funding, or as an associated partner. This suggests that a consortium is preferred, although single applicants might be possible depending on the specific call requirements.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. The text mentions that non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have specific provisions for funding. Therefore, the geographic eligibility includes EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some non-EU/non-associated countries as specified in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets the battery technology and energy sectors, specifically focusing on improving the adaptability, flexibility, and efficiency of existing battery recycling processes. It also touches on raw materials, circular economy, and sustainable design.

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to EU member states, non-EU countries, and associated countries, but does not explicitly list any specific countries. Therefore, the relevant regional options are EU and associated countries.

Project Stage: The projects are expected to be at the innovation action stage, requiring demonstration and validation of technologies in a relevant environment (TRL 5-7). The focus is on enhancing existing recycling processes and demonstrating technical innovations in black mass processing.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic. Based on the provided budget overview, the funding ranges are:
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D2-05: around €9,400,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D2-06: around €18,900,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-07: around €6,000,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-08: around €30,000,000 (1 grant)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-09: around €43,000,000 (1 grant)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-10: around €4,500,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-15: around €12,000,000 (3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-24: around €10,000,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-30: around €8,000,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-31: around €5,000,000 (1 grant)

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 grants to fund their innovation and coordination actions.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate, which would depend on the number of applications received.

Co-funding Requirement: For HORIZON-COFUND actions, co-funding is required. For other HORIZON-IA and HORIZON-CSA actions, the need for co-funding is not explicitly stated but may be implied through the evaluation criteria related to economic viability and sustainability.

Summary:
This Horizon Europe call, part of the BATTERIES and ENERGY program (HORIZON-CL5-2027-02), focuses on "Improvement of Adaptability, Flexibility and Efficiency of Existing Recycling Processes (BATT4EU Partnership)". It aims to fund projects that enhance battery recycling technologies, particularly for lithium-ion batteries, to improve the recovery of critical raw materials and reduce dependence on imports. The call includes various topics with different budget allocations, ranging from €5 million to €43 million, supporting Innovation Actions (IA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). Eligible applicants include entities from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some non-EU countries. Projects should focus on demonstrating technological solutions, optimizing recycling processes, and ensuring compliance with EU Batteries Regulation. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) can participate in projects to provide added value. The application process is a single-stage submission, and funding is provided in the form of grants. The call is designed to promote European competitiveness and sustainability in the battery recycling sector.

Short Summary

Impact
This funding aims to enhance the adaptability, flexibility, and efficiency of existing battery recycling processes, contributing to a more sustainable circular economy for batteries in Europe.
Applicant
Applicants should possess expertise in battery technology, materials science, chemical engineering, and industrial-scale demonstration capabilities.
Developments
The funding will support projects focused on improving battery recycling technologies, particularly for lithium-ion batteries, to enhance material recovery and reduce dependence on imported raw materials.
Applicant Type
This funding is designed for research institutions, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and industrial organizations involved in battery recycling and related technologies.
Consortium
A consortium of multiple applicants is required for this funding opportunity.
Funding Amount
The total funding available for this topic is €18.8 million, with a maximum contribution of €9.4 million per grant, expecting to fund 2 projects.
Countries
Eligible applicants must be from EU member states and associated countries, promoting broad geographical participation within Europe.
Industry
This funding targets the energy storage, battery technology, and circular economy sectors.

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