The Government of India and the European Union have opened a major joint funding opportunity for organisations working on electric vehicle battery recycling.

The initiative, titled India-EU Cooperation on Recycling of EV Batteries, is being implemented under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies. The official call reference is HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D2-04.

The call is designed to move battery recycling technologies beyond laboratory research and towards industrial use. It will support a joint India-EU project focused on developing and demonstrating advanced recycling technologies, establishing an industrial-scale pilot facility in India, improving collection and handling of end-of-life batteries, and recovering valuable materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite.

The total funding package is approximately €15.2 million, made up of €9.4 million from Horizon Europe and up to ₹65 crore from the Government of India. Only one flagship project is expected to be funded under the coordinated call.

The proposal deadline is 15 September 2026. The European consortium must submit through the Horizon Europe Funding & Tenders Portal by 17:00 CET, while the Indian coordinator must submit the required Indian application to the Government of India by 23:00 IST.

What Is the India-EU Trade and Technology Council?

The India-EU Trade and Technology Council is a high-level platform through which India and the European Union cooperate on trade, technology and strategic issues.

The TTC was established in 2022 and provides a framework for cooperation in areas where both sides have major economic, technological and strategic interests.

The battery recycling initiative falls under Working Group 2, which focuses on green and clean energy technologies. Battery recycling has been identified as an important area because both India and Europe want stronger domestic access to critical materials and more sustainable battery supply chains.

The partnership is therefore about much more than simply recycling old batteries.

It is about building a circular battery industry in which materials that have already entered the economy can be recovered and used again rather than being lost through disposal or exported as waste.

This is particularly important for materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese. These materials are essential to many battery technologies, but their supply chains can be vulnerable to price fluctuations, geopolitical risks and dependence on imports.

Recycling creates another source of these materials.

In simple terms, an old battery can become a source of new battery materials.

Why EV Battery Recycling Matters

The rapid growth of electric mobility is creating a new challenge.

Electric vehicles reduce dependence on petrol and diesel, but their batteries eventually reach the end of their useful life. Those batteries contain valuable materials, but they can also create environmental and safety risks if they are poorly handled.

India's Ministry of Heavy Industries estimates that the country's EV battery recycling market was worth approximately ₹1,380 crore to ₹3,510 crore in 2024–25 and could grow to approximately ₹4,14,000 crore by 2035. NITI Aayog has also estimated around 128 GWh of recyclable battery capacity by 2030, driven largely by electric vehicles and public transport.

This creates a very large future market for companies capable of collecting, testing, dismantling, processing and recycling used batteries.

The environmental case is also significant.

According to the Indian guidelines, recycling at the projected scale could reduce carbon emissions associated with battery production by as much as 90%.

The challenge is that battery recycling is not simply a matter of breaking batteries apart.

Modern EV batteries can contain different chemistries and designs. They can also retain electrical energy even after they are removed from vehicles. Damaged batteries can present fire and safety risks.

A successful recycling system therefore needs to address the entire chain:

collection → transportation → safe discharge → sorting → dismantling → processing → material recovery → purification → reuse in manufacturing.

The India-EU call is aimed at improving this entire system.

What the 2026 Call Is Funding

The call is an Innovation Action, meaning that it is aimed at technologies that are moving towards real-world deployment rather than basic laboratory research.

The project should reach Technology Readiness Level 7–8 by completion. The Indian guidelines describe Innovation Actions as activities involving prototyping, testing, demonstration, piloting and large-scale validation.

The central requirement is particularly important:

The project must establish a jointly operated industrial-scale battery recycling pilot line on Indian soil.

The facility must demonstrate recycling processes that improve on current technology in areas such as efficiency, environmental performance, cost and ability to handle different battery types.

This means applicants should not approach the opportunity as though it were a conventional academic research grant.

The proposal needs to show a credible route from technology development to industrial operation.

1. Industrial-Scale Battery Recycling Pilot

The project must establish a pilot recycling facility in India.

The facility is expected to demonstrate advanced recycling processes for lithium-ion batteries and must be capable of processing black mass, including material from mixed battery chemistries.

Lithium must be recovered as an end product with a purity suitable for use in Cathode Active Material (CAM).

The project should also address recovery of:

• Lithium
• Nickel
• Cobalt
• Manganese
• Graphite
• Silicon where relevant

The pilot should be designed around real industrial requirements rather than laboratory-scale experiments.

2. Recycling Mixed Battery Chemistries

One of the important technical challenges in EV battery recycling is the variety of battery chemistries entering the market.

A recycling process designed for one chemistry may not work equally well with another.

The call therefore encourages technologies capable of handling mixed chemistries and future battery types.

Potential areas include:

• Flexible recycling processes
• Advanced sorting
• Chemistry identification
• Automated dismantling
• Material separation
• Improved recovery rates
• Recycling of emerging battery chemistries

The Indian guidelines specifically mention technologies for next-generation batteries, including sodium-ion and silicon-based chemistries.

3. Recovery of Critical Materials

Material recovery is at the heart of the programme.

The goal is not merely to dispose of old batteries safely.

The project should recover materials at sufficient quality for productive reuse.

This includes lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite.

This is important because battery recycling can function as a form of secondary raw-material supply.

Instead of depending entirely on newly mined materials, manufacturers can recover materials from batteries that have already been used.

This is the idea behind the "virtual mine" concept highlighted by India's Ministry of Heavy Industries: materials already present in batteries can effectively become a secondary resource when they are recovered and returned to the production cycle.

4. Digital Battery Collection Systems

Recycling begins long before a battery reaches the recycling plant.

A major part of the call therefore concerns the collection and logistics of end-of-life batteries.

Applicants can develop digital systems that improve:

• Battery tracking
• Collection-point management
• Battery identification
• Transport planning
• Safety monitoring
• Storage management
• Traceability
• Data sharing
• Collection efficiency

The call specifically mentions innovative and digitalised waste collection systems designed to improve the quantity, quality and safety of stored end-of-life batteries.

This creates opportunities for technology companies, software developers and logistics companies, not only chemical or battery recycling firms.

For example, a consortium could develop a digital platform that records where batteries enter the recycling chain, tracks their chemistry and condition, monitors storage risks and provides data to recyclers.

5. Safe Battery Discharging and Deactivation

An EV battery can still contain significant electrical energy even when it is no longer being used in a vehicle.

Damaged batteries can be particularly difficult to handle.

The call therefore encourages technologies that allow batteries to be discharged or deactivated safely, quickly and economically at scale.

This includes damaged batteries and battery scrap.

The programme also wants solutions that can remain useful as new battery chemistries enter the market.

6. Advanced Sorting

Before recycling, batteries and battery materials need to be identified and sorted.

Better sorting can improve the quality and efficiency of downstream processing.

The coordinated research areas identified by the Government of India include advanced sorting systems and active monitoring systems for improved safety.

Technologies involving sensors, automation, robotics, imaging, data analysis and industrial control systems could therefore have a role where they form part of a credible battery-recycling solution.

7. Second-Life Battery Assessment

Not every battery removed from an EV necessarily needs immediate recycling.

Some batteries may still have enough useful capacity for another application.

The call therefore identifies prediction for second-life use and battery diagnostics, including State of Health, as potential areas for collaboration.

A strong system could determine whether a battery should:

1. Remain in vehicle service;
2. Be refurbished;
3. Be used in a second-life application; or
4. Be sent directly to recycling.

This can help maximise the useful life of battery materials and reduce unnecessary processing.

Environmental Assessment Is Required

The project is also expected to assess the environmental impact of the technologies being demonstrated.

The guidelines specifically call for Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).

This matters because recycling itself consumes energy, water, chemicals and other resources.

A recycling technology should therefore not simply recover materials. It should demonstrate that the overall environmental performance is favourable.

Applicants should be prepared to measure issues such as:

• Energy consumption
• Greenhouse-gas emissions
• Material recovery
• Waste generation
• Water use
• Chemical use
• Pollution
• Transport impacts
• Overall environmental footprint

The purpose is to demonstrate that the proposed process offers a genuine improvement over existing approaches.

The Pilot Plant Must Be in India

One of the strongest requirements of the programme is the location of the pilot facility.

The pilot plant must be established on Indian soil.

The Indian and European partners are expected to jointly design, build and operate it.

The guidelines make clear that the project cannot simply consist of two unrelated projects running in parallel. The Indian and European work must form part of an integrated programme.

The land for the pilot facility must be provided by the Indian consortium members.

Importantly, the cost of acquiring or providing the land is not eligible for Government of India funding.

Commercialisation Is a Major Requirement

This is one of the most important aspects applicants should understand.

The programme is not designed to produce a pilot plant that closes once the grant ends.

The pilot facility must be capable of commercially viable operation for at least two years after commissioning/project completion, and the proposal must contain a clear plan for continuing the operation.

Applicants therefore need to think about what happens after the funding period.

A strong proposal should explain:

• Who will operate the facility?
• Where will batteries come from?
• Who will purchase recovered materials?
• What will the operating costs be?
• What are the expected revenues?
• Who are the potential off-takers?
• How will the facility remain financially sustainable?
• How will the technology be scaled?
• How will recovered materials enter battery manufacturing?

The guidelines specifically require applicants to address operational continuity, off-take arrangements and financial sustainability after the grant.

Who Can Apply?

This is a consortium-based opportunity.

Indian organisations must form a consortium, and the Indian side must contain at least three independent legal entities.

Eligible Indian organisations can include:

• Academic institutions
• Universities
• Scientific institutions
• Research and development centres
• Companies
• Autonomous bodies

Each organisation must be legally established in India and must demonstrate the technical expertise and infrastructure required for its role.

Requirements for Indian Companies

Companies have additional requirements.

A participating company must:

• Be incorporated in India under the Companies Act 1956 or Companies Act 2013;
• Have at least 51% ownership by Indian citizens;
• Have been operational for at least three financial years before the application deadline;
• Have a valid GST registration.

Participating companies must also provide audited annual accounts for the last three financial years.

Requirement for the Indian Coordinator

The Indian consortium must have a lead organisation known as the Indian Coordinator.

The coordinator must be an Indian company incorporated under the Companies Act.

There is also a financial requirement that makes this opportunity more suitable for established organisations than very early-stage startups.

The Indian Coordinator must have a net worth of at least ₹25 crore.

A certificate from the company's statutory auditor confirming the net worth is required.

This does not mean that smaller companies cannot participate.

A smaller company could potentially participate as another Indian consortium member if it meets the applicable requirements and brings a necessary capability to the project.

European Consortium Requirements

The European consortium must contain at least three legal entities from three different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

At least one Indian legal entity must also be included as an Associated Partner in the European proposal.

This structure is important.

An Indian organisation cannot simply prepare an Indian application independently and expect to receive the European funding.

The project must genuinely connect Indian and European organisations.

The consortium should therefore be built around complementary capabilities.

For example:

Indian industrial partner: pilot plant, local supply chain and commercial deployment.

Indian research institution: process development, testing and material analysis.

Indian technology company: digital collection, traceability or monitoring.

European recycling company: advanced recycling technology.

European research institution: materials science and process optimisation.

European technology provider: sorting, diagnostics or automation.

That type of structure makes the reason for international collaboration much easier to demonstrate.

How Much Funding Is Available?

The programme has two separate funding streams.

Government of India

The Government of India has allocated up to ₹65 crore for the Indian side of the project.

European Union

Horizon Europe has allocated €9.4 million for the European side.

Together, the announced funding package is approximately €15.2 million, or around ₹169 crore at the figure used in the official announcement.

The two funding streams are separate.

The Indian funding is for eligible Indian consortium members, while Horizon Europe funding supports the European side.

The Indian guidelines describe this as a "Joint Commitment, Independent Disbursement" model. The partners work on one scientific programme, but the two funding systems operate independently.

Important: The Indian Grant Covers Up to 80%

The Government of India can provide up to 80% of the approved Indian project cost, subject to the overall ₹65 crore ceiling.

The Indian consortium must therefore provide at least 20% of the approved project cost from its own resources.

For example, if the approved Indian project cost is ₹50 crore, the maximum GoI contribution at 80% would be ₹40 crore, while the Indian consortium would need to provide ₹10 crore.

If the project cost is ₹81.25 crore, 80% equals ₹65 crore, which reaches the Government's funding ceiling.

If the project costs more than ₹81.25 crore, the Government contribution remains capped at ₹65 crore, meaning the consortium must finance more than 20% of the total cost.

The 20% contribution must be genuine financial expenditure.

Existing employee salaries, existing facilities, existing equipment and similar in-kind contributions do not qualify as the required contribution.

What Costs Can Be Funded?

The Indian guidelines provide specific limits for eligible expenditure.

Plant, Machinery and Equipment

Up to 60% of project cost can be used for plant, machinery and equipment.

This can cover equipment required for engineering, research and development, manufacturing, assembly, testing, packaging and battery recycling operations.

Research and Development

R&D expenditure is capped at 15% of project cost.

This can include relevant R&D equipment, prototypes, design tools, software, technology, intellectual property, patents and related development expenses.

Civil Works

Civil works and buildings required for the pilot facility are limited to 10% of project cost.

Environmental utilities such as effluent treatment and environmental control systems can fall within this category.

Personnel

Personnel and manpower expenditure is limited to 10%.

Consumables

Consumables are limited to 2%.

Travel

Travel is limited to 1%.

Other Project Costs

Other eligible project-related costs are limited to 2%.

Land is not eligible.

How Funding Is Disbursed

Government of India funding is released to the Indian Coordinator, which then distributes funds to the other Indian consortium members where required.

The funding operates largely through reimbursement based on project progress.

Claims require supporting documentation, including expenditure records, audited accounts, milestone information and utilisation certificates.

There is also an initial advance mechanism.

The Government can release an initial advance of 10% of its contribution, subject to a maximum of ₹6 crore, after the Indian Coordinator provides an appropriate bank guarantee.

Applicants should therefore not assume that the full grant will arrive in one payment at the beginning of the project.

Strong financial management will be essential.

How Long Will the Project Last?

The project duration is 36 months.

The Indian and European projects must have synchronised start and end dates and must be built around the same scientific objectives and targets.

The current Indian guidelines indicate that evaluation is expected around October–December 2026, with results potentially announced around December 2026 or January 2027 and project commencement around June/July 2027, subject to confirmation.

How Proposals Will Be Evaluated

The proposal will be assessed against three major criteria:

1. Excellence

Reviewers will consider:

• Clarity of objectives
• Relevance of the research
• Ambition
• Improvement beyond existing technology
• Scientific methodology
• Interdisciplinary approach
• Open science practices

The minimum score is 3 out of 5.

2. Impact

Reviewers will consider:

• The credibility of the expected results
• Scale of the potential impact
• Involvement of end users
• Value of India-EU cooperation
• Dissemination
• Exploitation and commercialisation

Again, the minimum threshold is 3 out of 5.

3. Quality and Efficiency of Implementation

This covers:

• Work plan
• Project management
• Risks
• Resources
• Partner responsibilities
• Budget efficiency
• Capacity of consortium members

The threshold is also 3 out of 5.

The proposal needs a minimum overall score of 10 out of 15 to pass the threshold.

However, simply reaching 10/15 does not mean a project will be funded.

Only one project is expected to be funded, so competition will be significant.

How the Application Process Works

The application process has two connected tracks.

The Indian and European partners jointly prepare the scientific proposal.

The same Part B technical proposal must then be submitted to both funding systems.

European Submission

The European Coordinator submits the proposal through the Horizon Europe Funding & Tenders Portal.

The deadline is:

15 September 2026 at 17:00 CET.

Indian Submission

The Indian Coordinator submits the Indian application to the Government of India.

The Indian submission must include the same Part B used in the European application, along with the required Indian financial and administrative documents.

The Indian deadline is:

15 September 2026 at 23:00 IST.

The Indian Coordinator must obtain the Horizon Europe proposal code from the European Coordinator and use the same project title and acronym in the Indian submission.

The Indian submission is electronic. Hard-copy applications are not accepted.

Documents Indian Applicants Need

The Indian application requires substantial documentation.

The package includes:

• Joint scientific proposal;
• Consolidated Indian consortium budget;
• Detailed budgets for individual Indian members;
• Technical justifications;
• Statutory certificates;
• Undertakings;
• Authorisation documents;
• Indian Coordinator authorisation;
• Organisational information;
• Financial information;
• Project schedule;
• Technology readiness information.

The detailed project proposal must explain the roles of the consortium members, their work packages, the technology development plan, the 36-month pilot programme and the financial requirements.

This is not a short application form.

Applicants should begin consortium building, technical writing, budgeting and document collection well before the deadline.

Intellectual Property Rules

Intellectual property is another area that consortium members need to address carefully.

For technology developed using Government of India funding, the Indian guidelines provide for joint ownership between the Indian consortium members and the Government of India.

There is also a three-year lock-in period for IP generated by Indian members using GoI assistance. During that period, the technology cannot simply be transferred to an outside third party.

The Indian consortium is responsible for commercialising the technology, subject to the applicable IP arrangements.

IP generated by European partners is governed under Horizon Europe rules.

Jointly generated IP must be handled through the consortium agreement in a way that is consistent with both funding systems.

For this reason, consortium members should discuss IP ownership, licensing, commercialisation rights and data sharing before submitting the proposal.

The Importance of the Consortium Agreement

Before the project starts, the consortium must establish a formal agreement covering matters such as:

• Intellectual property;
• Data management;
• Decision-making;
• Financial arrangements;
• Governance;
• Dispute resolution.

The agreement should make it clear who owns what, who is responsible for each part of the project and how commercial benefits will be shared.

This is particularly important in an India-EU project involving several companies and research organisations.

What Makes a Strong Proposal?

The strongest applications are unlikely to be proposals that simply describe an interesting recycling technology.

The programme is looking for a complete solution that can move towards industrial deployment.

A strong proposal should answer five basic questions.

1. What problem are you solving?

For example:

Can mixed battery chemistries be recycled more efficiently?

Can lithium recovery be increased?

Can dangerous batteries be discharged more safely?

Can collection be automated?

Can recovered materials be returned directly to battery manufacturing?

2. Why is the technology better?

Applicants need evidence.

They should compare their proposed technology with existing approaches and provide measurable targets.

3. Why does the project need India and Europe?

This is particularly important.

The international partnership should add genuine value.

One partner might bring a recycling process while another brings industrial equipment, battery expertise, digital systems, testing facilities or market access.

4. Can the technology become commercially viable?

A pilot plant is not enough.

The proposal needs a credible route towards continued operation.

5. What happens after the project ends?

The proposal must explain how the technology and facility will continue operating after the grant.

Who Should Consider Applying?

This opportunity may be particularly relevant to:

• EV battery recycling companies;
• Battery manufacturers;
• Battery-material companies;
• Advanced materials companies;
• Chemical processing companies;
• EV manufacturers;
• Energy-storage companies;
• Industrial technology companies;
• Robotics companies;
• Battery diagnostics companies;
• Waste management companies;
• Logistics companies;
• Universities;
• Research institutes;
• Materials science laboratories;
• Environmental technology companies;
• Digital traceability companies;
• Industrial automation companies.

However, organisations should not join a consortium simply because the programme is large.

Every consortium member needs a clear role.

The official guidelines specifically state that additional partners should demonstrate their necessity, complementary skills and added value.

What Small Companies Should Know

The funding size may make this opportunity look like a programme designed only for large corporations.

That is not entirely correct.

Smaller companies can potentially participate as consortium members, provided they meet the relevant eligibility requirements.

The bigger challenge is finding the right consortium position.

A small technology company may not be able to serve as the Indian Coordinator because the coordinator must be an eligible Indian company with at least ₹25 crore net worth.

But a smaller company could potentially contribute a specific technology.

For example:

• Battery monitoring;
• Digital tracking;
• AI-assisted sorting;
• Safety sensors;
• Battery diagnostics;
• Recycling process control;
• Robotics;
• Data management;
• Material analysis.

The key is to offer something that the consortium genuinely needs.

Why This Opportunity Is Different

There have been earlier India-EU efforts to encourage collaboration in battery recycling.

In 2024, India and the EU launched an Expression of Interest aimed at startups working on EV battery recycling technologies. That initiative was designed to facilitate matchmaking between Indian and European startups and SMEs.

The 2026 call moves the relationship further.

Instead of focusing primarily on matchmaking, the new initiative is designed around a major coordinated research and demonstration project.

It is therefore a progression from:

finding partners → developing technologies → demonstrating technologies → industrial deployment.

That makes the 2026 programme particularly significant for companies and research institutions that are already beyond the earliest stages of technology development.

Key Dates

Activity	Date
Call opened	5 May 2026
European submission deadline	15 September 2026, 17:00 CET
Indian submission deadline	15 September 2026, 23:00 IST
Expected evaluation	October–December 2026
Expected results	December 2026/January 2027
Expected grant agreement period	January–April 2027
Expected project start	June/July 2027
Project duration	36 months

These dates are based primarily on the current Ministry of Heavy Industries guidelines.

Important Deadline Note

There is a discrepancy across some Indian government information portals.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries' current official guidelines and the Horizon Europe/EURAXESS information give 15 September 2026 as the deadline. CSIR also lists 15 September 2026.

One version of the India Science, Technology and Innovation portal currently displays 15 October 2026, but that conflicts with the specific call documents and the official Ministry of Heavy Industries guidelines.

Applicants should therefore treat 15 September 2026 as the operative deadline unless the Ministry of Heavy Industries or the Horizon Europe Funding & Tenders Portal officially announces a change.

Waiting until October based on the conflicting portal listing would be risky.

How to Prepare Before the Deadline

Organisations interested in this call should work through the following sequence.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Check the legal status, Indian incorporation, operating history, ownership, GST registration and financial requirements.

If you intend to coordinate the Indian consortium, confirm that the organisation meets the ₹25 crore net-worth requirement.

Step 2: Build the Consortium

Find Indian and European partners with complementary expertise.

Do not build the consortium around the number of organisations.

Build it around the technology and the industrial problem.

Step 3: Define the Recycling Technology

Clearly identify what will be demonstrated.

The proposal should have measurable technical objectives.

Step 4: Design the Pilot Plant

Determine:

• Location;
• Capacity;
• Equipment;
• Process flow;
• Feedstock;
• Battery chemistries;
• Recovery targets;
• Safety systems;
• Environmental controls;
• Staffing;
• Operating costs.

Step 5: Develop the Commercial Model

Identify potential sources of end-of-life batteries and potential buyers of recovered materials.

A pilot without feedstock or off-take arrangements will be difficult to defend.

Step 6: Prepare the Budget

Make sure the Indian budget complies with the funding limits.

Pay particular attention to the percentage limits for equipment, R&D, civil works, manpower and other costs.

Step 7: Address Environmental Performance

Prepare the Life Cycle Analysis methodology.

Show how the proposed technology improves environmental performance compared with existing approaches.

Step 8: Resolve IP Issues

Discuss ownership, licensing, commercialisation and data rights before submission.

Step 9: Prepare Both Applications Together

The Indian and European proposals need to tell the same scientific story.

The Part B document must be identical in both submissions.

Step 10: Submit Early

Do not wait until the final hours.

The programme has two submission tracks and both must be completed correctly.

Final Assessment

The India-EU TTC Call for Proposals on Recycling of EV Batteries is one of the more substantial international funding opportunities currently available in the battery recycling space.

Its importance comes from the combination of funding, industrial demonstration and international cooperation.

The programme is not simply asking applicants to invent a better way to recycle batteries.

It is asking India and Europe to work together to build a more complete battery circular economy.

The successful project will need to demonstrate advanced recycling technology, recover valuable materials, operate safely, address collection and logistics, measure environmental performance and show that the resulting pilot can continue as a commercial operation.

For Indian applicants, the opportunity is particularly significant because the Government of India can provide up to ₹65 crore, while European partners can access up to €9.4 million through Horizon Europe.

But the size of the funding also comes with serious requirements.

The Indian Coordinator needs a minimum ₹25 crore net worth. The consortium needs at least three Indian legal entities and three European legal entities from three different eligible countries. The project must be genuinely collaborative. The pilot must be located in India. The Indian consortium must provide its own financial contribution. And the technology needs to move towards industrial readiness rather than remain at the laboratory stage.

For organisations that already have credible battery recycling technology, industrial infrastructure, battery supply relationships, materials expertise or complementary digital and engineering capabilities, this is a strong opportunity to move from research to commercial demonstration.

The most important point for prospective applicants is simple:

This is a consortium and industrial deployment opportunity, not a conventional academic research grant.

Organisations that can demonstrate a clear technology advantage, strong India-EU collaboration, realistic economics, measurable environmental benefits and a credible route to commercial operation will be much better positioned than applicants presenting only an interesting research idea.

Official Application Resources

The Ministry of Heavy Industries provides the Indian applicant guidelines, call notice and related documents. Ministry of Heavy Industries – India-EU TTC Call

The European side is submitted through the Horizon Europe Funding & Tenders Portal under call HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D2-04. The European work programme confirms that the topic is an Innovation Action with a €9.4 million budget and one expected project.

The EURAXESS India page also provides information about the India-EU networking and matchmaking activities connected with the battery recycling call. EURAXESS – India-EU EV Battery Recycling Information and Networking Events

Bottom line

Call: India-EU Cooperation on Recycling of EV Batteries
Reference: HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D2-04
Funding: €9.4 million EU + up to ₹65 crore from India
Type: Innovation Action
Projects expected: 1 flagship project
Duration: 36 months
Technology target: TRL 7–8
Indian consortium: Minimum 3 legal entities
European consortium: Minimum 3 legal entities from 3 different EU Member States/Associated Countries
Pilot location: India
Indian Coordinator: Indian company with minimum ₹25 crore net worth
Indian contribution: Minimum 20% of approved Indian project cost
Official deadline: 15 September 2026
European deadline: 17:00 CET
Indian deadline: 23:00 IST
Main objective: Develop and demonstrate an industrial-scale, commercially viable and environmentally improved EV battery recycling system.

The official Ministry of Heavy Industries documents should be treated as the primary source when preparing the application, particularly because some secondary government listings currently show a conflicting October date.