The European Union (EU) and India today launched expressions of interest for start-ups working in Electric Vehicles (EVs) Battery Recycling to participate in a matchmaking event. This initiative takes place under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) announced by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and Ms Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Commission, at their meeting in New Delhi in April 2022. It aims to enhance the cooperation between European and Indian SMEs and start-ups in the clean and green technologies sector. The intended exchange of knowledge and expertise will be instrumental in advancing the circularity of rare materials and transitioning towards carbon-neutrality in both India and the EU.
Funded by the EU and supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, the proposed matchmaking initiative seeks to facilitate cooperation and partnerships between solution providers and adopters from both regions.
Open to start-up innovators from the European Union and from India, both calls for Expression of Interest close on 30 April.
Twelve startups from Europe and India (six each) will be selected and get a pitching opportunity during a joint EU-India matchmaking event in June 2024. The online event will take place in the presence of Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, and Mr. Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission. Six finalists (3 from the EU and 3 from India) out of the twelve shortlisted candidates will be selected following their pitching presentations in the matchmaking events. The six EU and Indian selected start-ups will be awarded with a visit to India and the EU respectively, to explore market opportunities with their counterparts.
This initiative is a direct outcome of the EU-India TTC, a collaboration platform to address key trade, trusted technology, and security challenges. Under the Green and clean energy technologies Working Group, recycling of batteries for e-vehicles and standards through pre-normative research is one of the key identified areas for enhanced cooperation.
Mr. Marc Lemaitre, emphasized the need for collaboration dedicated to the EV Battery Recycling industry:
“The matchmaking event is a step-ahead to unlock innovative possibilities leading to a green and circular economy. We encourage innovators from the EU to seize this opportunity and explore potential collaborations with their Indian counterparts.”
Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood said:
“The matchmaking event under India-EU TTC Working Group 2 offers Indian startups an exclusive platform to demonstrate their expertise in battery recycling technologies. It provides a chance for Indian innovators to establish strategic alliances with their counterparts in the EU, accelerating the development of advanced battery recycling techniques focused on waste minimization and resource sustainability. Our objective is to harmonize efforts with EU innovators to jointly develop battery recycling solutions that drive industry expansion. We are dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment where sustainability and innovation form the cornerstone of a flourishing circular economy.”
Mr. Hervé Delphin, Ambassador to the EU Delegation to India remarked:
“Cooperation on research and innovation is key to unlock new and sustainable technologies to the market. The development of recycling battery technologies for E-Vehicles presents opportunities to reduce CO2 emissions and supply chains dependencies. This initiative under the Trade and Technology Council will mobilise EU and India vibrant start-ups ecosystems to identify and design innovative solutions. This collaboration is a concrete example of what the TTC can deliver for the benefit of EU and India.”
Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Ambassador of India to Belgium, Ambassador to Luxembourg and the European Union said:
“This matchmaking event provides an outstanding platform to dynamic start-ups on both sides to forge strategic partnerships and explore investment avenues in EV Battery Recycling Technologies. It reflects the shared and deep commitment of India and the EU to a sustainable and greener future. The event is part of a broader effort to promote innovation and forge stronger economic relations under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council. It is my belief that this initiative will be a foundation stone for many more collaborations between India and the EU.”
This initiative underscores the broader commitment of the European Union to fostering global partnerships for a greener future.
Background
The TTC is a key forum to deepen the strategic partnership on trade and technology between the two partners. Geostrategic challenges have reinforced the EU and India’s common interest in ensuring security, prosperity and sustainable development based on shared values. It will help increase EU-India bilateral trade, which is at historical highs, with €120 billion worth of goods traded in 2022. In 2022, €17 billion of digital products and services were traded.
The TTC consists of three Working Groups:
- Working Group 1 on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance and Digital Connectivity
- Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies
- Working Group 3 on Trade, Investment and Resilient Value Chains
The first ministerial meeting of the TTC took place in Brussels on 16 May 2023, co-chaired by Executive Vice-Presidents Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovskis on the EU side, and on the Indian side by Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs; Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry; and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and Information Technology. They were joined by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, as well as Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton.
Working Groups are now jointly working to advance identified objectives and key actions. The matchmaking event launched today is one of the agreed short-term actions under Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies.
More information
Calls for expression of interest
International cooperation with India
Press contact:
EC Spokesperson for Research, Science and Innovation
