Improvement of Adaptability, Flexibility and Efficiency of Existing Recycling Processes (BATT4EU Partnership)
Horizon Europe · Grant topic
Summary
A Polish company can use this call for R&D.
Funds companies and researchers improving existing battery recycling technologies to process mixed chemistries and production scrap more efficiently.
- Who can apply
- Companies can lead: SME, large company, startup, research org, university.
- Amount
- €9.4M per projectTotal budget €18,800,000
- Deadline
- 31 Mar 2027 02:00 CESTin 158 days
- Status
- Forthcomingopens 3 Dec 2026
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source.
Description
Expected Outcome:
Proposals are expected to contribute to all following points:
• Improving cost and recovery efficiency of existing scaled recycling technologies
• Demonstrated technological solutions capable of efficiently recycling diverse feedstocks, including production scrap, and mixed lithium-ion battery chemistries
• Improved European competitiveness by reducing EU dependence on imported raw materials through improved recycling processes
• Demonstrable compliance with the targets and requirements set by the EU Batteries Regulation, including recycling efficiency and material recovery rates.
Scope:
Proposals under this topic are expected to 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[1] (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)[2] 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[3] (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.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.
[1] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/key-enabling-technologies/chemicals-and-advanced-materials_en
[2] https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/laboratories-z/battery-energy-storage-testing_en
[3] JRC NCP | Horizon Europe NCP Portal
Who can apply, in detail
- Applicant types
- SME, Large company, Startup, Research org, University
- Purpose
- Research and innovation
- R&D relevance
- 3 of 3
- Poland eligible
- Yes
- Country limit
- —
- Region
- Any
- Consortium
- Required
- Readiness level (TRL)
- —
- Topics
- Battery recycling
- Mixed battery chemistries
- Production scrap recovery
- Critical material recovery
- Recycling process efficiency
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source. 23 Oct 2026
Conditions
Typed facts extracted from the source documents by Scindu's grant-data review. Each value keeps its own conditions. Unknown means unstated, not zero or unlimited.
- Applicant restriction
- An entity established in an otherwise eligible country is ineligible to participate if it is directly or indirectly controlled by China or by a legal entity established in China.
Applies to both applicants and other action participants as the topic states “not eligible to participate”; does not resolve how any individual control case is assessed.
- Consortium required
- Yes
At least three mutually independent legal entities in different countries: at least one in an EU Member State and two others in different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Affiliates do not count toward the minimum.
- Other condition
- Innovation Action (IA).
- Other condition
- Where required, proposals should include robust and digitalised sorting and other advanced pre-treatment technologies.
- Other condition
- When satellite-based Earth observation, positioning/navigation or timing data/services are used, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS; other sources may additionally be used.
- Other condition
- The applicable Horizon Europe MGA describes the action grant as budget-based mixed actual cost: based on actual costs incurred, while allowing other funding forms such as unit costs/contributions, flat-rate costs/contributions, lump sums or financing not linked to costs. The topic-specific legal/financial section directs applicants to General Annex G; it does not name a separate grant form in the reviewed topic provisions.
The final grant agreement and approved Annex 2 specify the applicable budget categories and funding forms. Do not treat the estimate as a salary entitlement or assume every category is reimbursed only as an actual cost.
- Other condition
- The table expects around 2 projects to be funded under this topic. This is an indicative planning count, not a consortium-size rule or guaranteed award number.
Scope: expected funded projects, not beneficiaries, consortium members or awards guaranteed.
- Other condition
- Proposals could consider JRC involvement for added value on battery circularity and sustainability; JRC will ensure other applicants receive the same information about its possible contribution.
- Other condition
- JRC participation may be as a zero-funded beneficiary or associated partner after selection; it does not participate in proposal preparation or submission.
- Other condition
- The granting authority may object to transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to four years after the action ends, under the specified Annex 5 provision.
- Other condition
- The Commission’s Safe and Sustainable by Design initiative should be considered as a reference for project proposals.
- Other condition
- The expected outcomes include improved cost and recovery efficiency of scaled recycling technologies; efficient recycling of diverse feedstocks including production scrap and mixed lithium-ion chemistries; reduced EU dependence on imported raw materials; and demonstrable compliance with EU Batteries Regulation recycling-efficiency and material-recovery requirements.
- Other condition
- Proposals are expected to address innovation improving adaptability, flexibility and operational efficiency of existing battery recycling processes.
- Other condition
- One of the three expected scope points is development and demonstration of recycling technologies handling variable-composition feedstocks, potentially in one batch.
- Other condition
- A required scope point is optimization of hydrometallurgical and/or pyrometallurgical processing for enhanced critical-metal recovery, aiming at EU Batteries Regulation recovery-efficiency requirements.
- Other condition
- A required scope point is detailed TEA and comprehensive LCA demonstrating improved energy efficiency, CO2/ecological footprint and economic viability.
- Other condition
- If the expected exploitation involves developing, creating, manufacturing or marketing a product or process, or creating/providing a service, the exploitation and dissemination plan must include an exploitation strategy. The plans are expected to include preliminary scalability, commercialisation and deployment plans, and possible funding sources (particularly the Innovation Fund).
- Other condition
- Projects are expected to report results to Batt4EU to support monitoring partnership KPIs.
- Other condition
- Projects are expected to improve mixed input-stream processing, particularly production scrap and varied lithium-ion chemistries, and demonstrate black-mass processing that recovers high-purity battery-grade materials suitable for reintroduction into the European battery-manufacturing value chain.
- Technology readiness level at end, maximum
- 7 TRL
Upper endpoint of the expected end-of-project TRL 6–7 range; not a hard ceiling on project ambition.
- Technology readiness level at end, minimum
- 6 TRL
Lower endpoint of the expected end-of-project TRL 6–7 range; activities may start at any TRL. This is an expected range, not a separately stated mandatory floor.
Amounts and costs
- Indicative budget
- €18,800,000
Topic budget as stated in the portal's budget table. Lump-sum and per-project limits are in the call conditions.
- Eligible cost
- Direct-contract natural persons and paid third-party secondments may qualify when assigned to the action, working under employee-like conditions, results belong to the beneficiary unless agreed otherwise, and cost corresponds to actual cost without significant difference from comparable employees. No call-specific position or salary is stated.
- Eligible cost
- Employee personnel costs are eligible only for beneficiary personnel assigned to the action, employed under contract or equivalent appointing act, and meeting general eligibility conditions. Under the standard actual-cost method the rate is calculated from actual personnel costs and declared action days; the MGA specifies 215 days in the annual-rate formula and requires declared days to be identifiable and verifiable. No topic-specific job, salary amount, headcount or wage entitlement is stated.
- Eligible cost
- Under the MGA default equipment option, action-used equipment/infrastructure/assets are declared as depreciation based on actual incurred cost and the beneficiary’s accounting practices; only the share corresponding to actual use during the action is eligible. Renting/leasing has its separate MGA condition. The topic pages do not set a special full-purchase-cost option.
- Eligible cost
- For the actual-cost components of the mixed grant, costs must be incurred by the beneficiary during the action period, declared in an eligible budget category, connected to and necessary for the action, identifiable and verifiable in the accounts, compliant with national tax/labour/social-security law, and reasonable, justified and consistent with sound financial management.
- Eligible cost
- Indirect costs use the General MGA flat rate of 25% of eligible direct costs, excluding volunteer costs, subcontracting, financial support to third parties and any exempt specific categories. This is an indirect-cost calculation rule, not 25% additional direct-cost funding or a call allocation.
- Eligible cost
- Action purchases must meet general eligibility rules and usual purchasing practices ensuring best value for money (or lowest price where appropriate) and no conflict of interest. Travel, accommodation and subsistence use actual costs under usual travel practices; other goods, works and services are based on actual costs. Contracting authorities/entities must also follow applicable procurement law.
- Eligible cost
- Unpaid SME owners and natural-person beneficiaries may declare personnel only under the Annex 2a unit-cost method and general eligibility rules; no topic-specific wage or hiring entitlement is stated.
- Eligible cost
- Action subcontracting is eligible on actual-cost basis when it meets general eligibility rules and is awarded under the beneficiary’s usual purchasing practices ensuring best value for money (or lowest price where appropriate) and no conflict of interest. Any applicable limits are determined by the signed grant and action conditions; no topic-specific subcontracting cap is stated in these pages.
- Funding intensity, maximum
- 70 percent of eligible costs
Maximum for for-profit entities under IA; non-profit legal entities may receive up to 100%, represented in a separate scoped fact.
- Funding intensity, maximum
- 100 percent of eligible costs
Only for eligible non-profit legal entities under the Innovation Action; the general maximum for other entities is 70%. Final rate fixed in grant agreement.
- Expected contribution per project
- €9,400,000
Commission estimate of EU contribution per project; different requested amounts are not precluded. Indicative, not a floor, cap or guarantee.
- Topic allocation
- €18,800,000
Indicative topic allocation, distinct from per-project estimated EU contribution and individual grant amount.
Personnel and services
MGA cost category, not a call-promised hire.
Other role · Staff cost the grant can fund
MGA personnel-category route only; assigned to the action, employee-like work conditions, beneficiary ownership of results unless otherwise agreed, actual incurred cost rate not significantly different from comparable employees.
MGA cost category, not an advertised role.
Other role · Staff cost the grant can fund
Personnel cost category only. Must be assigned to the action and meet MGA Article 6; no hire, headcount or salary entitlement is implied.
Conditional cost category, not an advertised role.
Other role · Staff cost the grant can fund
Conditional personnel cost category using the specified unit-cost method and general eligibility rules; no topic-specific wage or role entitlement.
Source documents
Call facts
- Opens
- 3 Dec 2026
- Deadline model
- Single-stage
- Programme
- Horizon Europe · 2021 - 2027
- Call
- HORIZON-CL5-2027-02 · BATTERIES and ENERGY
- Types of action
- HORIZON Innovation Actions
- Source
- ec.europa.eu
- Checked
- 24 Oct 2026
- Portal updated
- 7 Oct 2026
- Review status
- Partial review
- Reviewed
- 23 Oct 2026
This is a summary of the source page, not the official text. Eligibility, conditions and the submission system are at the source.