New Delhi: India and the European Union on Wednesday launched a €15.2 million (approximately Rs 169 crore) joint initiative to strengthen recycling of electric vehicle batteries, marking a significant escalation of bilateral cooperation on green technologies and critical raw material security.

The third coordinated call for proposals, announced under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Working Group-2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies, will remain open until 15 September.

The EU's contribution will be channelled through its Horizon Europe programme, while the Indian component will be funded by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

The initiative seeks to develop advanced recycling technologies for critical minerals including lithium, graphite and cobalt, with focus areas spanning high recovery rates, mixed chemistry handling, logistics and inclusion, and safety and second-life applications.

It will also fund the establishment of a joint India-EU pilot line in India to enable real-world validation and industrial deployment, drawing together researchers, industry players and startups.

Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, described the launch as a pivotal moment in the India-EU strategic partnership, noting that a robust domestic recycling ecosystem had become essential to resource security as the country's EV market expands rapidly.