At the end of November 2025, the RELiEF project co‑organised the Annual Materials for Batteries Cluster Hub Workshop as part of Raw Materials Week 2025 in Brussels. The event brought together more than 120 experts, both onsite and online, highlighting the increasing need for coordinated efforts across the entire battery lifecycle — from raw material extraction to end‑of‑life recycling.
Organised in collaboration with EU‑funded projects RESPECT, FREE4LIB, and LITHOS, the workshop served as a key platform to present the latest scientific advancements in sustainable mining, advanced materials processing, and innovative battery‑recycling technologies. These discussions demonstrated Europe’s growing research strengths in closing material loops and improving the sustainability of emerging battery technologies.
Accelerating Collaboration for a Sustainable Battery Value Chain
Speakers from research institutions, industry, and policy emphasised the critical importance of strengthening European collaboration to ensure sustainable and competitive access to critical raw materials. They stressed that innovation alone is not enough — regulatory alignment and long‑term cooperation are essential for supporting industrial uptake of new technologies.
A key takeaway from the workshop was the shared ambition of moving toward a circular battery ecosystem, where raw materials are recovered, reused, and reintegrated into new battery production. Participants underscored that EU‑funded projects must extend their impact beyond their formal timelines by building durable research networks, industry partnerships, and policy interfaces.
Toward a More Resilient European Battery Sector
The workshop reaffirmed the need for cross‑sector cooperation to turn research breakthroughs into industrial practice—helping Europe strengthen its resilience across the battery value chain and reduce dependencies on non‑EU raw materials. Through its contributions, RELiEF continues to play a key role in shaping the scientific and policy discussions needed to redefine the battery lifecycle for a sustainable, circular future.
