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Managed by Aalto University, the Finland-based circular ecosystem of battery metals consortium (BATCircle in short) aims at improving the manufacturing processes of mining industry, metals industry and battery chemicals, and to increase the recycling of lithium-ion batteries. Its goal is to strengthen the cooperation between companies and research organizations in Finland. The original BATCircle project ran between 2019 and 2021, while the follow-up project (called as BATCircle2.0) was launched in 1.5.2021 and will run for three years.
Battery material samples in small bottles organized in a row

BATCircle2.0 - Joint industry-academia project

  • 6 research organizations
    • 4 universities
    • 2 research centers
  • 15 companies
    • 7 large companies
    • 8 small and medium-sized enterprises
  • 19 M€ total budget
    • three years

The BATCircle2.0 ecosystem consists of key Finnish research and industrial actors involved in the battery metals sector. The ecosystem comprises four universities (Aalto University, University of Oulu, University of Eastern Finland, LUT University), two research centres (GTK, VTT), seven large and eight small or medium size companies (see full list of project members below) with a total budget of 19 M€. The BATCircle2.0 ecosystem has been formed under Business Finland's “Batteries from Finland” programme. The cooperation effort is expected to lead to the formation of a domestic battery metals ecosystem that follows the principles of circular economy.

The cover of electrical brochure. Photo: JS/Suomi

BATCircle brochure available - check and explore

Visit our brochure online to find out more about BATCircle. This brochure provides a wide range of information about Finnish battery ecosystem, BATCircle consortiums and their research as well as European collaboration.

BATCircle brochure available - check and explore

Key topics

Publications
Battery metal and material samples on glass dishes organized in a circle

Project members and roles

The open research in BATCircle2.0 is conducted by the academic partners, while confidential research is conducted in company-specific R&I projects. The key objectives of the BATCircle2.0 project are finding ways of adding value to the battery metals sector as well as strengthening the collaboration between companies and research organizations. This will be achieved by more efficient screening and utilization of the domestic mineral resources, enhancement of the metal refining processes, more efficient recycling of battery metals, improved co-operation between the companies and research organizations as well as through the identification of new business opportunities between partners.

BATCircle2.0 also has an Advisory board, which is an extended network of national and international stakeholders interested in the ecosystem activities. The Advisory board members are annually invited to open seminars and receive news from the ecosystem and other activities ongoing in Finland.

Members of BATCircle2.0 are tightly involved in EU level decision-making and other activities at different levels. For example Aalto University is heading the Working group 2 of ETIP Batteries Europe, “Raw materials and recycling”. Company members Fortum, Keliber and Terrafame have participated in an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI). Additionally, Aalto University, GTK, VTT, University of Oulu, Finnish Minerals Group, Fortum and Metso Outotec are represented in the Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA).

BATCircle2.0 only consortium logo 12/2/2024
BATCircle2.0 updated logo, 12/2/2024
Close-up of battery waste
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