IIT Madras Partners With Bridge Green to Recover Minerals From Battery Waste

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has partnered with lithium-ion battery circularity firm Bridge Green Upcycle to develop next-generation technologies for recovering critical minerals from battery waste, aiming to reduce India's reliance on imports.

The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding during SustainX 2026, which is IIT Madras's flagship sustainability conference held in Chennai. The formal document was exchanged between IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti and Bridge Green Founder and Chairman Balki Iyer.

The collaboration builds upon an existing relationship between the premier educational institute and Bridge Green. By combining academic research with industrial expertise, the initiative focuses on advancing practical technologies dedicated to the circular economy and battery recycling.

According to the partners, the initiative comes amid rapidly surging demand for critical minerals, including lithium and various other battery materials. Enhancing domestic battery recycling and resource recovery is viewed as a strategic measure to strengthen national resource security across India.

Under the partnership, joint efforts will concentrate on creating advanced solutions that can transform discarded battery waste into valuable raw resources. The development work will integrate artificial intelligence, advanced materials science, and process innovation.

Organisers stated that the initiative is also expected to bolster India's broader capabilities in critical-mineral recovery and battery circularity. The resulting technologies are intended to be scaled up directly for wider industrial applications.