Recyclus Group Strengthens UK–India Partnerships on Historic Trade Delegation
The delegation, comprising 126 CEOs, tech entrepreneurs, SMEs, and academic leaders, represented a historic opportunity to strengthen UK–India trade relations, turning earlier commitments into concrete actions and greater detail. It provided a platform to deepen collaboration, attract investment, and drive innovation across a range of emerging industries.
Why the Visit Was Important
This delegation marked a pivotal moment for UK–India relations. Our primary objective was to harness the benefits of the new trade agreement for the British people, while fostering meaningful international partnerships. The visit opened doors to networking, funding opportunities, and collaborative ventures with robust Indian counterparts, creating secure pathways for SMEs to confidently engage in joint initiatives.For Recyclus Group, being selected for this delegation was a great honor. It provided a unique opportunity to engage with key decision-makers from India, as well as senior leaders from major UK and global corporations in the battery and critical minerals sectors, alongside prominent financial institutions. Notably, a leading Indian bank expressed interest in supporting our recycling capabilities, including our Universal Battery Recycling System (UBRS) and black mass separation joint projects in India.
Robin also visited Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which directly employs 22,200 UK citizens and contributed over £1.6 billion to the UK GDP through its 2024 business activities. During this visit, Robin laid the foundations for long-term partnerships at TCS and will continue to cultivate these strategic collaborations in the future.
Strategic Relevance
Within the lithium-ion battery sector, there is an urgent global need to close the knowledge, development, and operational gap beyond China’s current leadership, as countries race to catch up and ultimately get ahead. Collaborating with India supports a twin-track strategy to advance black mass separation technologies and ensure domestic and international supply of critical battery metals.
- UK: Project COMET (alongside JLR, WMG, University of Warwick, and Mint Innovation) will continue using an alkaline solution for black mass separation.
- India: Following the trip, we have identified a prospective partner and will investigate acid-based separation processes.
Testing both approaches will allow us to identify the most cost-effective, high-quality solution, reduce reliance on Chinese-sourced materials, strengthen UK and Indian supply chains, and lower the carbon footprint associated with transporting metals. Our Head of Research, Dr Anton Zorin, is set to visit India to conduct technical and chemical due diligence on their processes.
Mumbai Outcomes & Humanitarian Impact
The visit also highlighted India’s remarkable strides in improving infrastructure, environment, and quality of life of the people of Mumbai—underscoring the broader humanitarian benefits of international collaboration. The pride and cultural richness of the Indian people were evident at every interaction.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the UK and Indian governments, with a special acknowledgment to the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) for their responsiveness and support during the past two and a half years..
Recyclus Group remains politically agnostic, fully committed to fostering innovation, international partnerships, and sustainable solutions that benefit communities and industries alike.
Looking Ahead
Our relationships forged in India are now living collaborations. We are joined with like-minded partners, united by a shared vision to advance critical mineral processing, drive technological innovation, and contribute to a sustainable, globally competitive battery sector.