German-Chilean Partnership for Research on Sustainable Battery Raw Materials

»PaNaBat« connects and strengthens exchange between companies, universities, and research institutions in Germany and Chile through a networking platform focused on battery raw materials and battery recycling. The industry requires secure, sustainable supply chains and efficient circular systems – especially for lithium. The project establishes coordination offices in both countries and plans and initiates bilateral projects.

Initial Situation

The battery industry is growing rapidly, while at the same time new regulations – such as the EU Battery Regulation– are tightening the requirements for a sustainable supply of critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, aluminum, and natural graphite. Chile plays a central role in this context with its lithium deposits in the Atacama, but faces the challenge of reducing its carbon and water footprints and increasing local value creation. With its research, industry ties, and educational programs, Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN) in Antofagasta offers ideal conditions for developing sustainable extraction and recycling approaches. A German-Chilean partnership creates important synergies in technology and knowledge transfer for this purpose.

Objective

The goal of the “PaNaBat” project is to establish a Germany-Chile partnership framework for the sustainable extraction, processing, and recycling of battery raw materials, with a focus on lithium. Plans include a coordination office with liaison offices in both countries, a digital networking platform, and a Fraunhofer-UCN cooperation group involving additional stakeholders from Europe and Latin America. The partnership is intended to facilitate joint research, technology transfer projects, exchange programs, publications, and the acquisition of third-party funding. This will promote resilient supply chains, higher value creation in Chile, as well as technology exports and investments.

Approach

At the heart of the project is the development of a web-based information and networking platform that consolidates German-Chilean exchange and facilitates cooperation. In addition, an industry advisory board comprising members from Germany and Chile will be established to guide the strategic direction; this board will eventually merge into the advisory board of the coordinating office. Bilateral pilot projects will create early use cases and enable the platform’s structure and service offerings to be gradually refined based on practical experience.

The “PaNaBat” project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR): FKZ: 01DN26002.