European Battery Alliance, RECHARGE, and Japan’s BASC sign MoU to boost battery supply chain resilience

We are pleased to announce that today we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RECHARGE, Europe’s advanced rechargeable and lithium battery association, and Japan’s Battery Association for Supply Chain (BASC).

This milestone agreement strengthens cooperation between Europe’s and Japan’s battery industries and sets the stage for joint action on recycling and circularity, data-sharing, talent development, and industry-wide collaboration. By joining forces, we aim to accelerate innovation, reduce strategic dependencies, and reinforce the global competitiveness of our respective value chains.

The signing was welcomed at the highest political level. European Commission Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, called the MoU a concrete step in strengthening EU-Japan industrial ties: “Today’s signing puts our reinforced EU-Japan industrial cooperation into concrete business cases. From closer collaboration on skills training to new joint work on black mass recycling, this industry-led MoU opens new growth opportunities for both European and Japanese companies […]. It helps to reduce our respective strategic dependencies and deepens our EU-Japan cooperation towards a cleaner and more circular world.”

From the European Battery Alliance (EBA) side, Emma Nehrenheim, Managing Director, underlined the importance of the MoU for building stronger and more competitive value chains, while highlighting the need to turn innovation into real-world impact:  “[…] Both Europe and Japan have a keen interest in further strengthening their integrated battery value chains, from raw materials and gigafactories to recycling infrastructure. Through this MoU we commit to leveraging the synergies and expertise in taking innovation from lab to mass market.”

Ilka von Dalwigk, Director General of RECHARGE, emphasised that competitiveness can only be achieved in partnership: “Strengthening the competitiveness of our industries can only be done in collaboration with our partners. The partnership between Japan and Europe in the battery value chain is a vital step forward – where circularity becomes a shared path to global leadership and reduced dependencies. […]”

Representing the Japanese industry, Hiroaki Koda, Chairman of BASC, highlighted Japan’s long-standing reputation for excellence and the opportunities of closer cooperation. “[…] This MoU marks the start of a new collaboration between Japan and Europe. Through this partnership, the Japanese battery industry will contribute to boosting the electrification of mobility and supporting the growth of Europe’s battery sector – in the very region that gave birth to the automobile and continues to lead the way in mobility. The MoU establishes a foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship, enabling both Europe and Japan to grow together and drive innovation in the global battery industry.”

The collaboration builds on the joint commitment by EU and Japanese leaders to enhance supply chain resilience, diversify critical minerals value chains, and protect emerging technologies. It also supports the EU-Japan Green Alliance, reaffirmed at the July 2025 Tokyo Summit, which underscores the shared commitment to a clean transition and higher climate ambition.

Strategic areas of cooperation include:

• Recycling: accelerating the market growth of black mass to enable “battery-to-battery” circularity
• Data-sharing: exchanging information on battery data systems to promote a circular economy
• Human resources: supporting education and skills development for the battery workforce
• Industry cooperation : jointly organising conferences, exhibitions, and workshops to foster industry-wide developments.

For more information, please read the official press release.

Represented on the picture, from left to right: Mr. Muto Yoji, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) ; Hiroaki Koda, Chairman of BASC ; Bart de Beer, CFO at InnoEnergy representing the European Battery Alliance ; Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy