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GRS drives R&D

 

The purpose and aim of Stiftung GRS are to improve the circular economy, to make more products recyclable, and to continue to improve the level of product responsibility on behalf of the manufacturers. Consequently, the major tasks of the foundation include research and development, giving advice as well as providing information and communications to raise awareness and improve performance of the battery collection points. Important variables in this respect are economic viability, environmental and social compatibility.

TopicsProjects

Battery Technology as a Key Driver of Innovation, Value Creation and the Circular Economy

With its High-Tech Agenda Germany, the German Federal Government has identified battery technology as one of six priority key technologies for the future of Germany as a business and innovation hub. The aim is to strengthen research, production and the transfer of innovation into practical applications, reduce technological dependencies and establish a competitive battery value chain in Germany and Europe.

 

The Battery Technology Roadmap, published in 2026 as part of the agenda, takes a comprehensive view of the entire value chain – from battery materials and next-generation battery technologies to production, applications and the circular economy. By 2035, the goal is to establish competitive battery production and circular value chains in Germany, embedded within a European production network. Research and development are to be strengthened systematically, while innovations are to be transferred into industrial applications more rapidly.

Topics

Motivation, communication and information

  • Sustained improvement in the taking back of batteries by means of constant further development of consumer communication
  • Development of incentive initiatives
  • Further development of management measures

Recycling

  • Development of sustainable recycling technologies for lithium batteries and other future battery chemicals
  • Further development of technologies and logistical measures to increase the circularity and utilisation of recyclates

Material flow and logistics management

  • Identification of lithium batteries in the material flow of the national take-back scheme

Security

  • Extensive reduction in the security risks pertaining to the collection, logistics and recycling of waste batteries

Reutilisation and reprocessing

  • Measures to check and carry out the recycling or reprocessing of waste batteries borne by the manufacturers

System management

  • Ongoing development of tools, methods and processes for planning, managing, monitoring and improving take-back schemes

1 results
GRS take-back and safety containers for EoL lithium-ion batteries

LiB safety concept (LiB-Siko)

Überprüfung und Bewertung des Sicherheitskonzeptes für die Erfassung von Lithium-Ionen-Batterien im Rahmen der Batterierücknahme und Rücknahme von batteriegetriebenen Elektroaltgeräten (EAG)

How can the safety of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries be increased?