Thursday, October 15, 2026
Back to articles
In the field
Building a competitive and self-sufficient European battery industry requires control over its entire value chain, from the extraction of raw materials to their recycling. This industrial and strategic challenge was at the heart of the discussions at BIG 2026, organized by Bpifrance, to which Mecaware contributed through a presentation by Lisa Grasser, Director of Programs.
At BIG 2026, an event dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation organized by Bpifrance, several key players in the European battery ecosystem came together to discuss an ambitious question: “A European battery, from ore to recycling: are we up for it?”
Held as part of the Avenir Trade Show, this roundtable discussion brought together David Pomonti (Bpifrance), Alban Letailleur (Imerys), Jacinthe Frecon (Axens Group), Lisa Grasser (Mecaware), and Fabrice Stassin (BEPA – Batteries European Partnership Association).
At the heart of the discussions: the conditions necessary for the emergence of an integrated European value chain capable of addressing the challenges of securing strategic raw materials, industrial competitiveness, and the energy transition.
As Europe seeks to strengthen its self-sufficiency in battery production, the recovery and reintegration of strategic metals are key drivers for reducing its dependence on imported resources.
Mecaware is part of this trend, having developed an innovative technology that recovers the metals contained in lithium-ion batteries for reuse in new production cycles.
Through Lisa Grasser’s participation, Mecaware brought to the discussion the perspective of a company actively involved in the transition from technological innovation to its industrial implementation.
For beyond European ambitions, the success of this sector hinges on a concrete challenge: transforming innovations into high-performing, competitive industrial capabilities that can be deployed on a large scale.
“I’ve seen firsthand how metals are produced. Today, I’m convinced of the need to carry out this recycling here in Europe.”
Lisa Grasser, Program Director at Mecaware
From lithium extraction to materials production, including processing and recycling technologies, every step of the value chain contributes to building European industrial autonomy.
The complementary nature of the expertise brought together at this roundtable illustrates the importance of fostering dialogue among manufacturers, innovation stakeholders, and institutional partners in order to collectively address this challenge.
For Mecaware, this ambition translates into one priority: to continue the industrialization of its technology and help make recycled metals a strategic resource for the European industry of the future.
→ Watch the full roundtable discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2olQOxmFCzs
Read the next article
