The Hungarian Battery Association held an international workshop on 5 November 2025, focusing on a key segment of the battery industry: recycling. The event was organized within the framework of the New Energy Battery Joint Laboratory, established through Chinese– European cooperation by the Faculty of Science at Eötvös Loránd University, NT Recycling Ltd., and the Hungarian Battery Association.
The aim of the workshop was to discuss the technical and regulatory aspects of lithium-ion battery recycling. Participants included a Chinese delegation composed of representatives of recycling companies, equipment manufacturers, and industrial partners, as well as experts from the Hungarian Battery Association. The central focus of the workshop was to promote cooperation, while also addressing the EPR calculation method and exploring opportunities for broader international collaboration.
The event was opened by Associate Professor Ferenc Molnár (Director of the ELTE Faculty of Science’s Centre for Central Research and Industrial Relations), who expressed his hope that the workshop would contribute to future cooperation in the field of battery recycling.
In his presentation, Dr. Péter Kaderják, Managing Director of the Hungarian Battery Association, outlined the development of the battery sector in Hungary, emphasising that by 2030 Hungary will be one of Europe’s largest industry hubs. The country is poised to become an important market not only for batteries used in electric vehicles but also for those produced for energy storage systems. Cooperation with international companies plays an essential role in the sector’s growth. Dr. Kaderják also highlighted the challenges the sector faces, including the limited availability of primary raw materials (such as lithium and cobalt) in Hungary and the region, which makes the establishment of recycling capacities particularly important. Additional tasks include building battery testing capabilities, developing R&D&I activities, and fostering collaboration. He further noted that societal resistance to the battery industry poses a challenge, and the Hungarian Battery Association urges its member companies to adopt transparent communication and operations in response.
Next, Csaba Gondola, State Secretary for the Circular Economy and Climate Policy at the Ministry of Energy, spoke about what is needed to ensure that the energy transition in Hungary can be achieved as soon as possible. He stressed the central role of SMEs, multinational companies, and civil organizations alike. The State Secretary also explained that the European Union’s Battery Regulation defines five battery categories, which will be incorporated into domestic regulation as of 1 January 2026.
In his address, Ádám Nagy, Deputy State Secretary for Industrial Affairs at the Ministry of National Economy, formulated three key statements: the automotive and battery industries are priority focus areas of the Hungarian economy; Hungary is a leading regional player in these sectors; and public awareness of the two industries is insufficient, which contributes to societal resistance. Linked to these points, he identified three action areas: balancing the market in a way that remains open to both Western car manufacturers and Asian battery producers; beginning to build the full domestic lifecycle of battery production, including the establishment of recycling capacity; and creating the regulatory environment necessary for the long-term, successful growth of the industry. He emphasized that Hungary is in a favourable position, as it can accommodate Asian investors while domestic industry stakeholders already possess extensive knowledge of EU-level regulatory issues.
The next speaker was Aleksandar Dzombic, Chairman of NT Recycling Ltd. He highlighted that Europe and China are complementary key players in the battery industry. The newly established joint laboratory reflects the strengthening of Chinese–European cooperation and will focus on battery recycling, the integration of carbon-emission data, and the EU’s battery passport system. The head of the battery-recycling company stressed the importance of cooperation between East and West, as well as between academia and industry.
Dr. Dongchang Zhao, Senior Expert at the China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC) and Managing Director of the CATARC Carbon Digital Center, underscored the importance of collecting vehicle carbon-emission data, noting that Central Europe is on the brink of major progress in this area. For truly comprehensive analysis, he said, it is essential that countries cooperate in creating databases – for example, in measuring the carbon footprint of batteries from production to recycling.
The event also featured two roundtable discussions in which Hungarian and Chinese experts explored issues related to battery recycling. The first panel addressed the latest technological developments, opportunities, and prospects of lithium-battery recycling. The second examined Hungary’s EPR (extended producer responsibility) fee calculation methods, including aspects related to placing products on the market.
Thank you to all participants for this valuable professional event!
