Professor Li Zhou and the team—Dr. Hetty Wenxian Sun, Dr James Duong, Dr Maggie Mao Xu, Dr Carlos F.D.Z. Arranz, and Professor Petros Ieromonachou—have secured significant funding from Horizon Europe. On 27th November 2024, Professor Andrew Westby, representing the University of Greenwich (UoG), signed the €5 million Grant Agreement with the European Commission. The EU contributes €4.3 million, with €0.7 million from Switzerland. As the lead partner, UoG has secured €1.3 million.
The project, Circular Economy Innovations for Resilient, Competitive and Sustainable Battery Technologies (CIRCUBATT), aims to revolutionise the European battery sector by advancing sustainability, efficiency, and competitiveness. Integrating AI, data analytics, and innovative business models, it seeks to optimise the entire battery lifecycle—from design to recycling—reducing raw material reliance and environmental impact while strengthening Europe’s global market position.