Leitat Showcases BATRAW at the 12th Spanish Conference on R&D in European Programs
Leitat is proud to have presented its coordination of the BATRAW project at the 12th Spanish Conference on R&D in European Programs, hosted by the CDTI at the “Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos” in Oviedo. This significant event unites industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to discuss Spain’s pivotal role in advancing European R&D priorities, emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and the circular economy. With a total budget of €9,786,739.20, of which 42.6% is allocated to 7 Spanish entities, BATRAW exemplifies Spain’s leadership in addressing critical sustainability challenges. Focused on optimizing raw material recovery and enhancing battery lifecycle management, BATRAW contributes to achieving the EU’s circular economy goals.
This project also highlights the importance of collaborative efforts, involving seven entities that drive innovation across sectors. As part of the broader Horizon Europe framework, BATRAW underscores Spain’s commitment to becoming a hub for cutting-edge sustainable R&D. Spanish entities have emerged as significant contributors to Horizon Europe, securing €3.4169 billion in funding during the program’s first three years. These grants are catalyzing over €4 billion in R&D investments across the country. Notably, 71% of Spain’s Horizon Europe funding originates from collaborative projects under Pillar 2, which focuses on fostering industrial competitiveness and societal challenges.
This strong alignment with Horizon Europe Pillar 2 positions Spain to further expand its R&D capacity under the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. With continued investment, Spain is poised to strengthen its leadership in sustainability-focused innovation, while also benefiting from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s emphasis on R&D as a cornerstone of Europe’s industrial competitiveness. The European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) has championed the priorities outlined in President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines for the European Commission 2024−2029. Key objectives include increasing research spending to focus on strategic priorities, establishing Europe as a leader at the intersection of emerging science, technology, and industry to enable transformative tech revolutions, and creating environments for researchers to thrive, including new public-private partnerships and advanced infrastructure.
RTOs like Leitat are pivotal in realizing this vision, driving the next production revolution with innovations that transform industries, enable digital advancements, and provide solutions to social and environmental challenges. By coordinating BATRAW, Leitat exemplifies the role RTOs play in building innovation-driven strategic value chains that enhance EU technological leadership and competitiveness.
The Future of Europe’s R&D: A Call for Strategic Investment
As Horizon Europe continues to showcase the importance of collaborative research, projects like BATRAW illustrate the tangible benefits of investing in strategic, sustainability-focused initiatives. The upcoming 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework offers an opportunity to expand these efforts, ensuring Europe remains at the cutting edge of R&D and innovation.
Leitat’s active role in BATRAW, combined with Spain’s success in leveraging Horizon Europe funding, demonstrates a clear path forward: fostering partnerships, advancing sustainability, and driving industrial competitiveness. With support from organizations like EARTO, the European R&D ecosystem is well-positioned to lead the next wave of technological and societal transformation.