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Ascend Elements and GEM Collaboration

In a significant step towards a sustainable future, Ascend Elements, a leading American battery materials provider, and GEM Co. Ltd, a pioneering Chinese firm in battery materials and recycling, have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing lithium-ion battery recycling and production of engineered battery materials in Europe. The agreement was formalized on September 17, 2025, marking a pivotal moment for both companies in their quest to innovate within the battery materials sector.

Strategic Framework for Collaboration

This MOU lays the groundwork for a strategic collaboration that merges GEM's expertise in recycling and mass production of recycled materials with Ascend Elements' existing operational footprint in Europe. Together, they aspire to build an advanced lithium-ion battery recycling network that focuses on recovering critical minerals and manufacturing engineering materials. This initiative will not only close the supply chain gaps in Europe but also ensure compliance with European Union regulations, which underline the importance of recyclability and traceability in new lithium-ion batteries.

GEM’s Chairman, Professor Xu Kaihua, expressed enthusiasm about this partnership, stating, "This collaboration with Ascend Elements is a significant step in realizing GEM's vision for a greener and more sustainable future. By working together, we will foster innovation in battery recycling and engineering materials production, helping to establish a localized circular industrial ecosystem in Europe that meets the growing regulatory and market demands for recyclable and traceable batteries."

Creating a Sustainable Ecosystem

Linh Austin, CEO of Ascend Elements, emphasized the importance of this collaboration by noting, "This partnership allows us to mitigate risks associated with our ambitious European strategy by leveraging GEM's expertise in mass production and accelerating our ability to fill market gaps in Europe. We aim to create a fully integrated and localized battery industrial ecosystem that addresses both sustainability and regulatory requirements while supporting energy transition and generating economic value."

The collaboration is expected to drive technological advancements that will benefit both companies and the European battery ecosystem at large. The focus will remain on producing high-quality battery materials from recycled sources, thus supporting the EU's objectives around battery sustainability, including the Battery Regulation and the European Battery Passport initiative.

What This Means for the Future

As the demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to rise, driven by electrification in transportation and various industries, the need for efficient recycling processes becomes ever more crucial. This partnership aims to respond to that need by establishing a circular supply chain that not only recovers materials from used batteries but also reduces reliance on virgin materials, thereby supporting the transition to a more sustainable economy.

Conclusion

The partnership between Ascend Elements and GEM Co. Ltd symbolizes a commitment to fostering a sustainable future through innovative recycling solutions in the battery industry. As both companies move forward with this collaboration, the results could serve as a benchmark for future initiatives in battery material production and recycling, setting the stage for a greener tomorrow.