DEScycle receives SPRIND award

London-based technology company DEScycle has been accepted into the SPRIND Tech Metal Transformation Challenge program. The program is run by the German Federal Agency for Leapfrog Innovations (SPRIND) and is aimed at technologies with the potential to fundamentally change the extraction and supply of critical metals.

DEScycle will receive funding of 1.5 million euros at the start. Depending on technical and commercial progress, the total funding can grow to up to 6 million euros over the course of the multi-year program.

Industrial scaling instead of incremental research

The SPRIND Tech Metals Challenge supports only a small selection of projects that promise systemic change in the recovery, refining and supply of critical and valuable metals. In contrast to traditional funding programs, the focus is not on basic research, but on the scaling, industrial validation and market introduction of new technologies.

The selection recognizes DEScycle's technological approach and its importance for European goals in the areas of industrial resilience, critical raw materials and circular supply chains.

Alternative to smelting and refining processes

DEScycle is developing a novel process architecture for the recovery of high-value and critical metals from complex secondary raw materials, such as electronic waste. In contrast to traditional smelting and refining processes, the company is focusing on a low-temperature, decentralized approach that is designed to shorten value chains and enable metal recovery close to the source.

The aim is to avoid energy-intensive processes, reduce environmental pollution and at the same time increase the security of supply for industry and manufacturing.

Cooperation with industry and research partners

As part of the Tech Metals Challenge, DEScycle is working with several partners, including Seloxium (UK), the University of Nottingham (UK) and Esy Labs (Germany). The aim is to jointly develop demonstration projects and prepare the transition from technology validation to industrial application.

Participation in the SPRIND program positions DEScycle within a priority European industrial agenda that aims to reduce dependencies on geopolitically concentrated metal supply chains and build resilient, circular supply systems.