Global Brain has invested in tozero GmbH, a company recycling critical minerals from all types of lithium-ion batteries

Global Brain has invested in tozero GmbH (tozero), a company recycling critical minerals from all types of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), through its JGC MIRAI Innovation Fund L.P. (JGC MIRAI Innovation Fund).

A LIB is a rechargeable battery that uses lithium metal oxide as the battery material and charges and discharges lithium ions as they move between the positive and negative electrodes. As a rechargeable battery, it has a wide range of applications due to its extremely high energy density and light weight, and is used in electric vehicles (EVs), stationary batteries, smartphones, computers, drones, and other devices.

Currently, the world surrounding rare metals, which are the raw materials for LIBs, is becoming unstable due to various factors in the global supply chain while supply shortages for LIBs are expected due to the spread of EVs in the future. In addition, the need for LIB recycling is increasing year by year due to battery regulations in Europe and social demands for reducing environmental impact.

Along with this background, tozero has developed a revolutionary process to separate lithium from other materials and efficiently recover lithium from “black mass,” which is a powdered form of all types of LIB waste. Furthermore, tozero aims to support the production of new LIBs in Europe by reintroducing recovered and recycled materials into the supply chain, thereby promoting a circular economy.

Global Brain has decided to invest in tozero based on the company's advanced technological capabilities and the market potential of LIB recycling. Global Brain will contribute to tozero’s business growth by providing multifaceted support, including its business expansion into the Japanese market.