Rock Tech Lithium Inc. has received approximately €250,000 in funding from the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space for its ELiSePro project, “Efficient Lithium Recovery Using Selective Processes.” The initiative aims to enhance lithium recovery rates at the company’s converter facility in Guben, Germany, contributing to the country’s goal of securing critical raw material independence.
In partnership with RWTH Aachen University—a leading technical institution in engineering and applied sciences—Rock Tech will conduct a comparative assessment of advanced ion separation techniques. These methods include nanofiltration, capacitive deionization and lithium-ion sieves. The project will evaluate each technology on both economic and technical criteria, with the objective of integrating the most effective processes directly into industrial operations at the Guben site. Innovations arising from the research will be patented and shared through scientific publications.
“This funding supports the technological advancement of the German and European battery industry – and even it’s a relatively small amount, it’s an important step towards building additional know-how for strengthening security of supply for critical raw materials and building sustainable value chains in Europe” says Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO of Rock Tech.
This award marks the third recent public funding program secured by Rock Tech. Earlier in 2025, the company was granted €800,000 under the EIT RawMaterials Knowledge and Innovation Activities (KAVA) program and CAD 388,000 from Ontario’s Critical Minerals Innovation Fund to advance lithium-ore sorting technologies. In addition, Rock Tech’s German converter project was selected as strategic under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act.
Rock Tech Lithium’s long-term vision is to establish a closed-loop lithium production system, supplying battery-grade material to electric vehicle and energy storage manufacturers. The company plans to operate converters close to its customers, beginning with the Guben facility in Brandenburg, followed by a second converter in Ontario, Canada. Raw materials will be sourced from Rock Tech’s Georgia Lake spodumene project in Ontario’s Thunder Bay Mining District, as well as other ESG-compliant suppliers.
Source: Rock Tech Lithium Inc.
