When Italian cleantech startup AraBat joined the Calling2Scale Gunma: Gateway to Japan programme, the team was looking for more than international visibility.
Their goal was to connect with industrial partners, validate their technology in real-world settings, and explore new opportunities in one of the world's most advanced manufacturing markets. Through the programme, they achieved all three.
Founded in Italy, AraBat develops sustainable solutions for recovering critical raw materials from end-of-life lithium batteries, electronic waste and industrial by-products. Its proprietary technology, AraMet, uses agricultural waste such as orange peels and artichoke residues to recover valuable materials including lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese, supporting a more circular and resource-efficient economy.
Participation in Calling2Scale Gunma, part of the EIT Global Outreach programme, enabled AraBat to engage directly with Japanese industrial stakeholders and build relationships that would become instrumental to its growth. Through a series of meetings facilitated by the programme, the company established a collaboration with Japanese electronics manufacturer TAIYO YUDEN, moving from initial discussions to a Letter of Intent and ultimately a Proof-of-Concept development agreement.
Through the programme, we had many opportunities, including meeting Japanese industrial partners, accessing new markets and collaborating with companies such as TAIYO YUDEN on the challenge of recovering value from industrial waste.
Raffaele Nacchiero, CEO of AraBat
The agreement allowed AraBat to test and validate its hydrometallurgical technology using materials and samples supplied by TAIYO YUDEN, helping the startup demonstrate the potential of its solution in a real industrial context.
Turning international collaboration into growth
The momentum generated through these international connections contributed to the company's broader growth trajectory. Recently, AraBat secured €280 000 through Italy's TecnoNidi programme to develop a pilot facility for its battery recycling technology, bringing its total public funding secured in 2026 to €350 000. The company was also selected for Techstars Tokyo, receiving a $120 000 pre-seed investment and joining one of the world's most competitive accelerator programmes.
AraBat's experience demonstrates how international innovation programmes by the EIT Community can help startups move beyond networking to create tangible business opportunities. By validating technologies in new markets and accelerating their path to growth, ventures like AraBat show how connecting European innovators with global industry partners transforms promising technology into concrete partnerships. Calling2Scale Gunma is a clear example of that in action.
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