SOCIETE NOUVELLE D'AFFINAGE DES METAUX-SNAM SAS

Their core work

SNAM is a French metals refining and recycling company based in Viviez, specializing in the recovery of critical raw materials from spent batteries and electronic waste. They operate industrial-scale pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes to extract cobalt, lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements. In H2020 projects, they contribute real-world recycling expertise and industrial infrastructure for testing and demonstrating circular economy approaches to battery and photovoltaic end-of-life management.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

SNAM's early H2020 involvement (2015-2018) centered on extractive metallurgy — recovering rare earths and cobalt from waste streams using advanced chemical and electrochemical processes. From 2018 onward, their focus broadened toward circular economy models, second-life battery applications, and next-generation EV battery technologies. This shift mirrors the EU's growing emphasis on battery value chain sovereignty and the circular economy action plan.

SNAM is moving from pure metals recovery toward full lifecycle participation in the European battery value chain, including EV batteries and circular product-service models.

How they like to work

SNAM consistently participates as a partner rather than a coordinator, bringing industrial recycling capacity and metallurgical know-how to large research-driven consortia. With 70 unique partners across 15 countries in just 4 projects, they operate in broad, multi-stakeholder consortia typical of large Innovation Actions. This makes them an accessible partner — experienced in collaborative R&D but not competing for leadership, which can appeal to coordinators seeking proven industrial end-users.

SNAM has built a wide European network of 70 partners across 15 countries through 4 projects, indicating participation in large, diverse consortia rather than tight recurring partnerships. Their reach spans most of Western and Central Europe.

What sets them apart

SNAM is one of Europe's few large-scale industrial battery recyclers with direct H2020 project experience, bridging the gap between laboratory research and commercial-scale material recovery. Unlike research institutes, they offer real processing infrastructure and decades of metals refining operations. For any consortium needing an industrial demonstration site or end-of-life recycling partner for batteries, photovoltaics, or electronics, SNAM is a ready-made fit.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CIRCUSOL
  Largest funding share (EUR 406,742) and a strategic pivot into circular business models for solar and battery second-life applications.
• CROCODILE
  Directly aligned with SNAM's core business — a first-of-its-kind compact cobalt recovery system combining multiple metallurgical techniques.
• 3beLiEVe
  Most recent project, positioning SNAM in the emerging EV battery manufacturing and recycling ecosystem targeting the 2025+ market.