Scaling Battery Recycling in Europe | Lilian Schwich from cylib at the EIC Growth Forum

In this interview, Lilian Schwich, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of cylib, discusses how the company is transforming lithium-ion battery recycling with a proprietary technology that recovers lithium using only water. By enabling access to critical raw materials recovered in Europe, cylib is helping strengthen a more sustainable and resilient European battery value chain.Recorded at the EIC Scaling Club Growth Forum in Paris, Lilian shares the key lessons her team has learned while building a deep-tech hardware company. She explains why establishing strong partnerships early is essential for achieving product-market fit, reflects on the importance of understanding customer needs, and highlights the value of collaboration across Europe's innovation ecosystem.Lilian also discusses the challenges hardware startups face when scaling to industrial production, particularly the shortage of growth-stage capital in Europe. She explains why forums like the EIC Scaling Club Growth Forum play a vital role in connecting founders with investors, policymakers, and strategic partners to help Europe's most innovative companies grow.*This interview was recorded on 18 March 2025 in Paris during the EIC Scaling Club Growth Forum.