Europäischer Investitionsfonds (EIF)

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is an institution of the European Union and part of the EIB Group. It was established in 1994 and develops financial instruments specifically tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): equity and venture capital solutions as well as loan and guarantee products. The EIF supports EU objectives such as innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth, and employment. It holds a leading position in the European venture capital market and is involved in around 390 funds. In 2012, the EIF provided over €1.4 billion in the Private Equity/VC sector, thereby mobilizing a total of €7.1 billion from co-investors. In the guarantee sector, guarantee commitments amounting to €1.2 billion were realized in 57 transactions in 2012, generating loans totaling €5.2 billion for SMEs.

The EIF's mission is to strengthen the innovation and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe through targeted risk financing – in particular equity, venture capital, and guarantee instruments. It thereby contributes to the implementation of the EU strategies for sustainable growth, employment promotion, and external cohesion, and specifically supports research and development activities as well as entrepreneurship in all EU member states, candidate countries, and EFTA states.

The EIF's target group consists of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and smaller mid-caps with fewer than 500 employees, engaged in research, development, and innovation or requiring growth capital. Furthermore, the EIF also supports social enterprises, start-ups, and scale-ups across Europe, as well as institutional and private financial intermediaries that provide financing to these companies. Its guarantee programs are aimed at banks and leasing companies to enable additional access to financing on attractive terms.