European Investment Fund Plans €15 Billion Venture Capital Fund
The European Investment Fund (EIF) is establishing a new €15 billion fund of funds, aiming to invest in approximately 100 venture capital firms, according to a report from brutkasten. This initiative builds upon a similar, smaller fund launched in 2023.
The move comes as the EIB Group recently approved a total of €15.5 billion in new financing for a range of investments, including business growth, corporate innovation, transport, energy, housing, and water resilience, as detailed in a press release from the European Investment Bank. The EIB Board authorized €14.5 billion in financing, while the EIF Board committed €1 billion to support the green transition, venture capital, private equity, and infrastructure funds.
“These investments are about building the future – from clean energy, safe water and smarter transport to better housing, education and innovation,” said EIB Group President Nadia Calviño. “As the EU’s financing arm, the EIB Group is delivering on Europe’s priorities.”
The EIF plays a key role in supporting infrastructure investment by focusing on market development, risk-taking, and equity investments through funds and intermediaries, as outlined on the EIF’s website. The fund complements the work of the European Investment Bank, covering the full spectrum of infrastructure financing.
The EIB Group also announced plans to strengthen its Water Resilience Programme, aiming to mobilize €40 billion in global water investment over the next three years. This program will focus on improving access to clean water, enhancing community resilience, and bolstering the competitiveness of the EU water sector. New projects in Greece and the Netherlands to upgrade water and wastewater networks were also approved.
Further investments were earmarked for rail projects in Estonia, Germany, and Italy, road improvements in Poland, Romania, and Moldova, and energy efficiency upgrades at airports in France, Germany, and Spain.
