The European Commission joined with private investors to create the Scaleup Europe Fund to strengthen Europe’s innovation landscape
This new multi-billion-euro Scaleup Europe Fund will accelerate the growth of Europe’s most promising companies across key strategic deep tech sectors.
The Scaleup Europe Fund is part of the EU’s Startup and Scaleup Strategy, designed to build a dynamic, competitive ecosystem where innovative European companies can thrive.
By addressing long-standing gaps in late-stage financing, the fund hopes to ensure that Europe’s best startups can grow into global industry leaders without leaving the continent.
Closing the investment gap
Europe has always stood out for its strong pool of startups and technological talent, but in the past, many companies have struggled to access the large-scale funding needed to expand globally.
European firms often have to look abroad for support due to limited capital availability and a fragmented investment landscape.
The Scaleup Europe Fund directly targets this challenge by providing resources from public and private investors. It will give late-stage capital to companies that have already shown their potential and are ready to scale up.
Overall, the goal is to close the gap between early innovation and large-scale commercial success, ensuring that Europe remains competitive in strategic technology domains.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, said, ” We are joining forces with leading private investors to build a multi-billion euro fund that will invest in the best European companies in strategic deep tech.
” We will ensure that companies can find the capital they need, right here in Europe, to drive European innovation and reinforce our continent’s position as a global leader in the industries that will shape our future.”
Backed by leading investors
The creation of the Scaleup Europe Fund brings together an influential group of European investors and institutions. Alongside the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB), the founding group includes Novo Holdings, EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), CriteriaCaixa, Santander/Mouro Capital, Fondazione Compagnia San Paolo with Intesa Sanpaolo and Fondazione Cariplo, APG Asset Management acting on behalf of Dutch pension fund ABP, Wallenberg Investments, and BGK (Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego).
By combining private capital with institutional support, the fund will build on a sustainable investment platform that can drive long-term technological growth and competitiveness.
Investing in strategic technologies
The Scaleup Europe Fund will target a wide range of strategic sectors that are key to Europe’s future industrial and technological leadership. These include artificial intelligence, quantum and semiconductor technologies, robotics, autonomous systems, energy innovation, space technologies, biotechnology, medical technology, advanced materials, and agritech.
By focusing on these high-impact areas, the fund is expected to reduce dependence on external markets and foster the development of high-quality jobs across the continent.
The following steps towards launch
The fund will operate as a market-based, privately managed and co-financed investment vehicle. The European Commission and its partners will issue a public call to select a management company to implement and oversee the fund’s activities.
Once established, the Scaleup Europe Fund is expected to begin making its first investments in spring 2026.
