EIB venture debt (InvestEU)

Long-term venture debt for venture-backed scale-ups, with bullet repayment and remuneration linked to the equity risk of the investee. The EIB names robotics, photonics, semiconductors, advanced hardware components, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing and space tech among the typical sectors. It is relevant for hardtech companies that need capital for pilot lines, demonstrators or first factories with less dilution than an equity round.

Loan SEDKFINOISEU European Investment Bank

APPLY ↗ PROGRAM PAGE ↗ ALL PROGRAMS

Deadlines

Applications are taken continuously. There is no cut-off to plan around; decisions follow the agency's own handling time.

This is a loan, not a grant. The EIB expects prior equity from professional investors, and the EIB finances no more than half of the investment plan. The ticket size is not stated on the main EIB page, so confirm the range with the EIB before planning around it. The main page names the EU only. The Norway and Iceland coverage comes from an EIB presentation hosted on a law firm site, not from the program page. No application deadline is published, so treat it as rolling and contact the EIB directly.

Checked 2026-10-12 against eib.org , www01.eib.org , goerg.de , youreurope.europa.eu . Confirm on the official page before you plan a submission.

Who can apply

Open EU-wide, including Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland. SMEs and mid-caps (up to 3,000 employees) developing highly innovative technologies. The company must have raised equity from professional investors and have a sustainable business plan and solid corporate governance. The investment must be located in the EU, and per the EIB presentation also in Norway or Iceland. The project must apply for financing under InvestEU. The EIB finances at most 50% of the investment plan.

Amount

Typically EUR 10 million to EUR 40 million per the EIB's June 2025 public presentation. The EU Access to Finance portal lists a minimum of EUR 7.5 million. Some third-party sources cite up to EUR 50 million. The EIB page itself states no ticket size.

Other programs

EIC Accelerator Next deadline 4 Nov 2026 (12 days) EIC Pathfinder Next deadline 28 Oct 2026 (5 days) EIC Transition No published deadline right now Eurostars Next deadline 4 Mar 2027 Horizon Europe Cluster 4 and Cluster 5 calls Next deadline 1 Dec 2026 (39 days) Nordic Innovation open calls Next deadline 5 Nov 2026 (13 days)

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