EIC Fund Trusted Investor Network Charter - Frequently Asked Questions

The EIC Fund has nearly reached EUR 1 billion in investments in deep tech start-ups in less than 4 years and has established a track record in co-investing with many other deep tech investors across Europe. This experience has shown the demand for deep tech investors to work more closely to facilitate co-investments and pool expertise and knowledge. This is particularly important now in the context of the economic challenges set out in the Draghi report and the urgency to boost investments and scale up companies in the future critical technologies.

Yes, the network is open to investors who meet the membership criteria. However, membership of the network will not be the right choice for all investors. The network is designed for those who want to engage more closely with the EIC and have a high level of expertise in deep tech investment. Investors outside the network are welcome to co-invest alongside the EIC Fund and access other opportunities to work with the EIC for example by joining the EIC co-investment platform (see https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-fund/co-investing-eic-fund_en). 

Yes, investors that do not lead rounds can be members of the Network, as long as they can provide a significant contribution to equity rounds in deep tech companies. 

Yes, but the initial focus is to build a community of investors who all have a good level of expertise in investing in deep tech. Depending on the demand, the network may in future develop to involve a larger membership. All investors are welcome to join the EIC co-investment platform.  

No, members commit to a charter which sets out the objectives and values, but this is not a legally binding document. However, members of the network will be expected to subsequently sign up to umbrella agreements with the EIC Fund to facilitate co-investments. 

The Network is there for the benefit of its members. It is supported by the European Commission which has responsibility for the EIC and by the European Investment Bank, in its role as adviser to the EIC Fund. The activities of the Network will also be supported by the EIC Business Acceleration Services managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).  

The Network will benefit from a series of networking events, workshops and exchanges that will be organised and will focus on relevant topics for deep tech investing in Europe, including policy exchanges with the European Commission. 

The Charter is designed to bring tangible operational and investment impacts and will be underpinned by agreements on co-investments and a set of activities including analytics and policy debate. However, for it to be fully effective it will need the engagement of the members, including setting the programme of activities that add value.  

For investors, this will bring real benefits in strengthening contacts with other like-minded investors from across Europe, as well as opportunities to widen the pipeline of investment opportunities and exchange on latest developments and policy.   

The EIC Fund is the largest deep tech co-investment fund in Europe, and it is part of the €10 billion European Innovation Council initiative. This initiative also supports early-stage technology development, provides grant support, and offers business acceleration services for startups. Further information can be found at the following link. 

As of 30 June 2024, the EIC Fund has invested close to €1 billion over 250 companies. The list of EIC Fund portfolio companies can be found here. 

As well as the Charter, members of the Network will be asked: 

• To adhere to a Confidentiality Protocol (“the Protocol”) to ensure responsible management of information is adhered to by all members of the Network. Without being an NDA it allows members to acknowledge the importance of Confidential Information. 

• An umbrella Non-Reliance Agreement: In order to ensure the efficiency of the network, members sign a standard Non-Reliance Agreement (NRA) that allows them to exchange due diligence information on a voluntary basis when looking at EIC Fund portfolio companies without the need to sign individual bilateral NRAs. 

Membership of the Network does not enforce or oblige any member to do anything they do not want to do. The meetings and events that will be organised are not compulsory. Ultimately, each member shall get out of the Network as much as they want to put in, as it is a collaborative platform. 

Yes, country of origin is not a limitation to be part of this network as long as the investor interested to be part of the network subscribes to Membership requirements.