Europe’s new multi-billion late-stage and growth Fund to invest in our most promising, strategic companies
The Scaleup Europe Fund is a new, multi-billion late-stage and growth fund aimed at investing in the most promising European companies in strategic tech areas, such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, semiconductor technologies, robotics and autonomous systems, energy technologies, space technologies, biotechnologies, medical technologies, advanced materials, and agritech, and across all parts of Europe.
The Scaleup Europe Fund responds to the urgent need for Europe to boost investments in scaleups and close the gap with global leaders.
Powered by Europe’s top investors
The new Scaleup Europe Fund brings new momentum to Europe’s scaleup ecosystem, anchored in public-private cooperation.
Alongside the Commission, the group of potential founding investors in the Fund include Novo Holdings, EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), CriteriaCaixa, Santander/Mouro Capital, Fondazione Compagnia San Paolo/ Intesa Sanpaolo/Fondazione Cariplo, APG Asset Management, acting on behalf of Dutch pension fund ABP, Wallenberg Investments and BGK (Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego).
The Fund will be part of the existing EIC Fund umbrella structure but with a fully privately owned and market-based fund manager.
The fund is a key initiative of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2025 State of the Union Address, aimed at making major investments in fast-growing companies in strategic tech areas, so that "the best of Europe can choose Europe".
Open now: Call for expression of interest for the Fund Manager of the Scaleup Europe Fund
The EIC Fund Board has now launched the call for expression of interest to recruit a highly qualified, independent and experienced fund manager to become the investment adviser and portfolio manager of the Scaleup Europe Fund.
The fund manager will play a central role in unlocking the value of Europe’s flourishing scaleup companies and promote European tech leadership on a global scale. This includes sourcing, due diligence, investment recommendations, and portfolio management, as well as fundraising and reporting.
The Call for Expression of Interest is open to experienced fund managers who meet the eligibility criteria, including a proven ability to raise and manage investment funds, professional investment experience, and growth and scaleup investment expertise.
The successful fund manager will be appointed by the EIC Fund following an assessment of expressions of interest against the criteria set out in the call, and a negotiation phase with shortlisted candidates. The selection process is conducted under the remit of the EIC Fund as a private market procedure.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the next wave of EU tech leadership on a global scale!
What’s next
Requests for pre-qualification may be submitted until 19 January 2026, 17:00 CET. The Call for Expressions of Interest is open for applications until 3 February 2026, 17:00 CET.
During this period, eligible candidates may submit written questions through the submission platform. Questions will be anonymised and answered regularly, with all responses made available to all eligible candidates via the platform. All communication must take place exclusively through the official channels defined in the Call.
Following the submission deadline, proposals will be assessed in line with the published selection criteria. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to enter a negotiation phase in March 2026.
The selection of the most suitable candidate is expected in April 2026, enabling the preparation and signature of the formal agreements. The Scaleup Europe Fund is targeted to launch in Spring 2026, subject to completion of the necessary contractual and operational steps.