The European Commission launches € 5 billion Scaleup fund
- Portugal Business News - Valerie Charoux
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
Tech News Europe - The European Commission launches a 5 billion euros Scaleup fund, according to an announcement dated May 18, 2026. Here is the description and the potential beneficiaries of the EU Scaleup Europe Fund:
What is the Scaleup Europe Fund?
As a cornerstone of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, the Scaleup Europe Fund is the largest fund of its kind ever mobilised in Europe. It will provide critical growth capital to high-potential companies in strategic deep-tech sectors, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, dual use technologies, clean energy, space technology, biotech and medical innovation, ensuring Europe remains at the forefront of global technological leadership. The Fund is designed to bridge the late-stage financing gap and incentivise Europe's most promising scaleups to choose to stay in Europe.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund Board has chosen EQT, a leading global investment organisation, as the preferred investment adviser and fund manager for the Scaleup Europe Fund, following a rigorous and highly competitive selection process to lead the EU's €5 billion initiative designed to empower the continent's most innovative deep tech scaleups.
The Scaleup Europe Fund was developed in collaboration with a coalition of founding investors, who alongside the European Commission were also involved in shaping its structure and investment framework, namely Novo Holdings, EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), CriteriaCaixa, Santander/Mouro Capital, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo / Intesa Sanpaolo / Fondazione Cariplo, Dutch pension fund ABP (with APG as Asset Manager), and Allianz.
Who are the potential beneficiaries of the Scaleup Europe Fund?
The potential beneficiaries of the Scaleup Europe Fund are Europe´s most promising companies that need growth capital. It aims to close the late-stage financing gap that has too often pushed European scaleups to raise capital outside Europe, prompting them to stay in Europe instead.
