Today, the Commission launched a Trusted Investors Network bringing together a group of investors ready to co-invest in innovative high-tech companies in Europe, alongside the EU. The EU investment comes from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, part of the EU’s research and innovation program Horizon Europe.
The first group includes 71 investors from across Europe, including venture capital funds, public investment banks, foundations and corporate venture capital funds. These investors collectively represent over €90 billion in assets, positioning the network as a key initiative to mobilize capital for the European deep tech sector.
Following preparatory meetings with investors earlier this year, Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, launched the network at an event in Athens . Participants committed to the Trusted Investors Network Charter, defining common values for creating businesses in Europe and co-investing with the EIC Fund. Network members will work together with the support of the EIC to stimulate investments and exchange best practices in investing in the deep technology sector.
The launch responds to the need to increase funding for these companies to grow in Europe. It forms the basis for further development in 2025, in line with the political guidelines of the next Commission.
He highlights the growing importance of the EIC Fund, which has now invested almost a billion euros in 251 countries. Europe’s most promising start-ups. The EIC Fund has attracted co-investments of more than 4 billion euros from around a thousand investors, mobilizing more than 4 euros for every euro invested. The Trusted Investor Network will further strengthen these co-investments and enable companies in critical technology areas to access the larger investments needed to compete globally.
The launch was part of the first EIC Scaling Summit, bringing together for the first time 120 selected companies from the EIC portfolio and national programs with the potential to grow and become global champions in their fields. 72 of these companies were added today to the 48 members already registered with the EIC Scaling Club. The EIC provides tailor-made support to Club members, aiming to transform 20% of them into unicorns – companies whose valuation exceeds one billion euros. Collectively, these member companies have raised over €73 million to date, with additional fundraising expected soon.
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