European Investment Fund

Founded in 1994 pursuant to the Treaty instituting the European Community (now, the Treaty on European Union), the EIF is the main EU policy vehicle for the financing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. The Fund is part of the European Investment Bank Group and is a leading investor in venture and growth capital as well as an important catalyst of equity, debt and hybrid finance for SMEs. Its main goal is to facilitate SME finance and to leverage public funds by attracting private capital.