Defence Equity Facility
Investing in start-ups and companies that develop innovative solutions for defence technologies.
An innovation ecosystem for
Europe's strategic autonomy
Launched in January 2024 under InvestEU, the €175 million Defence Equity Facility (DEF) is an initiative managed by the EIF in collaboration with the European Commission (DEFIS) to mobilise private capital into Europe’s defence innovation ecosystem.
DEF’s resources have been provided as follows: a €100 million commitment from the European Defence Fund (EU) and an additional €75 million from the EIF, with a foreseen funding period of four years - currently until 2027, expecting to mobilise up to €500 million in investments.
DEF complements the broader InvestEU thematic mandates serving public policy goals, and contributes to the EIB Group's strategic priorities including security and defence. The initiative offers additional capacity building support to assist managers in the development of their funds.
Deployment under the DEF has been strong with €161 million already committed of the total initiative's total investment capacity. Investments, as for all EIF operations, should comply with our EIB Group principles on exclusions and restrictions.
Last updated: March 2026
Signed funds to date
How to apply?
DEF investments are made in European venture capital, private equity, and private credit funds. The InvestEU equity products overview page provides further details on the call for expression of interest and indicative termsheets. Fund managers seeking funding support from the Defence Equity Facility should submit their investment proposal form using the InvestEU application form.
News and updates
The EIF commits €50 million via the InvestEU Defence Equity Facility to Join Capital Fund III
EIF invests €40 million in Nazca’s aerospace and defence fund in Spain
EIF commits €30 million to Sienna Hephaistos Private Investments under the InvestEU Defence Equity Facility
EIF announces €40 million investment in Keen Venture Partners’ European defence and security tech fund
Further information
For more details please connect with the EIB Security and Defence Office, which is our EIB Group one-stop-shop for financial support and expert assistance. Additional information alongside an FAQ is also available on the EUDIS webpage.