Defence Equity Facility
Investing in start-ups and companies that develop innovative solutions for defence and dual-use 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 and dual-use 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 €163 million already committed of the total initiative's total investment capacity. Investments, as for all EIF operations, are subject to compliance with our policies on exclusions and restrictions.
Last updated: March 2026
Signed funds to date
How to apply?
Further information, including indicative term sheets and product descriptions are available under the equity products page. Fund managers seeking support from the Facility should apply through this website.
For further questions, please connect with the EIB Security and Defence Office, the EIB Group’s one-stop-shop for financial support and expert assistance. More information alongside an FAQ is also available on the EUDIS webpage.