EIF backs green investment fund Demeter 3

The European Investment Fund (EIF) has reaffirmed its continuing support to green technology through its investment in Demeter 3, a venture capital fund which targets young and innovative companies in the eco-industries and green technologies sectors. 

Capitalising on a strong track record in the field, the Demeter team will accompany start-ups in France, Germany and Spain throughout their development giving them the opportunity to enhance their competitiveness and helping them commercialise ground-breaking technologies.

This partnership is strengthen by the involvement of other major institutional investors including CDC entreprises and IFP Energies Nouvelles who are joining EIF in supporting technology transfer and in promoting innovative clean technologies in Europe.

This transaction was made by EIF under the European Commission Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme" (CIP) which aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises in their early stages of development and play a crucial role in enabling start-ups to access equity finance.            

For more details, please read the full press release (French language).

About the EIF

EIF's central mission is to support Europe's small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. EIF designs and develops venture capital and guarantees instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth, and employment. The EIF total net commitments to private equity funds amounted to over EUR 6bn at end 2011. With investments in over 370 funds, the EIF is a leading player in European venture due to the scale and the scope of its investments, especially in high-tech and early-stage segments. The EIF guarantees loan portfolio totalled over EUR 4.4 bn in close to 220 operations at end 2011, positioning it as a major European SME guarantees actor and a leading micro-finance guarantor.

Press contact

Joëlle Harvey, EIF Communications, tel +352 426 688 346, e-mail: j.harvey@eif.org