European Commission Launches New Scaleup Europe Fund for Strategic Technologies
The Scaleup Europe Fund, established through a partnership between the European Commission and private financial institutions, is now approaching launch, with only the final technical details remaining to be completed. Through this entirely new public-private fund, worth several billion euros, the European Commission aims to strengthen the EU’s competitiveness by supporting companies operating in strategic technology sectors to scale up into global players, while ensuring that their research, expertise and business activities remain in Europe. The fund’s focus areas are highly relevant to Pirkanmaa, with sectors such as semiconductors, health technology and autonomous systems among the priorities identified by the Commission. The first investments are expected to be made during autumn 2026.
Fund Structure and State of Preparation
The Scaleup Europe Fund forms part of the financing framework of the European Innovation Council (EIC). Due to its public-private structure, the fund will be managed by the private equity firm EQT, which was selected through a competitive process organised by the European Commission. The Commission will contribute approximately €1 billion to the fund, while the remaining capital will be raised from private investors. The target size of the fund is around €5 billion.
At present, the Commission, EQT and other stakeholders are finalising the fund’s legal structure, governance arrangements and investment principles. Once this work has been completed, the fund will be able to begin its investment activities, which, according to the European Commission, could start as early as autumn this year. Further information on the launch of the fund will be published on EQT’s website.
Focus Areas and Importance for Pirkanmaa
According to the European Commission, the fund will invest in so-called strategic technologies, which the EU sees as essential for strengthening its global competitiveness as well as its sovereignty, security and resilience. These sectors include semiconductors, autonomous systems, health technology, robotics, and space and energy technologies.
These priorities are highly relevant from the perspective of Pirkanmaa, where there is a long tradition of strong research in these fields, as well as a wide range of companies and organisations operating in industries built around these technologies, including intelligent machines, defence industries and health industries.
The fund’s objective is to make growth-stage investments with a total value of more than €100 million per investment. This would provide companies in the region seeking to scale up and expand internationally with a new source of financing, without the need to rely on funding from outside Europe.
Read more about the Scaleup Europe Fund on the websites of the European Innovation Council and EQT.
