European financial institutions provide a wide range of financing possibilities to support various sectors, including businesses, startups, research projects, and infrastructure development.

Below are Programs and  financial institutions and the types of financing they offer.

1. European Investment Bank (EIB)

The European Investment Bank is the lending arm of the European Union. It offers various financing products aimed at promoting EU policy objectives. The EIB provides:

• Loans: Direct loans for large projects or intermediated loans via national banks for SMEs and mid-caps.
• Equity Investments: Support for venture capital and private equity funds.
• Guarantees: Risk-sharing instruments to encourage investment in higher-risk projects.

For more information, visit the European Investment Bank.

2. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

​The EBRD aims to foster the transition towards open, market-oriented economies. It provides:
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• Project Finance: Loans and equity investments for projects in various sectors, including energy, transport, and industry.
• Trade Finance: Guarantees and loans to support trade transactions.
• Technical Assistance: Grants and advisory services to help projects meet EBRD standards.

For more information, visit the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

​3. Horizon Europe

​Horizon Europe is the EU’s research and innovation program managed by the EU Commission It offers:
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• Grants: Funding for research and innovation projects.
• Blended Finance: Combining grants with equity investments or loans for scaling up innovations.
• Partnerships: Collaborations between public and private sectors to address specific challenges.

For more information, visit Horizon Europe.

European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF)

ESIF is a financial instrument in Cohesion Policy includes five main funds aimed at reducing disparities across EU regions:
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• European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): Investments in infrastructure, innovation, and SMEs.
• Cohesion Fund: Investments in environmental and transport infrastructure.
• European Social Fund (ESF): Investments in employment, education, and social inclusion.
• European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD): Support for rural areas.
• European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF): Support for the maritime and fisheries sectors.

5. European Central Bank (ECB)

​The ECB primarily focuses on maintaining price stability within the Eurozone but also provides:
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• Targeted Longer-Term Refinancing Operations (TLTROs): Loans to banks aimed at promoting lending to the real economy.
• Asset Purchase Programmes: Buying government and private sector bonds to ensure liquidity and support economic growth.

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​For more information, visit the European Central Bank.

6. European Investment Fund (EIF)

EIF is a fund of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and  supports Europe’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by:
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• Venture Capital: Investments in venture and growth capital funds.
• Guarantees and Securitization: Providing credit enhancement to improve access to finance for SMEs.
• Microfinance: Supporting microfinance institutions to increase access to finance for micro-enterprises.

​For more information, visit the European Investment Fund.

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7. InnovFund (Innovation Fund)

The Innovation Fund, a major European Union initiative to support innovative low-carbon technologies, remains a key financing instrument for the EU's climate goals. Managed by the European Commission and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), the Innovation Fund aims to provide substantial financial support for projects that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, visit InnovFund.

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8. InvestEU

​The InvestEU Programme gives an additional boost to investment, innovation and job creation in Europe over the period 2021-27. It aims  triggering a new wave – more than €372 billion - in investments using an EU budget guarantee.

The InvestEU Programme supports sustainable investment, innovation and job creation in Europe. With the EU budget guarantee provided to International and National promotional banks, the InvestEU programme aims to trigger more than €372 billion in private investments to high EU policy priority areas.

​For more information, visit InvestEU.

9. Programme for Employment and Social Innovation ESF+ direct (EaSI)

EaSI is centred on the following main policy priorities: Employment and skills, Labour markets and Labour mobility, Social protection, Active inclusion and Working conditions.

​For the period 2021 – 2027, EaSI programme is a strand under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).

​For more information, visit ESF+.

10. Single Market Programme (SMP)

With a budget of €4.2 bn, the Single Market Programme (SMP) covers the single market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, the area of plants, animals, food and feed, and European statistics.
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