Overview
- Commission outreach this week included meetings in Brussels with eight major investors named in a planning note, with Sweden’s Wallenberg family reported as an early anchor.
- Coverage points to an initial target around €5 billion, including about €3 billion reportedly committed and €1 billion from the European Innovation Council.
- The vehicle is designed for late-stage rounds of roughly €100 million or more and imposes conditions to retain headquarters and core activities in Europe, contrasting with the EIC Fund’s ~€30 million cap.
- The Commission plans to start procuring an external manager in November with selection targeted by January, aiming for an April launch and first investments expected in spring 2026.
- Investor line-up under discussion includes Novo Holdings, Denmark’s EIFO, CriteriaCaixa, Santander, Intesa Sanpaolo, APG, Wallenberg Investments and Poland’s BGK, with European Investment Bank participation reported as still under review even as one outlet lists it among partners.