Investment & Fund Management

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and CaixaBank established a EUR 250 million credit line aimed at supporting innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) led by female entrepreneurs. This initiative specifically addresses the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in accessing financing for innovation-based investments, which are often perceived as riskier and harder to assess compared to traditional investments.

To facilitate this, the European Investment Fund (EIF) provided a EUR 125 million guarantee to CaixaBank, which matched this amount with an additional EUR 125 million. This agreement was made under the InnovFin SME Guarantee program, designed to enhance financing availability for businesses engaged in research, development, and innovation (RDI). The financing options available through this credit line range from a minimum of EUR 25,000 to a maximum of EUR 7.5 million, with favorable conditions regarding maturity and interest rates.

Since the launch of the EIF and CaixaBank's collaboration, the SME Initiative has successfully facilitated over EUR 4 billion in financing for Spanish SMEs, impacting more than 48,800 projects. Specifically, CaixaBank has contributed a portfolio of EUR 828 million, benefiting over 21,000 SMEs. This tailored solution not only improves access to finance for female entrepreneurs but also supports broader EU objectives in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the SME sector.