EIF and UniCredit Bank Austria Launch €250 Million Guarantee to Accelerate Innovation, Digitalisation and Green Investment

EIF and UniCredit Bank Austria Launch €250 Million Guarantee to Accelerate Innovation, Digitalisation and Green Investment

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Fund and UniCredit Bank Austria have announced an expanded partnership featuring a new €250 million EIF guarantee that will enable the bank to provide around €360 million in favourable financing for more than 200 SMEs and small mid-caps across Austria. The facility supports innovation, digitalisation and sustainability, with €150 million dedicated to technology and digital investment and €100 million earmarked for green projects. EIF Vice President Karl Nehammer emphasised that the initiative will help Austrian firms strengthen competitiveness, while UniCredit Bank Austria CEO Ivan Vlaho encouraged businesses to contact the bank to explore opportunities. The agreement builds on Austria’s first InvestEU-backed guarantee facility launched in 2022 and brings the total InvestEU support with UniCredit to €340 million, enabling a portfolio expected to reach €486 million and benefit up to 270 companies. The expanded cooperation supports EU goals for the Green Deal and digital transition and continues a 26-year partnership that has already unlocked more than €13 billion in investment for Austrian enterprises.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 21-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Fund (EIF) and UniCredit Bank Austria have announced a significant expansion of their partnership that will unlock substantial new financing for Austrian companies investing in innovation, digital transformation and sustainability. The enhanced cooperation introduces a new €250 million EIF guarantee, enabling UniCredit Bank Austria to provide around €360 million in fresh lending to more than 200 SMEs and small mid-caps across the country.

The announcement, made today at UniCredit’s headquarters in Vienna, builds on the strong results of the first InvestEU-backed agreement signed in 2022, which marked Austria’s initial entry into this type of EU-supported guarantee structure. With this expanded facility, Austrian businesses will benefit from tailored financing solutions designed to accelerate the country’s transition toward a competitive, climate-neutral, digitally advanced economy.

Karl Nehammer, Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), stressed the strategic importance of the partnership:
“Austria’s future competitiveness depends on innovative business, digital progress and leadership in sustainable development. Through this enhanced partnership with UniCredit Bank Austria and the EIF, we are making it possible for hundreds of Austrian companies to invest in their ideas and drive our shared vision for a green, digital future.”

Ivan Vlaho, CEO of UniCredit Bank Austria, highlighted the bank’s commitment to supporting national enterprise:
“UniCredit Bank Austria is proud to collaborate with the EIF to deliver targeted financing solutions for Austria’s SMEs and mid-caps. This new facility will empower businesses to embrace transformation, pursue ambitious projects, and strengthen the backbone of Austria’s economy. We invite companies across Austria to contact us to explore how they can benefit.”

Under the expanded agreement, the €250 million EIF guarantee is allocated across two priority areas:

• €150 million to support innovation and digitalisation, enabling firms to invest in frontier technologies, research, and digital expansion
• €100 million to support sustainability and climate action, helping businesses adopt green technologies, reduce emissions, and build resilient operations

Austrian firms of all sizes within the SME and small mid-cap categories are encouraged to contact UniCredit Bank Austria for information on eligibility and application processes.

With today’s announcement, the total InvestEU-backed guarantee facility with UniCredit Bank Austria increases to €340 million, enabling a total supported portfolio expected to reach €486 million and benefitting up to 270 Austrian businesses.

The EIF–UniCredit partnership forms a key part of the European Union’s broader strategy to mobilise both public and private resources in support of the European Green Deal and the EU digital transition, providing Austrian enterprises with improved access to risk-sharing mechanisms and favourable financing terms.

Over the past 26 years, EIF cooperation with Austrian financial intermediaries has already unlocked more than €13 billion in investment across the country, underscoring the institution’s long-standing role in supporting Austria’s entrepreneurial landscape.

EIB Group

The EIB provides long-term financing for projects that contribute to EU policy goals. The EIB primarily finances investments in four areas: infrastructure, innovation, climate and environment, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The EIB is committed to supporting projects that promote climate action, economic growth, and technological progress.

UniCredit Bank Austria

UniCredit Bank Austria is part of UniCredit, a pan-European commercial bank with a unique service offering in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Central and Eastern Europe.

Our vision is to be the bank for the future of Europe. Our goal is to empower communities so they can thrive by providing first-class services to all stakeholders and enabling our customers and employees across Europe to reach their full potential.

Our core markets are in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Central and Eastern Europe and are served by three high-performing product factories within the Group: Corporate Solutions for our corporate clients, Individual Solutions for our retail clients, and Group Payments Solutions for payments. This allows us to be close to our customers and leverage the scale of the entire Group to develop and offer the best products for all our markets.

We provide comprehensive service to approximately 15 million customers worldwide. Our market-leading solutions, complemented by the extensive expertise of our partners and supported by powerful digitalization and data processing, create genuine added value for our customers, who are at the heart of everything we do.

Digitalization and our commitment to ESG principles (Environment, Social, Governance) are essential prerequisites for our services. They help us deliver outstanding performance for our stakeholders and create a sustainable future for our customers, our communities, and our employees.

Press contacts

Richard Willis, r.willis@eib.org, tel.: +352 43 79 82155 / Mobile:  +352 621 55 57 58
Website: www.eib.org/press – Press Office: press@eib.org

Matthias Raftl, matthias.raftl@unicreditgroup.at, Tel.: +43 (0)50505-52809 / Mobil: +43 664 540 14 62

Website: https://www.bankaustria.at/

SOURCE: European Investment Fund