EIF and Enisa Forge €40 Million Guarantee to Propel Innovation and SME Growth in Spain

EIF and Enisa Forge €40 Million Guarantee to Propel Innovation and SME Growth in Spain

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Empresa Nacional de Innovación (Enisa) have entered into a guarantee agreement worth up to €40 million to help innovative Spanish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups access vital finance. This partnership, supported by the EU’s InvestEU program—aiming to mobilize over €372 billion in investment by 2027—will particularly benefit companies engaged in research and innovation-based projects at their early development stages. During a ceremony in Madrid, EIF Chief Investment Officer Marco Marrone, Enisa CEO Borja Cabezón, and Economic Counsellor Anna Armengol highlighted the significance of the deal, which is expected to aid over 200 Spanish SMEs in fueling their digital transformation and growth. The agreement reinforces the broader strategic goals of promoting digitalisation, technological innovation, and the financial support of SMEs in Spain, thereby cementing innovation as a key driver of economic progress in the region.

(PRESS RELEASE) MADRID, 10-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — In a landmark move to bolster finance accessibility for innovative Spanish businesses, the European Investment Fund (EIF) and Empresa Nacional de Innovación (Enisa) have signed a guarantee agreement valued at up to €40 million. This deal is set to ease the financing process for groundbreaking Spanish SMEs and startups, particularly those at the inception stage or launching research and innovation-intensive projects. Backed by InvestEU—a European Union program with the ambitious goal of unlocking over €372 billion in investments by 2027—this partnership aims to reduce the financial barriers that currently hinder company growth.

The guarantee agreement, the first of its kind between the two institutions, was formalized at a signing ceremony in Madrid attended by EIF Chief Investment Officer Marco Marrone, Enisa CEO Borja Cabezón, and European Commission Representation in Spain’s Economic Counsellor Anna Armengol. “We are delighted to be joining forces with ENISA to support innovative SMEs and startups in Spain,” said Marco Marrone. “We hope that this agreement—with a particular focus on companies at the forefront of innovation and research—will empower over 200 Spanish SMEs to finance their growth and digital transformation.”

Borja Cabezón, Chief Executive Officer of Enisa, expressed his enthusiasm for the historic collaboration, stating, “This partnership between our two institutions is a concrete demonstration of how collaboration can significantly boost the entrepreneurial ecosystem, a vital driver for the Spanish economy and society. Every new partnership further cements innovation as the heartbeat of our national agenda.”

Anna Armengol, Economic Adviser of the European Commission Representation in Spain, noted, “The EIF’s support to Enisa is a clear affirmation of the EU’s commitment to reinforcing European innovation. By empowering SMEs with enhanced funding for innovation projects, this operation perfectly exemplifies how the EIF, through InvestEU, can effectively join forces with local ecosystems to heighten the competitiveness of European businesses.”

This guarantee agreement not only advances the EIB Group’s strategic priority of fostering digitalisation and technological innovation but also reinforces its public policy objective of backing SMEs—a cornerstone of Spanish industry.

Background information

About the EIF

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group). Its central mission is to support Europe’s microenterprises and SMEs by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments that specifically target this market segment. In this role, it contributes to the achievement of key EU policy goals such as competitiveness and growth, innovation and digitalisation, social impact, skills and human capital, climate action and environmental sustainability.

In Spain, the EIB Group – which includes both the EIF and the European Investment Bank (EIB) – signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024, helping power the country’s green and digital transition and promote economic growth, competitiveness and better services for its people.

About InvestEU

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that invest in projects, leveraging on the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increasing their risk-bearing capacity and mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

About ENISA

Empresa Nacional de Innovación (national innovation company) is a public sector organisation operating under the auspices of the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism. It aims to help viable and innovative projects led by Spanish entrepreneurs and SMEs to access the finance needed to develop and compete on the global market.

This financial support takes the form of participatory loans of between €25 000 and €1.5 million. This alternative financing is tailored to the needs of SMEs and does not require guarantees or collateral beyond a solid business case and the professional experience of its management team.

ENISA has also taken on the role of certifying entity for early-stage companies that wish to take advantage of the tax benefits and special features of the so-called “Startup law.” This legislation is the first of its kind in Europe, creating a legal framework to promote the growth and success of startups.

Since ENISA started granted participatory loans, it has provided around €1.43 billion across almost 9 280 loans financing over 8 060 companies.

Media Contacts:

EIB Group

Maite Cordero | m.corderomunoz@eib.org | tel.: +34 606 66 82 62

Website: www.eif.org | press@eib.org

Enisa

Communication I comunicacion@enisa.es | tel.: +34 915 708 200

Website: www.enisa.es

Comisión Europea

Representación en España

María Canal Fontcuberta  Maria.Canal-Fontcuberta@ec.europa.eu | tel.: +34 696046156

WEB: Comisión Europea en España

SOURCE: European Investment Fund