Through the new NRW.Venture EU Tech&Scale Fund, NRW.BANK will be able to invest up to 30 million euros per financing transaction in highly innovative scale-ups – twice as much as before. In total, up to 200 million euros in additional funding will be made available for investments in young deep tech and growth companies based in North Rhine-Westphalia. A corresponding agreement has now been signed in Brussels between NRW.BANK and the European Commission – initial financing will be available from the end of the first quarter of 2026.

NRW.Venture EU Tech&Scale will focus on innovative and capital-intensive scale-ups in advanced financing phases, particularly in the fields of deep tech, green tech, Industry 4.0, biotechnology, medical technology and digital solutions. Scale-ups are rapidly growing, highly innovative companies that have moved beyond the start-up phase, are now in a phase of growth, and have significant capital needs as a result.

”Large-scale growth financing for scale-ups remains the exception in Germany. Investors are more risk-averse than, for example, in the USA or China, and the sums invested are smaller. As a consequence, highly innovative companies still tend to be sold early – often to foreign buyers – which has serious implications for Germany as a business location and for its competitiveness. We want to change this,” says Gabriela Pantring, designated Chairwoman of NRW.BANK’s Managing Board. “With our new Tech&Scale Fund, we are working with the European Commission to close a key financing gap, ensuring that scaling technology companies can continue to grow in North Rhine-Westphalia – and thus in Europe – over the long term.”

Mona Neubauer, Vice Prime Minister and Economics Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia: “The InvestEU partnership with NRW.BANK is a milestone for industrial and innovation policy. Through this, we are specifically strengthening those scale-ups that are vital for technological sovereignty, value creation and high-quality jobs in North Rhine-Westphalia and Europe. The success of this initiative is also the result of our steadfast commitment to reliable framework conditions and strong financing instruments within the European single market.”

Structure of the Fund

NRW.BANK is financing the Fund from its own resources and thus independently of the state budget. It shares the risk of potential losses with the European Commission on a 50/50 pari passu basis. At the same time, both parties participate equally in potential returns, for instance through an exit.

Through risk sharing, the maximum possible investment per scale-up rises from the current 15 million euros to 30 million euros in future. The total investment volume of the programme amounts to 200 million euros, of which 100 million euros is backed by the EU guarantee.

Under the programme, NRW.BANK will make direct equity investments or provide convertible loans. As is typical, investments will be made alongside one or more co-investors. The Bank’s investment will thus leverage additional capital.

The launch is planned for the first quarter of 2026.

NRW.BANK’s pioneering role

NRW.BANK is the first Implementing Partner in Germany to sign a guarantee agreement with the European Commission.

Gabriela Pantring: “As Vice-President of the European Association of Public Banks, I am committed to ensuring that we make the most of the opportunities offered by the EU in Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia. Europe is our strength – especially in times like these.”

Structural problem in the European venture capital market

With NRW.Venture EU Tech&Scale, the promotional bank is addressing a structural problem in the European venture capital market: although sufficient capital is now generally available for early-stage financing, the large sums needed by capital-intensive, technology-oriented scale-ups are often lacking. The new Fund tackles this very issue, creating new opportunities for value creation, employment and technological expertise in North Rhine-Westphalia.

For more information, visit www.nrwbank.de/en(Link opens in a new window)

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 investments for the European Union's policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. The InvestEU programme brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments currently 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 will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

NRW.BANK becomes first InvestEU Implementing Partner in Germany

Through the new NRW.Venture EU Tech&Scale Fund, NRW.BANK will be able to invest up to 30 million euros per financing transaction in highly innovative scale-ups – twice as much as before. In total, up to 200 million euros in additional funding will be made available for investments in young deep tech and growth companies based in North Rhine-Westphalia. A corresponding agreement has now been signed in Brussels between NRW.BANK and the European Commission – initial financing will be available from the end of the first quarter of 2026.

NRW.BANK - the promotional bank for North Rhine-Westphalia

NRW.BANK is the promotional bank of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). In close partnership with its owner, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Bank helps to strengthen SMEs and start-ups, create affordable housing and improve public infrastructure. To fulfil its mandate, NRW.BANK offers people, enterprises and local authorities tailor-made financing solutions and advisory services. It cooperates with its financing partners, in particular all banks and savings banks, on a competition-neutral basis. NRW.BANK operates largely independently of the state budget. In order to accelerate the transformation processes, the promotional bank provides effective promotional impulses – for a sustainable, climate-neutral and digital North Rhine-Westphalia.