The EIC Fund Board launches the open call for expression of interest to recruit an independent fund manager to become the investment adviser and portfolio manager of the Scaleup Europe Fund, a new multi-billion fund aimed at making major investments in fast-growing companies in strategic tech sectors across Europe.
The fund manager will play a central role in unlocking the value of Europe’s flourishing scaleup companies and promote European tech leadership on a global scale.
The Call for Expression of Interest is open to experienced fund managers who meet the eligibility criteria, including a proven ability to raise and manage investment funds, professional investment experience, and growth and scaleup investment expertise.
An important milestone in the implementation of the Scaleup Europe Fund
The launch of the Call for Expression of Interest follows the recent high-level meeting of the Commission with top-tier European investors, and marks a significant step in the implementation of the Scaleup Europe Fund.
The new Scaleup Europe Fund brings new momentum to Europe’s scaleup ecosystem, anchored in public-private cooperation: Besides the European Commission, the group of potential founding investors in the Fund include – Novo Holdings, EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), CriteriaCaixa, Santander/Mouro Capital, Fondazione Compagnia San Paolo/ Intesa Sanpaolo/Fondazione Cariplo, APG Asset Management, acting on behalf of Dutch pension fund ABP, Wallenberg Investments and BGK (Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego).
For further information: Commission partners with private investors to set up multi-billion Scaleup Europe Fund
The Fund will be part of the existing EIC Fund umbrella structure but with a fully private owned and market-based fund manager.
Next steps
Requests for pre-qualification may be submitted until 19 January 2026, 17:00 CET. The Call for Expressions of Interest is open for applications until 3 February 2026, 17:00 CET.
The selection process is expected to be completed by Spring 2026, with the aim of starting first investments shortly thereafter.
The successful fund manager will be appointed by the EIC Fund following an assessment of expressions of interest against the criteria set out in the call, and a negotiation phase with shortlisted candidates. The selection process is conducted under the remit of the EIC Fund as a private market procedure.
For more information: Scaleup Europe Fund – European Innovation Council – European Commission
Source: European Innovation Council | News (https://tinyurl.com/b38xckb9)