BNP Paribas has secured an additional €250 million guarantee from the European Investment Bank Group via the European Investment Fund (EIF) under the InvestEU Programme. This significant envelope enables BNP Paribas to advance its goal in supporting innovative and sustainable businesses across the EU, reinforcing its position as a major player in the region and global leader in sustainable finance[1].
“We are proud to partner with the EIF to support the European economy and drive innovation and sustainability,” said Christopher Kramme – Head of BNP Paribas Growth Solutions. “This guarantee is a recognition of our commitment to make a positive impact on the region’s growth and development.
“In 2025, the EIB Group signed through the EIF close to €5 billion in guarantees across Europe, contributing to increase the financing for small and medium-sized businesses”, said Ambroise Fayolle, vice-president of the European Investment Bank. “Guarantees allow banks to expand financing to the real economy and support more risky projects, which in turn drive innovation. By allocating €250 million more in guarantees to BNP Paribas SA, we increase financing for SMEs actively engaged in the twin transition – green and digital”.
This collaboration will enable growth and innovation in the European economy. The envelope will be split into three portfolios focused on innovation and on sustainability and its deployment will be overseen by both BNP Paribas Growth Capital & Solutions and the bank’s CPBS (Commercial, Personal Banking & Services) division, with a two-year deployment period remaining:
- The Innovation and Digitalisation Portfolio will fuel the growth of innovative SMEs and Small Mid-Caps, enhancing their access to finance and accelerating the adoption of digital technologies and transformation.
- The Sustainability Climate Change Mitigation Portfolio will provide support to investments in climate change mitigation such as renewable energy solutions, energy-efficient commercial buildings, industrial energy efficiency initiatives, low-emission mobility solutions and green Information and communication technologies.
- The Sustainability SMEs and Small Mid-Caps Portfolio will back investments in SMEs and Mid-Caps driving the green and sustainable transformation of the European economy.
BNP Paribas’ partnership with EIF provides a guarantee that allows the bank to invest in earlier-stage projects. BNP Paribas will continue to apply its rigorous credit policies, techniques, technology and due diligence, ensuring that each investment meets the highest standards.
BNP Paribas has built a unique offer through its proprietary data and technology platform, one of the most advanced analytics platforms in the banking industry. This platform enables live tracking of business models and goals, providing a far more reliable way of tracking investments.
This initiative illustrates the EIB Group’s and BNP Paribas’ innovative approach and commitment to supporting European growth. BNP Paribas will be able to support additional transactions, boosting its activity and volume, while leveraging on its extensive network of 200 bankers in Europe focused on innovative companies and 5,200 start-up and scale-up clients, accelerating the growth of innovative and sustainable businesses across the region.
