We extend our agreement with the EIF and strengthen our focus on innovation, digitalisation and sustainability

The agreement increases the lending capacity for such projects by around NOK 2 billion over the next two years, an increase of 50 per cent.

Norway has a shortage of risk capital. In recent years, our partnership with the EIF has been key to enabling us to help finance more projects. This means we can offer loans to companies with significant growth and innovation potential that lack sufficient collateral. The EIF guarantee reduces our risk on these loans.

Since the agreement was signed in 2024, we have approved loans totalling NOK 1,159 million. Most of the funding has gone to innovation and digitalisation projects, with one fifth going to sustainability projects.

'We see that businesses need this type of funding to bring their projects to life. Securing funding can be challenging when development costs remain high and businesses still have limited assets to offer as collateral. This type of scheme can make these projects possible,' says Leon Bakkebø, EVP of Banking and Finance at Innovation Norway.

Our agreement with the European Investment Fund aims to promote entrepreneurship, growth, innovation, research and development, the green and digital transition, and employment. The scheme leverages private and public funding to support sustainable development. We entered into the agreement with the EIF in 2024.

• An agreement that makes it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to secure funding for growth projects. The EIF provides a guarantee for the loans we offer.
• The scheme is for companies with up to 499 employees that work with innovation, digitalisation or the green transition.

The benefits for businesses are:

• It will be easier for businesses to secure loans without having to provide sufficient collateral.
• You can secure funding for higher-risk projects.