- Technology Transfer Fund – aimed at capitalizing on research and innovation results through partnerships with research and development organizations;
- Co-investment Fund with “business angels” – aimed at strengthening the community of private investors and facilitating their involvement in the development of Romanian entrepreneurship;
- Entrepreneurship Acceleration Fund – dedicated to supporting start-ups and stimulating their growth
According to a press release, the selection of fund managers will be carried out by the EIF starting with the first quarter of 2025, through an open public call. The program will encourage investments in SMEs and mid-caps, focusing on innovation and competitiveness. Selected projects will have to meet specific eligibility criteria, aligned with the ERDF specific objective: “Intensifying sustainable growth, increasing the competitiveness of SMEs and creating jobs through productive investments”.
“By signing this agreement, we reconfirm Romania’s commitment to supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development. The Innovation Romania program is an important opportunity to boost the creation of new technologies and support small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the engine of our economy. Together with the European Investment Fund, we aim to develop a strong investment ecosystem that will attract both local and international capital,” said the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Adrian Câciu. The program is supported by the Smart Growth, Digitalization and Financial Instruments 2021-2027 Program (PoCIDIF), from European structural funds.
“We are pleased to add a new chapter to our long-standing collaboration with Romania, by launching financial instruments that aim to support innovation in enterprises. For over 10 years, together with the Romanian state, we have supported Romanian investments through almost twenty private equity and venture capital funds. “This new initiative will concretely contribute to the creation of start-ups and the launch of new technologies, also encouraging investments made by business angels, thus supporting the Romanian economy and the development of the local investment ecosystem,” commented Marjut Falkstedt, Chief Executive of the EIF.