The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced more than EUR 2.4 billion in new financing for energy resilience and cutting-edge innovation at Hannover Messe on April 20, 2026, according to a press release by the EIB Group. All five new operations are backed by the InvestEU programme and target energy security, technology transfer, and industrial innovation across Europe. The transactions reflect the Group’s response to rising geopolitical tensions, energy security concerns, and global competition in strategic technologies.
The five deals involve Commerzbank, akf bank, Turbine Capital, Atlantic Bridge, and Obloo. Under the Commerzbank cooperation, the EIB will provide a EUR 250 million guarantee enabling up to EUR 2 billion in investment in electricity grids across Germany and other EU member states. Through the EIF, the EIB Group and akf bank are launching an InvestEU Innovation and Digitalisation guarantee of up to EUR 100 million, expected to support around EUR 143 million in new loans and leases for more than 140 SMEs and small mid-caps investing in robotics, automation, and AI-based digital solutions in Germany.
The EIF is committing SEK 170 million (around EUR 16 million) to Turbine Capital Fund I, a Swedish early-stage deep tech fund targeting a total size of SEK 750 million, focusing on semiconductors, industrial digitalisation, space, and climate-relevant infrastructure. The EIF has also approved a EUR 20 million commitment to a third technology transfer fund managed by Atlantic Bridge, targeting EUR 150 million to support university spin-outs and deep tech companies in Ireland and across Europe. Additionally, the EIF is acting as a cornerstone investor with EUR 25 million from InvestEU in Obloo Future of Computing Fund I, targeting EUR 80 million and focusing on deep tech in Italy.
EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer said:
“With more than EUR 2.4 billion being unlocked for investment in power grids, robotics and deep tech, backed by InvestEU, the EIB Group is helping Europe to turn pressure into progress: financing the energy security, semiconductors, AI and space technologies that underpin our competitiveness and strategic autonomy.”
Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné added that the financing shows how EU policy and the EU budget can work hand in hand with public and private partners to turn the industrial strategy into concrete projects. Both officials emphasized that the operations support Europe’s technological sovereignty and help lower energy risks for companies and households.
Together, the five transactions are expected to mobilize more than EUR 2.4 billion in investments reinforcing Europe’s energy security and scaling up deep tech companies rooted in European universities and research ecosystems. By combining large-scale grid infrastructure support with targeted financing for robotics, AI, and technology transfer funds, the EIB Group aims to help European industry cope with high energy prices, supply chain disruptions, and intensified geopolitical rivalry. The operations form part of the EIB Group’s broader effort to use EU budget guarantees to de-risk private investment in strategic sectors.
