The objective of this Open Call for Expression of Interest, launched by the European Investment Fund, is to select eligible financial institutions to become Financial Intermediaries under the InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility (the “Facility”), window of the single EU debt financial instrument.

The InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility will be deployed by eligible local banks, leasing companies, guarantee institutions, etc. which are selected after a due diligence process following the launch of a Call for Expression of Interest. Once selected by EIF, these local partners act as financial intermediaries.

EIF, acting for both EIF and the EU as the implementing body, covers a portion of the losses incurred by the financial intermediaries on loans, leases and guarantees between EUR 25 000 and EUR 7.5 million which they provide under the InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility. In this way, the EU and EIF allow the provision of more debt financing to innovative SMEs and Small Mid-caps (up to 499 employees).