PRESS RELEASE
Luxembourg and Brussels, 20 November 2025
Brussels-Capital Region: European boost for SME financing through finance&invest.brussels
- The EIB signs a €50 million loan with finance&invest.brussels to support the financing of SMEs and mid-caps in the Brussels-Capital Region.
- The operation will support a finance&invest.brussels loan portfolio worth €140 million.
- This agreement will enable local businesses to obtain loans under more favourable financial conditions.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €50 million loan agreement with finance&invest.brussels, the regional development institution of the Brussels-Capital Region. This support will enable it to unlock up to €140 million in new financing for local SMEs and mid-cap companies under favourable conditions. By reducing collateral requirements and improving lending conditions, finance&invest.brussels helps entrepreneurs access the financing they need to grow their businesses and create jobs.
«The Brussels-Capital Region has a highly diverse, innovative and dynamic ecosystem of small and medium-sized enterprises that makes a significant contribution to the region’s growth,” said Robert de Groot, Vice-President of the EIB. “By joining forces with finance&invest.brussels, we are ensuring that small businesses in the Brussels Region can access the support and financing they need to thrive and create new opportunities. This collaboration stimulates economic growth and ultimately benefits employment and local communities.»
The investments ultimately made in support of local SMEs and mid-caps through finance&invest.brussels target a variety of sectors, ranging from financial and legal technology to creative industries and sustainable food supply. Lending decisions are made by finance&invest.brussels.
Pierre Hermant, CEO of finance&invest.brussels: « This partnership with the EIB confirms our commitment to providing concrete and sustainable support to SMEs in the Brussels-Capital Region. In a constantly evolving economic environment, it is essential to support businesses in their growth and transition projects. By facilitating access to financing, we help strengthen the dynamism and attractiveness of Brussels, a region that remains an innovative and globally connected economic hub. »
finance&invest.brussels previously signed two guarantee agreements with the European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the EIB Group. These transactions, completed in 2021 and 2023 also helped support financing for local SMEs and mid-caps in the amounts of €54 million and €78 million respectively.
General Information
The European Investment Bank (EIB), whose shareholders are the Member States of the European Union (EU), is the EU’s long-term financing institution. Built around eight core priorities, the EIB supports investments that contribute to achieving the EU’s major objectives climate action and the environment, the digital transition and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world, and the Capital Markets Union.
Last year, the EIB Group, which also includes the European Ivestment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing in support of more than 900 high-impact projects, thereby strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and security. Media representatives can find recent high-resolution photographs of the EIB Group headquarters here.
Founded in 1984, finance&invest.brussels is a public limited company that facilitates and complements the financing chain available to Brussels-based businesses. It places a clear focus on key sectors that promote sustainable economic development and job creation. It provides concrete solutions to businesses’ financing needs, in the form of loans, equity investments, or guarantees, at decisive moments in their development. These financing solutions are aimed at start-ups, growing businesses, SMEs, as well as very small social organisations and cooperatives.
Press Contacts
EIB: Tim Smit | t.smit@eib.org | Press Office: press@eib.org
finance&invest.brussels: Mélusine Baronian | m.baronian@finance.brussels
