EU Impact Fund raises 300 million euros

The fund is intended to support companies in the bioeconomy and the bio-based circular economy.

The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) has raised around 300 million euros. The money is to be used to finance growth companies in the bioeconomy and the bio-based circular economy. The EU is supporting the fund. Originally it was to be endowed with 250 million euros, but now it has 50 million euros more.

The following new shareholders have joined: Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, Allianz France, Invest NL, GC, Firmenich, Stellar Impact, Dr. Hans-Riegel Holding and Bellevue Investments. The existing investors included big names such as Nestlé, BÜFA, NRW.Bank, Volkswohl Bund, Corbion, Dr. Hettich Beteiligungen, the Koehler Group, the Wortmann Family Office and three other investors.

The European Commission initiated the venture capital fund. Its aim is to build a long-term sustainable economy and drive forward the transition from a fossil-based to a bio-based circular economy. The fund was launched in 2020 with a commitment of €100 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

"With the necessary expertise, the strong commitment of the ECBF team and the right partners, we can make our vision of a bio-based economy a reality," hopes Michael Brandkamp, co-founder and managing partner of ECBF. "From solutions to tackle water stress to insect-based ingredients or the recycling of orange peels that would otherwise end up in waste, the fund's first investments demonstrate the potential of the bioeconomy sector to contribute to tackling the environmental challenges of our time and to the European Union's transition to a carbon-neutral circular economy," adds Christian Kettel Thomsen, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank.