Digitalisation and technological innovation

Annual Report 2024

Digitalisation and technological innovation

Cutting-edge technologies are essential to Europe's future. In 2024 we launched the Finance Labs, which bring together investors, disruptors, policymakers and sector experts at events and online to identify ways to finance projects in the space, quantum and chips sectors. We help innovative companies from across Europe build strong business cases for their projects to secure financing, ensuring their ideas have a lasting future. We analyse markets and sectors to identify why some companies can’t find financing, and we recommend ways to tear down these roadblocks. We give decision-makers tools that make financing available to small and medium-sized companies. We help countries beyond the European Union establish better regulatory environments and prepare better investments, for example in critical raw materials value chains.

PROJECT STORIES

Discover how our EIB Advisory support drives real impact through transformative projects.

A tide of innovation

The EU Blue Champions Programme is an initiative of the European Investment Bank and the European Commission under the InvestEU Advisory Hub that provides free advisory support to companies that have high-quality ideas for the blue economy. The programme boosts competitiveness and prepares companies for funding from investors or the European Investment Bank through a venture debt instrument. The blue economy refers to economic activity relating to oceans and seas.

Data centres for Europe’s digital future

Data centres that process large amounts of digital information are fundamental to the vast array of online activities that define modern life, from streaming television shows to managing critical business operations. It is important to develop data centres in Europe and align with the broader EU Digital Strategy. EIB Advisory, with funding from the InvestEU Advisory Hub, has made it a priority to study this sector and explore the financial structures and macroeconomic impacts of data centres across the European Union.

A digital transformation for small companies

Making sure small companies have access to the latest digital technology is critical for Europe to remain innovative and competitive on the global stage. This can help innovative firms sell their products on international markets and invest in actions that help them avoid the risks of climate change.

Digitalisation is a key part of European Union and Member States’ economic policies. Companies that are digitalised help drive economic growth across Europe. There are several investment support programmes available in various countries. With funding from the InvestEU Advisory Hub, EIB Advisory studied these programmes that promote innovation and digitalisation in France, Spain and Portugal with the aim of helping banks and other financial institutions provide more financing to small and medium companies.

This mapping exercise helps financial intermediaries from these countries better understand the financing available to support innovative companies, and it enables the European Investment Bank to offer more finance products and provide more advisory support for the digital transformation.

Is quantum computing the answer to all problems?

Quantum computing will have an impact on the lives of everyone. From speeding up the development of life-saving drugs to creating new ways to address climate change – the benefits will affect all areas of life. In 2020, revenues for commercial research in quantum computing surpassed $300 million and have been rapidly increasing as confidence in the technology grows. EIB Advisory has been supporting the sector, providing insights and suggestions to increase investments in quantum technology companies.

Europe wants a bigger slice of the microchip pie

Europe wants more digital sovereignty, which means it would have the ability to produce and control the data, hardware and software used in digital devices. The main challenge for European companies in this sector, particularly small firms, is financing. This shortage of investment is caused by high capital needs, high risk, complexity of projects and longer timeframes needed to make a profit on an investment. With funding from the InvestEU Advisory Hub, EIB Advisory launched an initiative to help get more financing for companies in strategic technologies sectors.

Entrepreneurs in space

Europe’s dedication to space companies is evident in the many European Union policies and initiatives. EIB Advisory has been working closely with the European Space Agency and the European Commission’s Directorate for Defence and Space to support companies that struggle to find loans or other financing in this sector. More information about this collaboration can be found here.

Financed by the InvestEU Advisory Hub, this support has included space finance labs that combine the acumen of investors with the knowledge of sector experts.

Clearing the funding hurdles

European scale-up companies face significant funding obstacles. In July 2024, the EIB published an extensive report titled “The scale-up gap: Financial market constraints holding back innovative firms in the European Union.” The EIB Advisory project proposed measures to improve financing for European scale-ups, such as direct equity instruments for deep tech sectors. It also proposed a series of initiatives to mobilise venture capital investments, including corporate venture capital, and attract institutional investors for growth-stage companies.