Initiated by the European Investment Bank, the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) is the first private venture capital impact fund exclusively dedicated to the (circular-) bioeconomy.

It aims to speed up the shift from a fossil-based to a circular bio-based economy and contribute to achieving the European Green Deal goals to make Europe climate neutral by 2050.

ECBF invests in technologies, products, processes, business models and newly emerging value chains linked to biobased products derived from renewable resources. Its flexible financing tools rqnge from equity to mezzanine.

Targeted industry sectors are the agri-sector and food, forestry, blue economy, industrial biotech, bio-based chemicals and materials, packaging, personal & home care, construction, textiles and others.

The ECBF invests in the 27 EU Member States, as well as countries associated with the EU Horizon 2020 programme. Investments are focused on companies or projects with Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6-9 and some first significant commercial traction. The investment size ranges from EUR 2.5 to 10 million. Commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria is a prerequisite and contributions to CO₂-reduction, biodiversity, circularity and mitigation of toxic substances are highly valued.

Companies can pitch to them.