Von der Leyen launches EUR 5 billion European Scaleup Fund at EIC Summit, proposes EU Inc. framework

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the creation of a new European Scaleup Fund at the fifth European Innovation Council Summit on 3 June 2026. The fund, described as the largest European growth-stage equity fund ever created, has an initial target size of EUR 5 billion and is privately managed, with investments expected to begin this year. It will focus on strategic technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, clean energy, and space.

In her video message to the summit, von der Leyen also reiterated the Commission's proposal for EU Inc., a single European company framework designed to allow entrepreneurs to create a company within 48 hours, fully online, for less than EUR 100. She argued that the current patchwork of 27 legal systems and over 60 national company forms is too complex, costly, and slow for scaling businesses.

The Scaleup Fund builds on the existing European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, which has already mobilised more than EUR 5 billion for over 350 innovative European start-ups. Von der Leyen noted that in the past year alone, three EIC-backed companies became unicorns. The new fund aims to address the persistent challenge of European tech companies seeking financing outside Europe, which often leads to investment and talent leaving the continent.

Policy orientation and concrete proposals

The speech contained concrete proposals with measurable objectives: the EUR 5 billion Scaleup Fund target, the 48-hour company creation timeline, and the under-EUR 100 cost for EU Inc. The policy orientation is clearly towards deepening the single market and increasing access to growth-stage capital, shifting from a supportive to a more interventionist approach in fostering European tech champions. The announcement represents a significant push to retain innovation and high-quality jobs within Europe.

Stakeholder impacts

European tech start-ups and scale-ups stand to benefit from improved access to growth capital and simplified cross-border operations, potentially reducing their reliance on non-European investors. EU venture capital and private equity firms may face increased competition from the Scaleup Fund but could also co-invest alongside it. National governments may see reduced control over company law as EU Inc. harmonises rules, potentially limiting their ability to tailor regulations. European taxpayers bear the risk of the fund's performance, though it is privately managed, limiting direct fiscal exposure. Overall, the initiative represents a moderate shift towards EU-level industrial policy, with positive impacts on competitiveness balanced by potential sovereignty concerns for member states.