The EU bank

The Risk Sharing Finance Facility can provide for higher risk financing made available to entities of any size and ownership implementing projects in the area of Research, Technological Development, Demonstration and Innovation.

RSFF beneficiaries can be direct borrowers and guarantee beneficiaries of the EIB under Direct RSFF Financing or benefit indirectly from RSFF under Intermediated RSFF Financing via banks, leasing companies or other financial institutions.

RSFF will be applied in co-financing with banks, promotional agencies or other financial institutions. In exceptional cases, the EIB can also finance on a stand-alone basis.

RSFF beneficiaries:

• Private and public mid-sized or large companies
• Small-and medium sized companies and small midcaps
• Research institutes
• Universities
• Specific Purpose Companies
• Research Infrastructure companies
• Foundations and other legal entities

The following general requirements apply to all RSFF beneficiaries:

• Implementation of an eligible RDI project: the beneficiary implements an RDI project compliant with the Eligibility Criteria established for the Risk Sharing Finance Facility
• Capacity to assume financial obligations: the beneficiary of an RSFF financing must be established as a legal entity capable, under relevant national law and his statutes, to take up financial debt or benefit from a guarantee 
• Ability to service financial obligations: the beneficiary needs to demonstrate that his regular activity or the implementation of the RSFF project will generate sufficient free cash-flow in order to cover loan interest payments, capital reimbursements and/or other charges payable under the RSFF financing contract and under its other financial obligations

EIB financing is always subject to the Bank’s satisfactory assessment of the project’s technical and economic viability and the borrower’s bankability.