The fi‑compass Blog

Stories of how financial instruments have an impact on the ground

Puglia (Italy)
31 January 2023
Puglia Sviluppo: Minibonds for Sustainability

The ERDF powered ‘Minibonds for Sustainability’ financial instrument, set up by Puglia Sviluppo, the region’s agency for economic development, has achieved its goal of generating over EUR 100 million in new issues, demonstrating that even small and medium-sized enterprises can access the capital market, adopting forms of financing that are complementary to traditional bank finance.

ERDF
Italy
Greece
25 January 2023
EquiFund: Financing growth and innovation in Greece

The EquiFund fund of funds was set up in Greece with an overall volume of EUR 448 million and nine equity financial instruments. It provides equity financing to companies that are established or have a branch in Greece and aims to accelerate the development of venture capital and private equity in Greece. 

ERDF
Greece
Croatia (map)
25 January 2023
HBOR: ESIF Growth and Development Loans

This fi-compass Showcase 2023 submission tells the story of how Inginspekt-Opatija, a company offering a wide range of services in the safety sector, was able to finance the creation of a water testing laboratory to assess and control the quality of drinking and wastewater thanks to an ESIF Growth and Development Loan set up by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) and co-financed by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).

ERDF
Croatia
Lithuania
25 January 2023
VIPA: Renovation is the new Lithuanian fashion

Through the ERDF-powered multi-apartment buildings modernisation fund, the Lithuanian Public Investment Development Agency (VIPA) was able to finance the renovation of 800 multi-apartment buildings since 2015, making them more sustainable and energy efficient.

ERDF
Lithuania
Participants at a fi-compass event.
12 January 2023
FI Campus 2023 – Financial instruments in changing times

The fi-compass team is happy to invite you to its first fully in person FI-Campus event since the pandemic. The 2023 edition will take place in Brussels from Monday, 13 March until Wednesday, 15 March 2023 and shed light on the opportunities offered by financial instruments as EU citizens and businesses face challenging economic times ahead.

ESIF
All EU Member States
inside the new processing facility.
25 December 2022
United for success thanks to an EMFF financial instrument loan

Thanks to two loans backed by the 2014-2020 European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Financial Instrument, three former competitors in the Baltic fishing and fish processing industry have joined forces and invested in a modern plant that gives fish remains a second life.

EMFF/EMFAF
Poland
Man working on a machine
20 December 2022
Huras: a rising star in challenging times

Thanks to a loan granted by BNP Paribas, under the ERDF co-financed Biznesmax guarantee, Huras, a globally active family-owned company manufacturing machinery and specialised equipment in Poland, was able to develop and grow – even during challenging times.

ERDF
Poland
fresh and tasty Syrian and Arabic food at Dilbi, Sally Ghannoum's restaurant
16 December 2022
microStart: small loans for big steps in a new homeland

Sally, a Syrian refugee, was able to open her business in Antwerp and rebuild a life thanks to the support of microStart, Belgium’s leading microfinance institution. Microfinance for vulnerable groups can be combined with targeted coaching and co-financed with EU shared management funds.

ESF/ESF+
Belgium
Hands holding a green liquid
12 December 2022
Spiripau: from flowers to algae

With the financial backing of a Friuli-Venezia Giulia EAFRD financial instrument loan, the Paulitti family were able to turn their floriculture company into a successful organic spirulina business.

EAFRD
Italy
showcase_teaser_image
10 December 2023
Let’s get this show on the road!

After a brief hiatus, the fi-compass team is happy to announce the return of the Showcase Award 2023! Could you be the winner waiting in the wings to raise the Showcase trophy high at our upcoming FI Campus event?

ESIF
All EU Member States
Streets of London
2 December 2022
MEEF helps black cabs convert to electric

Thanks to the Mayor of London’s Energy Efficiency Fund (‘MEEF‘), which uses European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) financial instruments (FIs), Colts Cabs Limited (‘Colts’), London’s largest independent licensed taxi rental company, has benefitted from a multi-million Euro loan to fund 30 electric black cabs through an innovative and flexible pay-per-mile mechanism.

ERDF
United Kingdom
Accessible geothermal energy thanks to ESIF financing
3 September 2022
Accessible geothermal energy thanks to ESIF financing

How do we replace fossil fuels? That is the big question. While intermittent renewables like solar and wind, when paired with batteries, are a popular fossil fuel alternative, the energy from the Earth's super-heated core is still largely untapped.

ERDF
Slovakia