With more than 24 billion pairs of shoes made each year using mainly oil derivatives and leather, footwear has an undeniably negative impact on the environment. Croatian footwear company MIRET wants to change that! Designing shoes to have the lowest possible impact on the environment, these bio-based sneakers are empowering consumers to choose design, durability and comfort, but most importantly sustainability.
Since 2015, Breizh Up is having a positive impact on Brittany’s economy, using ERDF backed financial instruments to stimulate and accelerate investment in innovative companies in France. Among Breizh Up’s diverse portfolio is EOLINK, a company implementing innovative and cost-effective floating wind farms.
The ERDF powered IFRRU 2020 financial instrument focuses on urban rehabilitation and revitalisation. By the end of 2022, 440 buildings were renovated thanks to the financial support of IFRRU, generating new jobs and making Portuguese cities more green, sustainable and energy efficient.
Through ERDF and ESF financial instruments, Národní rozvojová banka (NRB) — the Czech National Promotional Bank — stimulates investments in energy efficiency, innovative enterprises, SMEs and social entrepreneurs.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
