Invest-NL and Bpifrance expand partnership for European technology champions

Ambition: at least three joint investments in one year

Bpifrance, the French national investment bank, and Invest-NL share a common ambition: to strengthen the economic and technological ties between the two countries. The cooperation focuses on innovative companies and venture capital funds that contribute to European competitiveness and technological independence. In the Memorandum of Understanding, Invest-NL and Bpifrance agree to work together on:

• Co-investing in innovative companies and venture capital funds in France and the Netherlands. Bpifrance and Invest-NL aim to make at least three joint investments within twelve months;

• Strengthening the French-Dutch ecosystem by sharing knowledge, sector-specific expertise and best practices;

• Providing Invest-NL and Bpifrance portfolio companies with access to markets by connecting them with customers, industrial partners and investors from both Invest-NL and Bpifrance. This will enable portfolio companies to gain a foothold in new markets, establish industrial and commercial partnerships and attract financing.

• Connecting each other with companies, fund managers, investors and other key players within the ecosystems in both countries. Access to each other’s ecosystems can help promising companies scale up across Europe.

Rinke Zonneveld: "Europe has the technology and entrepreneurs to compete globally. Access to capital and international networks is hugely important for promising innovations to grow into successful companies. Public investors such as Invest-NL and Bpifrance can play a key role in this. With Bpifrance, we can give Dutch entrepreneurs access to the French market and jointly invest in companies that strengthen European competitiveness."

Pascal Lagarde: “This cooperation with Invest-NL, a key player in financing innovation in the Netherlands, marks an important milestone in our strategy to strengthen ties between France and the Netherlands. By combining our expertise and networks, we are creating a powerful lever to accelerate the growth of innovative companies. This agreement fully aligns with our vision of an integrated economic ecosystem capable of competing with the world’s leading hubs. Together, we provide startups and investors with privileged access to two complementary markets, while enhancing Europe’s competitiveness."

Dutch interests, European cooperation

The agreement builds on previous arrangements with Bpifrance. Invest-NL is also working more closely with the Italian investment institution CDP. This is giving increasingly concrete shape to cooperation between European public investment institutions. For Invest-NL, Dutch interests come first: international cooperation must contribute to new business activity, technological development and the Netherlands’ earning capacity.