Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) - EU Guarantees (SMEG)

CIP SMEG was an EU programme managed by EIF in the 2007-2013 programming period launched in cooperation with the European Commission.  CIP SMEG aimed at enhancing access to finance for SMEs and its financial resources have been fully deployed through selected financial intermediaries across the EU, which have provided loans, financial leases and loan guarantees to SMEs.

Under the new 2014-2020 programming period, EIF is managing the COSME Loan Guarantee Facility (LGF) and the InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility.

The entrepreneurs here below benefited from CIP SMEG support which allowed EIF financial intermediaries to give them the necessary kick-start to launch or expand their businesses and carry out their ambitions.  Click on the pictures to read some stories. Do you want to know more? Read further stories of entrepreneurs supported by CIP

First-Step, Ireland Almaz always had a real hunger for business and is now literally managing his own “Happy Foods“ business...

Microbank, Spain Dance teacher Núria is a choreographer, artistic director and flamenco dancer and now owns her own dance school in Sant Esteve de Palautordera (Barcelona), Spain. Núria received an initial micro-credit contribution of EUR 25,000 from the Spanish microlender MicroBank. This loan was used to refurbish the premises and helped her to take her very first steps towards opening her dance school...

KfW, Germany Manuela’s story could be like thousands of others across the EU. While her time at university gave her qualifications and an academic foundation, it also gave her a student loan to pay back. So when she wanted to start her own business, banks were not interested in supporting her...	Participatiefonds/Fonds de Participation, Belgium Karen opened her chocolate boutique in Antwerp in 2007 and has never looked back since. She runs the business herself and has kept it afloat through hard work and dedication to a cause which many people are passionate about – chocolate...

For eligible financial intermediaries:
Please note that the application period ended on 31 December 2013.
Read here about the new EU programmes enhancing access to finance for SMEs :
- COSME Loan Guarantee Facility
- InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility

For SMEs:
If you are an entrepreneur and are looking for finance supported by the European Union, please visit http://europa.eu/youreurope/business/funding-grants/access-to-finance/