The RSI Facility is a joint pilot guarantee scheme of the EIF, EIB and the European Commission (DG Research & Innovation) aiming at improving access to debt finance of innovative SMEs and Small Mid-Caps (enterprises with less than 500 employees) in support of their research, development and innovation (RDI) projects.
By targeting research-based SMEs and Small Mid-Caps, RSI complements the scope of the existing Risk Sharing Finance Facility (RSFF), which is mainly addressed to large Corporates and Mid-Caps.
The EIF does not support entrepreneurs directly but thanks to RSI, EIF makes available loans and financial leases to research-based SMEs and/or Small Mid-Caps through selected financial intermediaries. Serving as ground for the 2014-2020 programming period, RSI also complements other existing EU SMEs support schemes, such as the CIP/SMEG programme
What is RSI geographical reach?
RSI shall be available for financial intermediaries in RSFF 7th EU Framework Programme countries i.e. EU-27 Member States as well as Associated Countries eligible under the RSFF, such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, Switzerland, Israel, Turkey, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, Albania and Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Faroe Islands and Moldova. Other countries may become associated during the course of FP7 subject to certain conditions.
Research-based and innovative SMEs and Small Mid-Caps established and operating in one or several of the EU 27 Member States or Associated Countries (see above), subject to fulfilling certain criteria, will be eligible to benefit from RSI. RDI activities carried-out by SMEs and Small-Mid-Caps should not breach ethical principles or focus on one or more EIF restricted sectors.
Eligible financial intermediaries under RSI are financial or credit institutions duly authorised to carry out lending or leasing activities according to applicable legislation, established and operating in one or more EU 27 Member States or Associated Countries (see above).
