"EIT InnoEnergy and Demeter launch €500m European
battery raw materials fund
18 January 2024, Davos:
EIT InnoEnergy, the innovation engine for sustainable energy supported by the
European Institute of Innovation & Technology (
EIT), a body of the European Union (EU), and
Demeter Investment Managers*, a major European private equity and venture capital firm; today
announced the launch of a fund dedicated to the development of a resilient and diverse battery raw
material supply chain for Europe.
With a target size of €500 million, the ‘EBA Strategic Battery Materials Fund’ (EBA Materials Fund or
the “Fund”) builds upon the success of the European Battery Alliance (EBA250) in its mission to create
a resilient European battery industry. The fund is launched amidst soaring European demand for
batteries which is exposing significant gaps in the upstream (mining, processing) of the EU’s battery
material supply chain. In line with the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) requirements to
decrease the EU’s overreliance on foreign supply, the fund aims to boost domestic capacities for
strategic battery materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite.
Diego Pavia, CEO of EIT InnoEnergy said: “To secure a thriving and resilient European battery industry,
we must intensify our efforts in domestic battery raw materials production. While it’s encouraging to
see a growing list of ambitious initiatives and financial stimuli from public and private players, their
focus is typically on mature projects (post-Final Investment Decision). Yet these initiatives need a deal
flow of de-risked projects, and therefore we also need a focus on early-stage upstream projects
(scoping, PFS and DFS), committed to a sustainable, traceable and transparent battery materials
supply chain – and that’s exactly what the EBA Materials Fund will deliver.”
Demeter will act as fund manager, bringing its wealth of experience in greentech and infrastructure.
EIT InnoEnergy will tap into its sector heritage, evidenced by leadership of EBA250 since its inception
in 2017, along with broader early-stage investment expertise to identify and support risky projects.
Societe Generale will act as the exclusive financial advisor for the capital raising.
Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič in charge of the European Green Deal and the
European Battery Alliance said: “The battery industry is of strategic importance and a key
battleground for global competitiveness. Therefore, it is vital to continuously up our game, with
securing battery raw materials being the single biggest task ahead. Today’s innovative announcement
shows that we mean business – on both, boosting our domestic European capacities and bolstering
diversification via trade and cooperation with reliable partners. We need to be strategic, bold, agile.”
At least 70% of investments from the EBA Materials Fund will be dedicated to projects increasing EU
domestic production from mining, processing, refining and recycling in EU and neighbouring
countries. The remaining 30% will focus on increasing raw material supply from EU Raw Material
Partnership countries, such as Canada, Namibia, and Argentina.
The EBA Materials Fund will support projects in obtaining the highest environmental standards,
following the robust sustainability criteria set under the EU Battery Regulation on traceability,
sustainability and circularity, and other criteria which are currently being set under the CRMA. The
fund will have one of the highest ESG classifications as an Article 8 fund under the EU’s Sustainable
Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).
Antoine Troesch, Managing Partner at Demeter, added: “Demeter is delighted to launch this initiative
together with EIT InnoEnergy, in a critical segment for European countries to succeed in energy and
ecological transition. Demeter will bring its recognized expertise in green investments and its
methodologies for ensuring those investments meet the highest ESG standards.”
ENDS
About EIT InnoEnergy
EIT InnoEnergy operates at the centre of the energy transition and is the leading innovation engine
in sustainable energy. It brings the technology, business model innovation and skills required to
accelerate the green deal, progress towards Europe’s decarbonisation and re-industrialisation goals,
whilst also improving energy security.
Recognised as Europe’s top Cleantech and Blue Economy venture capital firm and investor in 2023
by
Startup Genome, one of Europe’s top 10 most active deeptech investors by
Sifted in 2023 and the
most active investor in the energy sector in 2022 by
Pitchbook, InnoEnergy backs innovations across
a range of areas.These include energy storage, transport and mobility, renewables, energy efficiency,
hard to abate industries, smart grids and sustainable buildings and cities.
InnoEnergy has a portfolio of more than 200 companies, which are estimated to generate €110
billion in revenue and save 2.1G tonnes of CO2e accumulatively by 2030. Collectively, these
companies have raised more than €9.7 billion in investment to date.
InnoEnergy is the driving force behind three strategic European initiatives which include the
European Battery Alliance (EBA), the
European Green Hydrogen Acceleration Center (EGHAC) and
the
European Solar Photovoltaic Industry Alliance (ESIA).
InnoEnergy was established in 2010 and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and
Technology (
EIT), a body of the European Union. Since its inception, InnoEnergy has screened more
than 7,000 start-ups, launched more than 300 products to market and overseen its portfolio
companies filing 370+ patents. Today, InnoEnergy has a trusted ecosystem of 1200+ partners and 35
shareholders and a 200+ strong team with offices across Europe and in Boston, US.
www.innoenergy.com
About Demeter
Demeter Investment Managers is a major European player in venture capital, private equity and
infrastructure investment in the field of energy and ecological transition. Its funds invest from 1 to
50 million euros to support companies in the sector at all stages of their development: innovative
startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and infrastructure projects. The Demeter team
consists of 38 individuals based in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Madrid and Düsseldorf. Managing 1.3 billion
euros, the team has executed 230 investments over 17 years.
Disclaimer
• This Fund is a project of Fund that will be managed by Demeter Investment Managers, a
Management Company authorized under AIFM Directive by the French Market Authority
under No. GP-05000027;
• This Fund is only open to Professional Investors within the meaning of Directive
• This Fund invest mostly in non-listed companies meaning that the unitholders undertake a
liquidity risk: some assets held by the Fund may not be sold before a long time;
• This Fund entails a risk of loss in capital: you may or may not recover the full amount
• The Fund is currently being pre-marketed and authorized to be pre-marketed in the
following jurisdictions: France, Germany, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, the
Republic of Ireland.
➢ Pursuant to EU Directive 2019/1160 and article D.214-32-4-1-1 of the French Monetary and
➢ Providing the investor with sufficient information enabling him to make an
➢ No subscription form or definitive Fund by-laws are given to the investor;
➢ All documents including this press release should not be considered as an