This Week in Higher Ed — Brussels (#30, 2026)
Scaleup Europe Fund established; major State aid decision for INRAP under Article 107(3)(d); research and innovation funding progresses.
August 02, 2026 to August 08, 2026
Scaleup Europe Fund established; major State aid decision for INRAP under Article 107(3)(d); research and innovation funding progresses.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
European Commission
European Commission launches Scaleup Europe Fund with €5 billion target
The European Commission on 3 August 2026 finalized the legal establishment of the Scaleup Europe Fund, marking the operational launch of an investment vehicle aimed at supporting European scaleup companies. The Fund, managed by EQT following a competitive selection process, is part of the European Innovation Council Fund and draws on both public and private capital, targeting up to €5 billion. Participating investors include entities such as Novo Holdings, EIFO, CriteriaCaixa, Santander/Mouro Capital, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo with Intesa Sanpaolo and Fondazione Cariplo, APG Asset Management on behalf of Dutch pension fund ABP, Wallenberg Investments, Allianz, and the Commission itself. The Commission’s investment leverages resources from Horizon Europe, aligning with strategic technology sectors such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, and clean technologies. President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the Fund’s priority is to keep innovative European companies growing within the EU, as outlined in her 2025 State of the Union Address. Initial investments are anticipated within weeks, with further fundraising efforts ongoing.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Commission Decision (EU) 2026/1875 on State Aid SA.51268 for France's National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP)
Published on 7 August 2026, Commission Decision (EU) 2026/1875 (CELEX: 32026D1875) addresses State aid provided by France to the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP). The decision concludes an investigation under Article 108(2) TFEU into complaints of cross-subsidisation and the compatibility of subsidies for INRAP’s public service costs. The Commission found that parts of the public funding for INRAP’s non-economic activities constituted State aid, as it could not fully rule out potential cross-subsidisation to INRAP's economic activities. The aid, implemented without prior notification and found unlawful under Article 108(3) TFEU, was ultimately declared compatible with the internal market pursuant to Article 107(3)(d) TFEU. The decision covers public funding provided between 2008 and 2021 and addresses accounting methodologies, competitive market shares, and sectoral context under French heritage law.
