Video: How EC support leveraged private capital - view from solar cell producer Exeger

The crucial role of public support to leverage private financing was highlighted by Gustav Röken, CFO of Swedish solar cell producer Exeger. Speaking at Green Week, where Exeger collected a European Commission LIFE Best Award for its innovative indoor solar cells, Röken explained how having been selected by the LIFE programme for initial funding opened the door to private capital. 

“The combination of LIFE’s evaluation coupled with LIFE’s investment acts as a seal of approval which other private investors can lean on. It gives them the required confidence to invest in a new technology,” said Röken.

He sees potential for even closer collaboration between the EU, private capital and green enterprises. “The EU could play a huge role by vetting [green start-up] companies,” said Röken. “If that support can be put in a structured way at each step – seed money, expansion money, and finally now for us with our global roll out, that would be a very interesting environment for SMEs to work in, most definitely.”

For more on sustainable finance, see our Voices & Views: 'Aligning the Financial System with Sustainable Development'