Companies and Entrepreneurs in Slovakia Are Already Benefiting from the New SIH Guarantee Instrument

Bratislava, 10 December 2025 – Slovak Investment Holding (SIH) launched its first financial instrument of the new programming period in the summer, aiming to inject up to €650 million into the Slovak economy. The instrument is financed through the Programme Slovakia and the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Slovak Republic.

The instrument operates on the principle of a portfolio guarantee, which makes loans more accessible and advantageous. Companies can also receive an innovation grant ranging from 0% to 30% of the loan amount, depending on the type of recipient, project location, and project type.

“By the end of September, 224 loans totaling €82 million had been signed. And that was the first full quarter. The demand is substantial,” said SIH CEO Peter Fröhlich.

In the video podcast, Peter Fröhlich speaks with an Euractiv journalist about:

• what financial instruments are and why they are more effective than traditional grants,

• how the new guarantee instrument works and supports companies and entrepreneurs in innovation,

• and how financial instruments can foster the growth and development of Slovak businesses.

If you want to clearly understand the difference between grants and financial instruments, explore new financing opportunities, or learn how the state can support business growth in a modern way, this interview explains it clearly and practically.

Watch the full video podcast here: https://youtu.be/KCluL_g46Pc?si=1mnZp11m7lLX13bb
Listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0S05bX7jAq8QOMJ01fJ4iz