EQT is preparing to more than double its European investments to €250bn ($292bn) over the next five years, while urging policymakers to enact pro-growth reforms to unlock private capital and strengthen the continent’s competitiveness against the United States.

In a letter published on the firm’s website, EQT CEO Per Franzén said the firm’s commitment to Europe would depend on the region’s ability to create a more dynamic investment environment and remove barriers to scaling technology companies.

Franzén called for simplified cross-border rules, better access to capital for startups, and more efficient stock option systems for early-stage companies. He also backed proposals for a unified European stock exchange to attract tech listings and encourage long-term institutional investment.

Building a thriving tech industry in Europe has become an “urgent geopolitical and strategic requirement,” Franzén said, adding that Europe must act with “coordination, courage, and commitment” to ensure its companies can scale globally.

EQT invested €120bn in Europe over the past five years and plans a similar expansion in the US, where it aims to deploy more than $250bn. Franzén highlighted a stark disparity in value creation, noting that the US has produced 241 companies worth over $10bn in the past 50 years, compared with just 14 in Europe.

He urged European governments to emulate successful models such as Sweden’s, where policy has effectively stimulated private investment, and to streamline regulations that hinder cross-border growth.

The comments align with a growing consensus among European policymakers, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, who have recently called for cutting red tape and improving the region’s investment competitiveness.

Franzén, who became CEO in May after leading EQT’s €22bn flagship fundraising in 2024, said the firm remains committed to deploying capital in Europe but warned that sustained reforms are essential for long-term economic resilience and innovation leadership.

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