Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Austria will get easier access to risk capital thanks to the new EU-backed loan guarantee facilities under the Horizon 2020 and COSME programmes. Two deals signed today between Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws), an Austrian federal development and financing bank, and the European Investment Fund (EIF) will allow aws to enter into new loan agreements with SMEs as well as Small Mid-caps for a total of €290 million over the next two years.