Candriam launches a thematic equity fund on European autonomy
6 MAY, 2026
By Joanna Piwko from RankiaPro Europe
Candriam announced today the launch of a thematic equity fund focused on European autonomy. The strategy targets companies that drive the resilience and self-sufficiency of the continent in strategic sectors, transforming the European investment agenda of 1 trillion euros into a high conviction portfolio.
The launch comes in a context marked by geopolitical fragmentation, technological disruption, energy transition and demographic changes.
Investment Strategy
The fund is actively managed through a bottom-up selection process and seeks to identify opportunities in five pillars: technology, health innovation, energy transition, aerospace and defense, and strategic materials.
Its goal is to capture the investment potential derived from the drive towards European autonomy and the upcoming structural growth cycle, addressing vulnerabilities such as energy supply, digital dependence, defense and access to critical medical products.
ESG Rating and Management Team
Classified as Article 8 of the SFDR, the fund is led by Quentin Duquesne as main manager, with Elie El Kadi and Antoine Lensel as co-managers.
The strategy is integrated into Candriam's Thematic Global Equity team, which oversees more than 13.1 billion euros (15.4 billion dollars) in assets, and relies on the firm's own thematic framework to identify the megatrends that will define the global markets of the future.
Europe is entering a new stage of autonomy, driven by real capital commitments, industrial policies and structural changes. Our European Autonomy strategy is designed to channel these flows into enduring equity opportunities that both contribute to and benefit from Europe's strategic transformation. With our DNA in thematic investing, we believe this strategy offers a differentiated path for long-term investors looking to capitalize on the momentum of European autonomy.
Johan Van der Biest, Global Head of Thematic Global Equity at Candriam
