One year, one billion: Robeco’s Active ETFs off to a flying start

The milestone reflects not just a strong start but also a broader shift in investor preferences: growing demand for active approaches within accessible, transparent ETF formats. We spoke with Nick King, Head of ETFs, and Dorcas Phillips, Head of ETF Capital Markets, about what’s driving the rise of active ETFs, how clients are using them, and what comes next.

Nick King: “Active ETFs combine the best of both worlds. They offer the transparency, accessibility and flexibility of an ETF, but with the potential for outperformance that comes from active management. Investors get more than market exposure – they gain access to our investment insights, innovation, and sustainability expertise, all within a structure that is easily accessible on exchange.”

Globally, active ETFs have evolved from a niche concept into one of the fastest-growing segments of the ETF market, now representing around 10% of global ETF assets. The ability to pair cost efficiency with active insight has made them especially attractive for investors seeking smarter portfolio building blocks.

NK: “We’re really pleased that, despite this being a new business line for Robeco, clients have entrusted us with EUR 1 billion in assets already. Further, this has been achieved with only six new products and four of these have already surpassed the EUR 100 million mark, which is often seen as a critical threshold for clients.”

Dorcas Phillips: “What’s equally important is the diversification behind those numbers. It’s not one flagship fund with a single large investor. We’re seeing multiple strategic investors allocating across the range.”

NK: “It’s really a combination of factors. Our first year was about building the operational platform for a scalable, long-term capability. That was our first milestone. Once the products launched, we switched focus to going to market, and talking to clients to show them the advantages of active ETFs. It’s been a very productive year, building on that foundation.”

“Many investors already knew Robeco for our quant and SI expertise, for example, so bringing those strengths into an ETF format felt like a natural next step.”

DP: “Investors are increasingly recognizing the appeal of active ETFs: the ability to combine flexibility and transparency with an active edge.
Our 3D range was launched in areas where Robeco already had a strong, long-term track record. These quant strategies delivered consistent results with limited active risk, making them a natural fit for investors seeking something beyond pure passive. The market for active ETFs has gained huge momentum over the past twelve months, and having the right capabilities in place early meant we could help clients capture that opportunity.”

DP: “Our first fixed income ETF is a good example of how we’re working in partnership with clients. The Robeco Climate Euro Government Bond ETF was developed together with ING as a strategic collaboration, which for us is the best kind of product development: co-creating something that truly meets client needs.”

This ETF systematically tilts toward eurozone countries leading the climate transition, while maintaining a risk-return profile similar to traditional benchmarks. Unlike many sustainable bond products that focus only on green bonds or backward-looking data, it takes a forward-looking approach, assessing each country’s ambition, policy, and tangible progress toward net zero.

NK: “We’ve seen flows from a range of clients across Europe, and there’s already some early interest from Asia as well. It’s not just a single-market story; we’ve built momentum across countries and client types.”

NK: “You can’t stand still in this market. We’ve already expanded into fixed income and we will be adding to the range in the coming months. Early next year, we’ll launch five new ETFs, with more in development. We’re also exploring how to leverage our in-house index expertise. In short, it’s about expanding client choice while keeping quality high.”

NK: “The 3D range was designed to serve as an alternative to passive holdings, staying close to the benchmark while seeking better risk-adjusted returns. Clients are generally using these as core allocations.”

DP: “The Dynamic Theme Machine ETF, which leverages AI and natural-language processing to identify emerging themes early and time entry and exit points, suits clients looking for truly innovative and dynamic thematic exposure, rather than single-theme concentration.”

DP: “We’re building on our existing strengths and offering clients a new way to access those capabilities through the ETF wrapper. This matters because we see ETFs becoming the preferred vehicle of choice for many investors. Clients are already embracing them, and they want that option from us. Our success so far demonstrates that this approach truly resonates.”

“We’re seeing that with both existing and new clients. We have clients who are completely new to Robeco that specifically want to use ETFs. This capability, offering a new wrapper and opening new distribution channels, is still in its early stages but already showing real results.”

NK: “Exactly – it’s about expanding access. Offering our capabilities as ETFs allows existing clients to choose the wrapper that suits them best. At the same time ETFs can open the door to entirely new clients that we couldn’t reach before.”