The boards of directors of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have approved a total of €9.2 million in new financing to boost innovation in the housing sector, strengthen energy security, and support healthcare and water supply systems across Europe, the bank announced.
They highlighted that €400 million has been approved for the HousingTechEU initiative — the first of its kind — aimed at supporting mid-cap and large companies in the EU housing market to accelerate industrial, technological, and construction innovations. This new initiative is part of the EIB Group Action Plan for Affordable and Sustainable Housing, which seeks to increase annual funding for such housing to over €4 billion by 2025.
“High-quality healthcare and access to better housing are fundamental pillars of the social infrastructure that supports the European way of life,” said EIB Group President Nadia Calviño.
She added that the groundbreaking housing innovation initiative adopted this week demonstrates that Europe is taking action in the interests of its citizens.
According to the statement, the EIB Group boards also paved the way for 13 projects under the TechEU program, designed to drive Europe’s green and digital transitions.
In a historic move for the healthcare sector, the EIF has also approved an investment in the first European venture capital fund dedicated to pediatrics.
“This initiative will enable cutting-edge research from children’s hospitals and academic institutions to be transformed into breakthrough therapies that address critical needs in child healthcare. TechEU remains the EU’s largest financial program for supporting innovation and technological leadership,” the EIB explained.
The EIB also approved financing for a new affordable housing project in Germany, a new hospital in the Netherlands, wind energy projects in Germany and Portugal, water infrastructure in Italy and Lithuania, and sustainable transport in Poland.
Beyond the EU, the EIF board approved a new transaction expected to attract over €200 million in financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine.
Additional funding was approved for private sector development in Africa, water management projects in Brazil, hospitals and power networks in Serbia, and geothermal energy in Iceland.
Alongside these new investments, the EIB Board of Directors also held its annual seminar with nearly 100 participants from civil society organizations to discuss, among other topics, lending operations in Ukraine and cooperation with other multilateral development banks, the statement concluded.
