Our Mission is to further the objectives of the European Union by making long-term finance available for sound investment.
The EIB Group promotes Corporate Responsibility through its mission and activities in the service of the European Union, through the way it implements these and through its internal management.
The EIB attaches great importance to engaging with civil society and building cooperative relations with its representatives.
In 2009, the EIB lent more than EUR 18bn for investment in the knowledge economy. That means for investment in education, research & development and innovation. These three are critical for Europe's competitiveness and long-term economic growth. But in addition, now that the European Union has been hit by an economic crisis and unemployment has increased rapidly, investment in the knowledge economy is also important for fighting poverty, social exclusion and inequality.
Knowledge economy objectives
Education, research & development and innovation together are known as the three sides of the "knowledge triangle" because education and R&D together make innovation possible.
The European Investment Fund (EIF) supports innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship notably through venture capital activities.
To stimulate investment in the knowledge economy, the EIB Group can offer:
A new surgically implanted device is being tested at Warsaw's Orlowski hospital to help patients control their diabetes, allowing them to live a normal life despite the disease. The study of the novel treatment was made possible with the support of an EIB loan to a consortium of five small and medium-sized enterprises, each engaged in the late stages of developing breakthrough medical devices with a high potential for international commercialisation.
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