Brussels, 03/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank signed a EUR 104 million financing contract for the renovation of the Universita degli studi di Torino, one of the top Italian Universities. This financing will be granted in the framework of the "Amsterdam special action programme" defined during the European Summit in June 1997 to support growth and employment in Europe. The project foresees the grouping of the existing sixty university sites into ten more homogenous centers, which occupy renovated industrial sites and old historic buildings in Turin. New specialised campuses will be created in the surrounding areas of Grugliasco and Orbassano. The support given by the EIB represents roughly 30% of the projects total cost, financed by the Italian State, the Piémont region and banking foundations. The EIB funds are channelled through the Sanpaolo IMI banking group.