Brussels, 17/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the European Investment Bank (EIB) decided to grant to Alcatel (France) a loan of EUR 350 million to contribute to its investment in high-tech technologies in the telecommunications sector. EIB financing will be devoted to the research and development programmes in wide band technology on three major segments of the telecommunications sector: the terrestrial optical networks, switching and carriage, as well as space (high output communication by satellite). The projects to which the bank will be making a financial contribution are mainly undertaken by the Alcatel sites in France (Marcoussis, Nozay and Vélizy, near Paris; Toulouse and Cannes) but also in Spain, Italy, Belgian and Germany, and will be carried out between 2000 and 2002.
"This important operation comes within the context of the Innovation 2000 Initiative launched by the EIB at the invitation of the European Council in Lisbon. It allows the Bank to accompany one of the leading European high tech companies in its research and development efforts, an essential element of the European industry's international competitiveness", said EIB Vice-president, Francis Mayer.