Luxembourg, 02/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has today signed a EUR 50 million loan with the Finnish State enterprise, Senate Properties, which will facilitate the planning and construction of new higher education and research buildings and the rehabilitation, extension, furnishing and equipping of numerous existing facilities. In total, over 130 individual schemes located throughout Finland will benefit from the EIB financing. The facilities being financed by the EIB are expected to make a significant contribution to the national strategy adopted for Finnish research and higher education which focuses on achieving and maintaining the highest possible standards in research and university premises and encouraging increased dialogue and cooperation between academia and industry.