Brussels, 27/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 27 January, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced that it is lending €440 million to part-finance Hungary's national contribution to the implementation of priority projects in the areas of research and innovation identified under the Hungarian National Strategic Reference Framework for the period 2007-2013. The projects co-financed by the EIB loan, the state budget and the EU funds under the Economic Development Operational Programme will be located in the following regions, which are priority areas for EU regional policies: Central, Western and Southern Transdanubia, Northern Hungary, Northern and Southern Great Plain. In keeping with the government's strong commitment to developing science and technology as a tool for competitiveness, and to help modernise the corporate sector, projects will mainly relate to applied research, experimental development and the market launch of new products. (O.L./transl.rh)