EIB and STMicroelectronics announce €1 billion agreement to boost Europe’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy

European Investment Bank (EIB) and STMicroelectronics have signed a €500 million financing agreement to boost Europe’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy.

This represents the first tranche a broader €1 billion credit line recently approved by the EIB in favour of STMicroelectronics, a leading semiconductor manufacturer with a strong footprint in Europe including Italy, France, and Malta, and serving the automotive, industrial, personal electronics, and communication infrastructure markets.

Since 1994, the Bank has supported nine projects with ST, resulting in approximately €4.2 billion of financing. This new operation will help support ST’s investment programme in innovative semiconductor technologies and devices in Italy and France, where the company operates both research and development and high-volume manufacturing. About 60% of the agreement is focused on high-volume manufacturing capabilities, including the key sites of Catania, Agrate and Crolles, while the remaining 40% is focused on R&D.

“Europe’s ability to lead in semiconductor innovation is vital for our competitiveness, resilience and climate goals. This agreement reflects the EIB’s commitment to supporting strategic industries that enable the green and digital transitions and strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty,” said Gelsomina Vigliotti, VP, EIB.

“ST continues to be committed to strengthening Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem, and this significant loan from EIB aims at bolstering our efforts in R&D for differentiated technologies and high-volume manufacturing across our sites in Italy and France”, said Jean-Marc Chery, President and CEO of STMicroelectronics. “ST’s longstanding collaboration with the EIB underscores our commitment to ensuring European technology leadership in the global semiconductor market.”  

“Semiconductors are at the heart of modern economies, powering everything from electric vehicles to digital infrastructure. By financing ST’s investments in research and advanced manufacturing, we are helping Europe secure critical technologies and create high-skilled jobs for the future,” added EIB VP, Ambroise Fayolle.

The agreement announced follows visit by a high-level EIB delegation, led by VPs Gelsomina Vigliotti and Ambroise Fayolle, to ST’s facility in Catania, a state-of-the-art plant covering the full silicon carbide (SiC) value chain, and representing a key element of the EU Bank’s financing.