CaixaResearch Institute Secures €80M Loan from EIB to Establish Spain’s First Immunology Research Center

CaixaResearch Institute Secures €80M Loan from EIB to Establish Spain’s First Immunology Research Center

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank (EIB) and CriteriaCaixa have signed an €80 million loan agreement to finance the construction of the CaixaResearch Institute in Barcelona. This interdisciplinary research center, spearheaded by “la Caixa” Foundation, will focus on immunology and aims to become a leading facility in Europe. With a total project cost of €110 million, the institute is expected to open its first module by 2025 and accommodate over 500 researchers and staff. The project aligns with the EIB’s strategic goals of promoting research, healthcare innovation, and sustainability, and will be integrated with the CosmoCaixa Science Museum, creating a collaborative scientific campus.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 1-Oct-2024— /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank (EIB) and CriteriaCaixa have signed an €80 million loan agreement to fund the construction of the CaixaResearch Institute, Spain’s first interdisciplinary and applied immunology research centre. Spearheaded by “la Caixa” Foundation, this pioneering biomedical facility will focus on advancing research in immunology, with the goal of becoming a leading centre in Europe.

CriteriaCaixa, the investment arm of “la Caixa” Foundation, will make the loan available to its sole shareholder, “la Caixa” Foundation, which will oversee the project, valued at €110 million in total. The first module of the institute is scheduled for completion in 2025, enabling initial research teams to begin work. The facility will occupy more than 20,000 square meters, providing state-of-the-art infrastructure for over 500 scientists, technicians, and staff.

The project was officially launched at a ceremony attended by EIB Director General for EU Operations Jean-Christophe Laloux, Antonio Vila, Director General of “la Caixa” Foundation, and Ángel Simón, CEO of CriteriaCaixa.

Laloux expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting the significance of immunological research in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the institute’s potential role in strengthening Europe’s preparedness for future health crises. Vila noted that the CaixaResearch Institute is a strategic initiative for “la Caixa” Foundation, with the backing of prominent partners like the EIB reinforcing its importance. Simón emphasized CriteriaCaixa’s pride in providing financial resources for the foundation’s social and scientific endeavors.

The project aligns with the EIB’s 2024-2027 strategic plan, promoting investment in research, human capital, and healthcare innovation. The CaixaResearch Institute aims to enhance Europe’s competitiveness in healthcare by advancing the understanding of immune system processes and their interaction with various diseases. The facility will also be designed to meet high energy-efficiency standards, contributing to the EU’s climate action goals.

Additionally, the institute will form part of a larger scientific campus, integrated into Barcelona’s Sierra de Collserola Park and connected with the CosmoCaixa Science Museum, fostering collaboration and innovation within the region.

Background information

About the European Investment Bank

The EIB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by the Member States. It finances sound investments to pursue EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality.

In 2023 the EIB Group – containing the EIB and the European Investment Fund – signed over €11.4 billion in financing for Spain. Of this, around €6.8 billion went to projects for climate action and environmental sustainability. In total, the EIB Group signed €88 billion in new financing in 2023 worldwide.

About “la Caixa” Foundation

Built on 120 years of history, the “la Caixa” Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the world. Since its inception, it has been marked by a strong social commitment and a mission to promote the common welfare, through financial activities as well as social action. It finances and pursues social, educational, cultural and scientific activities. For 2024, the “la Caixa” Foundation has a record budget of €600 million, the highest in its history.

About CriteriaCaixa

CriteriaCaixa is the holding company of “la Caixa” Foundation that manages its business assets. Its priority is to provide the economic resources that allow the Foundation to continue pursuing social action, year after year – contributing to the development of a society that gives more opportunities to those who most need them and increasing the foundation’s equity through value generation.

As the first investment holding company in Spain and one of the first in Europe, CriteriaCaixa manages a portfolio of close to €30 billion that combines relevant shareholdings in strategic sectors with a growing diversified investment portfolio, ensuring the recurring flow of dividends.

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank