Agfa gets €130m from EIB for R&D
- 25 November 2010
The European Investment Bank will lend Agfa €130m to finance research, development and innovation projects in healthcare IT & imaging technology.
The projects are part of Agfa’s investment programme in its healthcare business, which includes investing in R&D from 2010-2013 in Agfa’s Healthcare R&D centres in Belgium, Germany, Austria and France.
The programme will target development and the launch of products in three key areas including hospital information systems and clinical information systems, picture archiving and communication systems and digital radiology.
By investing in RDI, the company hopes to increase both the efficiency of healthcare and the quality of services for patients as well as encourage competition between European countries and their technologies.
Christian Reinaudo, chief executive of Agfa-Gavaert said that the loan agreement would contribute to the company’s internal growth strategy. He added: "Agfa’s healthcare IT & imaging solutions allow care providers to offer improved quality and faster services, resulting in greater patient satisfaction.
“With global healthcare spending under pressure, governments and public authorities are increasingly turning to innovative healthcare IT & imaging solutions to curb their expenses and deliver quality care over the longer term."
The EIB finance consists of a 7-year loan signed under the Risk Sharing Finance Facility (RSFF), designed by the EIB and the European Commission to finance research, development and innovation projects in the EU Member States.
Philippe Maystadt, President of the European Investment Bank, said: "It is crucially important for EU industries to boost their activities in R&D and increase their market share in all innovative sectors to face competition from other continents. The EIB is dedicated to supporting the development of a knowledge-based economy in Europe as a priority objective.
“We are pleased to support Agfa in its strategy: this company holds leading market positions thanks to its ambitious R&D programmes and strongly believes in innovation as an essential component of its successes in the future."
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