Health and life science

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Healthcare plays an important role in the EU’s economy, accounting for 8% of the total workforce and for 10% of its GDP. As the EU bank, we support healthcare projects that aim to ensure universal access to high-quality and affordable services.

Good health is not only an essential component of our lives; it is also a precondition for the prosperity of our society. Increasing life expectancies produce demographic changes, which in turn affect public pension and healthcare schemes, as well as family and community services.

Find out more about our work on Innovation, digital and human capital

Download the EIB Health Overview 2023

Mobilising billions for the COVID-19 response

In collaboration with the European Commission, the EIB Group is using existing financial instruments like the InnovFin Infectious Disease Finance Facility to support projects that work towards halting the spread of, finding a cure for and developing a vaccine against COVID-19.

BioNTech and CureVac are two of the companies financed by the EIB to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, while Pluristem, Atriva Therapeutics and Immunic benefit from EIB backing to work on potential therapies. Scope Fluidics has received EIB support to continue their work on new, affordable methods to detect pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

As part of the Team Europe effort, the Bank also supports the COVAX facility, whose goal is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.

At the COVAX AMC Investment Opportunity in January 2022, President Hoyer announced that the EIB would make an extra €300 million available to enable African countries to access additional doses through COVAX.

Find more on our COVID-19 response

BioNTech advances towards COVID-19 vaccine with EIB backing

When Özlem Türeci and her husband, Uğur Şahin, announced that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by their company, BioNTech, had excellent results in its latest tests, the couple took a short break from their round-the-clock research schedule. But only long enough to drink a cup of tea.

Conscious of the vital nature of their research, the two immune engineers have led the Mainz-based company to the frontrunner’s spot in the race for a vaccine.

Find out more in our blog story

Health projects eligible for financing

Hospitals and infrastructure investments
Medical research, education and training
Health informatics and innovation
Integrated and people-centred approach to healthcare networks, especially involving cross-border cooperation
Services providing universal access to safe and affordable care and designed to meet the varying needs of people across the course of their lives

Health Solutions

Life science is a vital solution for crucial global problems like COVID-19. EIB life sciences experts have been at the heart of the effort to combat COVID-19, financing the first vaccine, treatments and diagnostics, as well as working on many other diseases. Health Solutions gives you their insights. Go inside the battle to beat COVID-19 — and to guard against future pandemics.

EIB health projects on the map

From funding hospital renovations to financing medical equipment, the EIB supports the health and life sciences sector. Explore our health projects in Europe using this interactive map.

See the map

Partnering to support healthcare and research

The EIB cooperates with international partners to provide financing for medical research and improve healthcare.

The EIB joins the EU-led global Pledging Conference, contributing €4.9 billion in partnership with the European Commission to help end the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Health Organization (WHO) and EIB strengthen efforts to combat COVID-19 and build resilient health systems
An advisory agreement with Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to accelerate the development of vaccines against infectious diseases
EU Malaria Fund: investment from the European Union, the EIB, Investitionsbank Berlin, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other European national and private actors to support scientifically promising projects that aim to prevent and treat malaria
Partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to help governments better respond to emergencies and natural disasters
EIB and National Technological Innovation Authority of Israel agree to cooperate in the field of bio-convergence
AMR Action Fund: Teaming up to tackle antimicrobial resistance

Find out more about our collaborations

Browse our projects

EIB projects under appraisal

EIB financed projects

Contact us

Do you need finance or technical assistance for your project?

We offer a wide range of financial products, as well as technical assistance through the European Investment Advisory Hub and the European PPP Expertise Centre (EPEC).

Do you have a question?

For enquiries regarding the financing facilities, activity, organisation and objectives of the EIB, contact the Information Desk
Contact us
Tel. +352 4379-22000
Frequently asked questions

Are you a journalist?

Contact our Press office
Tel. +352 4379-21000
press@eib.org
www.eib.org/press

Case studies

Real stories speak louder than general policies.
Discover the impact of our projects