Swiss chipmaker STMicroelectronics announced Thursday (Dec. 11) that it has already signed a €500 million financing agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB). Accordingly, the amount, representing the first tranche of a total €1 billion credit line, will boost Europe’s chip industry.

Boosts High-Volume Manufacturing

The credit line to STMicroelectronics aims to strengthen the company’s capability to support Europe’s semiconductor industry. At the same time, to propel innovation, sustainability, and energy efficiency aligned with European Union’s (EU) objectives.

Specifically, the first €500 million will be used to accelerate research and development (R&D) and high-volume chip manufacturing in Italy and France.

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor manufacturer with strong presence in Europe, specifically with manufacturing footprint in Italy, France, and Malta, serving the automotive, industrial, personal electronics, and communication infrastructure markets.

“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.

Securing Europe’s Critical Technologies

Since 1994, the EIB has supported nine projects with ST, resulting in approximately €4.2 billion of financing.

This new operation will help support STMicroelectronics’ investment program in innovative semiconductor technologies and devices in Italy and France. Here, the company operates both research and development and high-volume manufacturing.

About 60 percent of the agreement is focused on high-volume manufacturing capabilities, including the key sites of Catania, Agrate, and Crolles, while the remaining 40 percent is focused on R&D.

“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,” said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle.

The EIB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its member states.

11 December 2025