EIB-PRYSMIAN: €300 MILLION AGREEMENT TO ACCELERATE ENERGY SECURITY AND DIGITALIZATION IN EUROPE – Prysmian

Report on European Investment Bank Financing for Prysmian’s Research and Development in Support of Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €300 million financing package for Prysmian to support its European research and development (R&D) activities for the 2025–2028 period. A first tranche of €200 million has been signed. This strategic investment is designed to accelerate the development of innovative solutions crucial for the global energy transition and digital transformation, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The financing is fundamentally aligned with advancing key SDGs through targeted R&D in sustainable infrastructure:

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The project’s primary objective is to develop solutions that support the growing demand for renewable energy and boost the overall performance and efficiency of energy connections worldwide.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): By funding R&D in Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, the initiative enhances scientific research and upgrades technological capabilities to build resilient, reliable, and sustainable power and telecommunication networks.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): A central focus of the R&D activities is the creation of high-performance, low-emission solutions designed to make a positive contribution to cutting carbon emissions and mitigating climate change.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The agreement between the EIB and Prysmian exemplifies a public-private partnership aimed at mobilizing financial and technological resources to achieve sustainable development objectives.

Project Objectives and Scope

The EIB resources will be allocated to specific R&D initiatives with the following objectives:

1. Develop Sustainable Solutions: To create innovative, low-emission products that enable more efficient, intelligent, and secure energy and communication networks.
2. Enhance Network Performance: To improve the reliability, resilience, and security of critical power and telecom infrastructure, which is essential for supporting the energy transition.
3. Support European Innovation: The credit line supports Prysmian’s R&D activities across its European labs, reinforcing Europe’s technological leadership in line with the REPowerEU and TechEU frameworks.

Corporate and Strategic Framework

This financial agreement supports Prysmian’s corporate strategy and broader European Union goals.

• Prysmian’s Sustainability Target: The investment aids Prysmian’s “Accelerating Growth” strategy, which sets a target to achieve 55% of revenues from sustainable solutions by 2028, directly supporting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Alignment with EU Policy: The agreement is fully aligned with the REPowerEU framework and complements TechEU, the EIB Group’s €70 billion investment program designed to strengthen innovation-driven growth in Europe.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – The article focuses on developing solutions for more efficient energy networks to support the growing demand for renewable energy.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – The core of the article is about financing research and development (R&D) to innovate and improve energy and communication infrastructure, making it more resilient and secure.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action – A key objective of the financed R&D is to develop “low-emission solutions” and make a “positive contribution to cut carbon emissions.”
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article describes a public-private partnership between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Prysmian to finance and achieve sustainability objectives.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The article directly supports this by stating the financing will help develop solutions for “more efficient… energy and communication networks” and “boost the overall performance of energy connections.”
• Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology. The EIB’s €300 million financing package for Prysmian’s R&D across multiple European countries (Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain) is a direct example of promoting investment in clean energy technology and infrastructure.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. The article’s focus on developing “innovative, low-emission solutions” for power and telecom networks aligns perfectly with upgrading infrastructure using clean and sustainable technologies.
• Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… encouraging innovation and substantially increasing… public and private research and development spending. The entire article is about a €300 million financing package from a public bank (EIB) to a private company (Prysmian) specifically to support “European research and development activities” and “strengthen innovation-driven growth.”

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The EIB’s financing, which is “fully aligned with the REPowerEU framework,” and Prysmian’s corporate strategy to “achieve 55% of revenues from sustainable solutions by 2028” demonstrate the integration of climate action into institutional and corporate strategies.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The agreement between the European Investment Bank (a public financial institution) and Prysmian (a private corporation) is a clear example of a public-private partnership aimed at fostering innovation for the energy and digital transitions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Implied Indicator 7.3.1 (Energy intensity): While not explicitly stated, the goal to create “more efficient” energy solutions implies a direct effort to reduce energy intensity, which is the measure for this indicator.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• Indicator 9.5.1 (Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP): The article explicitly mentions the amount of R&D expenditure being financed: a “€300 million financing package” for the 2025–2028 period.
• Indicator 9.5.2 (Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants): The article provides a specific number of R&D personnel, stating “the commitment of around 500 employees in European laboratories.”

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Implied Indicator 13.2.2 (Total greenhouse gas emissions per year): The development of “low-emission solutions” and the objective to “cut carbon emissions” directly relate to measuring and reducing total greenhouse gas emissions.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Indicator 17.17.1 (Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private… partnerships): The article quantifies the financial commitment to this partnership, specifying the “first tranche of €200 million” and a total “€300 million financing package.”

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary Table

Source: prysmiangroup.com