Human Capital

Human capital has been a financing objective of the EIB since 1997. The Bank contributes to human capital by lending for investment in both health and education. Across the developed world, investment in human capital is the driving force for economic growth and regional and national development. Modern health and education services are critical.

EIB loans for education projects support the establishment of the knowledge economy in the European Union, which is one of the Bank's key lending priorities.

EIB loans for health in the European Union help to improve the social and urban environment and contribute to sustainable communities. This is also one of the Bank's lending priorities. Depending on the health projects, they may also be important for the establishment of the knowledge economy (think of university hospitals). Or, if they are carried out by small and medium-sized enterprise they fit yet another priority area, because the Bank strongly supports SMEs.

Health and education projects located in the poorer parts of the European Union help to increase convergence and social cohesion.

The majority of EIB financing in human capital goes towards tangible investment in buildings and equipment, but a growing proportion goes to intangible investment such as academic research and student loans.

In 2011, the EIB lent a total of EUR 2.8bn to 28 human capital projects in the European Union. Between 1997, when the Bank started financing investment in human capital, and the end of 2011, loans worth EUR 40.6bn went to 286 projects in the Union. Outside the EU, the EIB lent close to EUR 1.2bn over the same period.