The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €385 million financing agreement with Spanish technology company Indra Group to boost research, development, and innovation of cutting-edge technologies for the defence and space sectors. This is the largest EIB’s financing agreement in Spain to date, aimed at strengthening the European Union’s security and defence capabilities.
The loan is aimed at spurring cutting-edge technologies in areas such as radar, electronic defence, electro-optics, command and control communications, and advanced digitalisation. The EIB support will enable Indra to build an integrated technology center in Torrejón de Ardoz, in the Madrid region. The planned Indra Technology Hub will be equipped with laboratories and advanced manufacturing technologies to serve the defence and space sector.
The financing agreement was signed on July 15th, 2025, at the EIB headquarters in Luxembourg. EIB President Nadia Calviño and Vice-President Robert de Groot attended the event along with Indra Chairman Angel Escribano.
Today, we are signing a strategic agreement with Indra to boost research and development of cutting-edge technologies. In the current geopolitical context, it is more important than ever to strengthen Europe’s security capabilities, with a pan-European approach and strategic projects. Investing in innovation and technology is investing in security, and the EIB’s support is key to enabling companies to develop projects that contribute to the security of all Europeans,” said Nadia Calviño, President of the EIB Group.
“This agreement is about turning new ideas into real capabilities across Europe’s defence and space ecosystem,” said EIB Vice-President de Groot. “Space in particular has a critical role in Europe’s security and defence. By backing Indra’s innovation and supporting the creation of its Technology Hub, we are helping Europe stay ahead of the curve in technology, in resilience, and in its ability to act with greater autonomy in a fast-changing world.”
The project will boost the competitiveness of European industry and strengthen the resilience of the EU aerospace, security, and defence supply chain. It supports the EIB’s goal of strengthening European security and defence capabilities as well as the priorities included in its Strategic Roadmap to strengthen the European security and defence industry and accelerate digitalisation and technological innovation. It also contributes to the EIB’s TechEU initiative.
“The EIB’s financing will boost our industrial and technological development, supporting our ’Leading the Future’ strategic plan and our vision of becoming a key player in Europe’s security, defence and aerospace sectors,” said Indra Chairman Ángel Escribano. “The support of this public funding will enable Indra to accelerate the deployment of our industrial and innovation capabilities as well as strengthen our leadership in the security and defence field amidst the new European sovereignty environment.”
EIB Group support for European security and defence
Since 2024, the EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), has significantly
stepped up its support for European security and defence. This line of activities is now a permanent
cross-cutting public policy goal for the Group and one of its eight strategic priorities for 2024-2027.
The Group has updated its lending policy, broadening the eligibility criteria and the range of security and
defence projects it can finance. It has also set up a Security and Defence Office to ensure a rapid and
effective response to project proposals.
The EIB Group aims to allocate 3.5% – or about €3.5 billion – of its total planned financing for 2025 to
security and defence projects.
As a result of ongoing fruitful dialogue with industry, financial intermediaries, defence ministries, and key
institutions such as the European Commission, the European Defence Agency, and the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, the Group currently has a solid pipeline of 80 projects contributing to Europe’s
security and defence capabilities.
