Jan 29, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. Stora Enso has signed a loan agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a Euro 140 million loan facility to finance part of Stora Enso's investment in research and development in Finland and Sweden for the next five years. The facility, which is expected to be fully drawn, is the result of good long-term co-operation between EIB and Stora Enso. "We have negotiated an agreement that builds on previous transactions with EIB and offers Stora Enso attractive terms that are consistent with our borrowing practices. This facility adds another source of funding that specifically supports our R&D efforts, which is a function with increasing importance in the future," comments Stora Enso's CFO Hannu Ryöppönen. Stora Enso has research centers in Finland, Sweden, Germany and the USA, and strong technical organizations in the business units. They co-operate with leading forest cluster R&D providers and technology suppliers. Stora Enso's five research centers have a product focus and are strongly integrated with the business organizations. They combine product-specific expertise with scientific understanding of the manufacture, converting and end uses of the group's products. The two InnoCenters run by Stora Enso consumer boards have established a new area in Stora Enso's R&D. They are an interface to the future of fibre-based packaging, and are used for developing and testing new packaging solutions together with other partners in the value chain.