The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €50 million financing agreement with Comau to support the company’s research, development, and innovation activities in robotics, advanced automation, machine tools, and digital technologies for multiple industrial sectors, including automotive, aerospace, construction, renewable energy, and logistics. The funding, concentrated at Comau’s facilities in Turin and Bari, aims to strengthen Europe’s industrial competitiveness by fostering advanced manufacturing solutions and technological know-how.
The operation is supported under the EU’s InvestEU programme, which channels long-term funding to strategic priorities such as digitalisation, sustainability, and innovation. Through the InvestEU and TechEU initiatives, the EIB has already mobilized over €4 billion in Italy, promoting technological advancement and accelerating Europe’s leadership in robotics, automation, and e-mobility. EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti emphasized that the investment will create skilled jobs, support sustainable industrial transitions, and enhance the competitiveness of European companies amid ongoing industrial transformations.
Comau CEO Pietro Gorlier highlighted that the funding strengthens the company’s sustainable development strategy by enabling it to design and produce advanced automation solutions. The investment will expand Comau’s applications in renewable energy and hydrogen fuel cell sectors, and support the automotive industry’s shift towards advanced manufacturing solutions for batteries and battery recycling. The financing will also diversify Comau’s funding sources and allow for longer maturities, accelerating the company’s business plan implementation.
Comau, a global leader in advanced industrial automation and robotics, operates alongside Automha, which specializes in intralogistics and warehousing automation. Together, the companies provide solutions that improve efficiency, flexibility, and competitiveness across various sectors, including vehicle manufacturing, e-mobility, shipyards, food and beverage, logistics, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energies. Comau also offers project management, consultancy services, and operates a recognized training academy. Headquartered in Turin, Italy, Comau maintains seven innovation centers and eleven manufacturing plants across 11 countries with 3,800 employees, while Automha has four subsidiaries and facilities in Italy and China employing 280 people.
The EIB’s support aligns with its broader mission to finance investments that advance EU policy objectives, including climate action, technological innovation, digitalisation, and sustainable development. In 2024, the EIB Group provided nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 projects, mobilizing over €100 billion in investment for Europe’s energy security and an additional €110 billion for startups and scale-ups. InvestEU, the EU’s flagship investment programme, consolidates all EU financial instruments to simplify and enhance funding for strategic projects, leveraging public and private funds to mobilize at least €372 billion in additional investment across the EU.
This partnership underscores the strategic focus on fostering industrial innovation in Europe, positioning Comau at the forefront of digital and sustainable transformation while contributing to the EU’s goal of maintaining leadership in advanced manufacturing technologies.
