Wärtsilä and Nordic Investment Bank sign a EUR 50-million loan agreement to support Wärtsilä's R&D activities. The contract for this 10-year loan was signed in Helsinki, Finland on 13 February 2013. This R&D loan supports Wärtsilä’s long-term strategy of strengthening its technology leadership position in the global marine and energy markets, and with it Wärtsilä will further develop its medium-speed engine technology in terms of efficiency, reliability and environmental performance, as well as in reducing lifecycle costs. Wärtsilä’s R&D activities continue to be given a high profile. Since 2009 Wärtsilä has increased its R&D related expenditures by more than 30 per cent.