PERSPECTIVESPERSPECTIVES DEDE POLITIQUEPOLITIQUE ECONOMIQUEECONOMIQUE 1er colloque Luxembourgeois sur l’Économie de la connaissance dans une perspective européenne le gouvernement du grand-duché de luxembourg Ministère de l'Économie et du Commerce extérieur The “Perspectives de Politique Economique” series includes reports, studies, research results or summarys of conferences commanded by or carried out by employees of the Ministry of Economy and Foreign trade or by experts of associated institutions. Opinions expressed in these publications are those of the authors and do not necessarily correspond with those of the Ministry of the Economy and Foreign trade. For any request or suggestion: Ministry of the Economy and Foreign trade of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Directorate general of economic studies L – 2914 Luxembourg Tél (+352) 24784155 Fax (+352) 26 86 45 18 Email:
[email protected] The following persons contributed to this publication: Serge Allegrezza (Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade/STATEC) Alexandra Guarda-Rauchs, Martine Hildgen, Sonja Rekker-Weber, Pierre Thielen (Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade) Anne Dubrocard, Anna-Leena Asikainen, Dominique Bianco (CRP Henri- Tudor/Observatoire de la Compétitivité/STATEC) Gilbert McNeill, Management and Technology Consultancy Inc. Lionel Fontagné, Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne Massimiliano Marcellino, European Institute of Florence © Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade, Luxembourg, 2008 1 Preface A crisis is not like an incurable illness: it is more like a new birth! Pierre Mauroy Luxembourg is not sheltered from the financial maelstrom. It is still far too early to estimate what repercussions this phenomenon will have on the country’s economy. In contrast, what is certain is that how Luxembourg’s competitive position shapes up as the crisis recedes will depend largely on the implementation of the National Plan for Innovation and Full Employment.