Annual Report

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5, avenue des Hauts Fourneaux ANNUAL L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette Luxembourg REPORT

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EDITOS TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE DATA ECONOMY 05 MAKING INNOVATION HAPPEN – 35 YEARS SUPPORTING COMPANIES 06 ORGANISATION CHART 06 OUR STAFF 07

R&D AND INNOVATION SUPPORT CORPORATE R&D AND INNOVATION SUPPORT 08 RESEARCHING THE RADAR SENSORS OF THE FUTURE 10 EUROPEAN R&D AND INNOVATION SUPPORT 12

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 14 MARKET INTELLIGENCE 16 A NEW CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 18 START-UP ACCELERATION 20

COMPANY RELATIONS AND SUPPORT CLUSTERS / COMPANY RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT 22 CLUSTERS: A REFORM FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY 24 SME PERFORMANCE 26

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATON MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION 28 COMMUNICATION COLLATERAL 2019 30

ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE

ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE 32 2019 ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 33 35 YEARS AT THE SERVICE OF INNOVATION 34

MANAGEMENT BOARD 38 LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

3 EDITORIAL TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE DATA ECONOMY

The future of Luxembourg’s Already considered as a digital frontrunner, economy is smart, sustainable Luxembourg has the ambition to become a and based on the use of data. leading data economy. The strategy for data- In 2019, the government driven innovation outlines the government’s published two strategies for data- vision for digitalising our priority economic driven innovation and artificial sectors. The strategic vision for artificial intelligence that point the way intelligence highlights our ambition to ensure that this extremely powerful technology will forward. Luxinnovation is a key bring advantages to everyone – businesses, partner for turning these visions research centres and individual citizens alike. into reality. With 35 years experience of supporting Luxembourg companies in their R&D and innovation efforts, Luxinnovation is a trusted partner for businesses. The agency offers various services to help companies succeed with their digital transformation. These range from helping small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) to embark upon digital transformation to supporting major industrial groups in experimenting and developing new products, processes and services.

As the host and manager of the Luxembourg Digital Innovation Hub (L-DIH), Luxinnovation now also facilitates contact between industrial companies that need access to digitalisation skills, technologies, services and support actions, and technology service providers that can meet their needs. In addition, the agency attracts data-driven international investment and companies to Luxembourg that are a perfect fit for our economy and environment.

These new missions are a clear sign of our confidence that Luxinnovation will continue to be a key player in bringing the competitiveness and success of the Luxembourg economy to

2019 the next level in a sustainable manner.

Mario Grotz

LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL Board Chair

4 EDITORIAL MAKING INNOVATION HAPPEN – 35 YEARS SUPPORTING COMPANIES

In 2019, Luxinnovation celebrated its 35th anniversary. Starting out as a small, enthusiastic group of people, the agency has grown and gained the trust of companies, research organisations and its partners from industry, business and government. Throughout this period, Luxinnovation has anticipated and adapted to change, taken up new challenges and supported the Luxembourg and vision, and help us develop projects that economy in a constructive manner. can contribute to developing Luxembourg’s economy and its priority sectors in a sustainable manner. We are grateful for the time and commitment of those engaged in this work. What guides us today is the fundamental objective of reaching a sustainable Luxinnovation has grown considerably economy in Luxembourg by encouraging over the past 10 years and now counts over and supporting companies to innovate so 70 staff members. An organisation of this that they can contribute to and thrive in an size requires a full-fledged department for economy that is sustainable and data-driven. administration and finance that can ensure an efficient functioning and planning of We are proud to have been entrusted operations in line with its strategic objectives. with the mission to run the Luxembourg This has been achieved this year. Digital Innovation Hub. It also gives us great satisfaction to see a growing number As an innovation agency, we are there to of companies and start-ups coming to stimulate positive change by challenging us seeking advice, funding opportunities, activities that no longer make sense and partners and networks needed to carry out help bring forth ideas that both create their innovative projects. economic value and improve our quality of life. Diversity is key to innovation. Bringing The Luxembourg Cluster Initiative was together different opinions, skills, experiences restructured in 2019 in order to better meet and mind-sets opens the door to new ideas the needs of companies and to contribute and opportunities. We are fortunate at to the development of Luxembourg’s Luxinnovation to have this diversity within our

economy by taking on board their ideas and staff, an essential ingredient for innovation. 2019 experience. We have set up cluster advisory groups comprised of key individuals from business, research and public administration Sasha Baillie

who are willing to share their knowledge CEO LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

5 ORGANISATION CHART

Sasha BAILLIE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Benjamin QUESTIER STRATEGIC ADVISOR

Arnaud Marco SERVAIS EISCHEN ADMINISTRATION MARKETING & FINANCE & COMMUNICATION

Jean-Michel Johnny Marc LUDWIG BREBELS FERRING BUSINESS COMPANY RELATIONS R&D AND DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT INNOVATION SUPPORT • International Business • Clusters / Sectoral • Corporate RDI Support Development Relationship Management • European RDI Support 2019 • Start-up Acceleration • Flagship Projects • Market Intelligence • SME Performance • Digital Innovation Hub LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

6 OUR STAFF As of 30 March 2020

CEO EUROPEAN RDI SUPPORT MARKETING & COMMUNICATION Benjamin QUESTIER Sasha BAILLIE Marco EISCHEN Sanna ALARANTA CONTENT & EVENT Charles BETZ Jean-Michel GAUDRON Sasha COMPANY RELATIONS AND Rébecca DAMOTTE SUPPORT Lena MÅRTENSSON BAILLIE Géraud GUILLOUD Stefano POZZI MUCELLI Nathalie RAHME Johnny CHIEF EXECUTIVE BREBELS Kathrin WATTELLIER OFFICER CLUSTERS/SECTORAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT DIGITAL Benjamin BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Laurent FUTIN QUESTIER Johnny BREBELS Jean-Michel LUDWIG Laura Jean-Philippe ARIE FICHTNER STRATEGIC Sue ADVISOR Anthony AUERT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS HEWITT Romane Charles Albert FLORENTIN DEVELOPMENT MARQUET Jonas Philippe GENOT Jean-Michel LUDWIG MERCIER Marine MOMBELLI Virginie GODAR Lucie BRIDARD Marc LIS David FOY Caroline MULLER Anne MILLER ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE FLAGSHIP PROJECTS Joost ORTJENS Johnny BREBELS Georges SCHAAF Arnaud SERVAIS Arnaud Marco Jean-Claude BACKENDORF START-UP ACCELERATION BUDGET & ACCOUNTING SERVAIS EISCHEN Anja HÖTHKER Stefan BEREND Marie-Hélène DOURET ADMINISTRATION MARKETING Sven BALTES Astrid FURGALA & FINANCE & COMMUNICATION SME PERFORMANCE Arnaud DUBAN Laurence HULIN Andreia PIRES Valentin RONGONI Christiane SANDRI Lionel CAMMARATA Stéphanie SILVESTRI Jérôme TIBESAR Rémi GRIZARD Claude HOSTERT MARKET INTELLIGENCE HR & TALENT DEVELOPMENT Emmanuelle KIPPER Sara BOUCHON Brigitte DE HAECK

DIGITAL INNOVATION HUB Maxime DELAHAUT Nadège HEGUE Marina GUERIN-JABBOUR Eve O’CALLAGHAN Muriel KONDRATUK Mohamed TOUMI Jean-Paul HENGEN ADMINISTRATION Brigitte DE HAECK

SPACE TEAM Cristina EIRES Jean-Michel Johnny Marc R&D AND INNOVATION SUPPORT Nadège HEGUE Patricia CONTI LUDWIG BREBELS FERRING Sarah LAMHENE Marc FERRING Frédéric ROUESNEL BUSINESS COMPANY RELATIONS R&D AND Mireille PELLIN Lynn ROBBROECKX DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT INNOVATION SUPPORT CORPORATE RDI SUPPORT Andreia PIRES • International Business • Clusters / Sectoral • Corporate RDI Support Pascal FABING Development Relationship Management • European RDI Support IT 2019 • Start-up Acceleration • Flagship Projects Avit BLANCHY Arnaud SERVAIS • Market Intelligence • SME Performance Barbara GRAU Christophe RIGOULET • Digital Innovation Hub Isabelle HENNEQUIN Alexander LINK Philippe MAYER LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

7 CORPORATE R&D AND INNOVATION SUPPORT 122 R&D AND INNOVATION AID APPLICATIONS Luxinnovation contributes to APPROVED promoting R&D and innovation activities in Luxembourg by R&D PROJECTS facilitating the access to public 31 by 26 companies funding. The agency supports companies with structuring their INNOVATION PROJECTS by 55 companies projects, guides them towards 74 YOUNG INNOVATIVE the most suitable funding ENTERPRISE PROJECTS mechanisms, and helps them 8 by 8 companies prepare applications for subsidies, DE MINIMIS AID in particular those provided by the 9 by 9 companies Ministry of the Economy.

out by companies in all technology areas and its flagship programme Eurostars focused on R&D performing SMEs, and IraSME, a small but agile network of funding programmes for Over 120 successful applications for R&D 23ENVIRONMENTAL R&D projects involving at least two countries. subsidies were approved by the Ministry of PROTECTION AID the Economy in 2019. Almost 70% of the These mechanisms make it possible to co-fund project partners in different countries, which APPLICATIONS R&D AND INNOVATION SUPPORT R&D AND INNOVATION companies funded were small and medium- sized enterprises. each benefit from national subsidies that are APPROVED well known by the companies concerned. In addition to offering support with In 2019, Luxinnovation held the chairmanship of 23 ENVIRONMENTAL the preparation of high-quality funding PROTECTION PROJECTS applications, the Luxinnovation team also TAFTIE, the European Network of Innovation by 17 companies helps companies structure their R&D and Agencies. The network brings together 30 innovation projects and connect with relevant innovation agencies from all over Europe, with partners when needed. Additional incentives managing R&D and innovation programmes for collaborative research and development as a main common topic. During the year, projects exist. Companies that want to launch Luxinnovation organised five meetings for such projects can count on support from TAFTIE members in Luxembourg. The events Luxinnovation, notably with identifying national focused on start-up ecosystems, innovation research teams with relevant competences, advisory services offered by innovation agencies and the European Investment Bank, 12 defining the terms of collaboration and SKILLED CRAFT verifying whether projects are eligible for the mission-driven research and innovation, 109 COMPANIES increased funding rates offered by the ministry knowledge and technology transfer, and the COMPANIES 52 START-UPS for collaborative R&D projects. Digital Europe programme. The key knowledge FUNDED of the different agencies was collected in a

2019 The agency also helps companies get access to white paper entitled State aid considerations international collaboration measures that build when developing innovation ecosystems that LARGE ENTERPRISES on national funding schemes. These include was published in December. 34 the intergovernmental initiative EUREKA that SMALL AND MEDIUM- SIZED ENTERPRISES

LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL supports transnational R&D projects carried 75

8 122 R&D AND INNOVATION AID APPLICATIONS APPROVED

R&D PROJECTS 31 by 26 companies INNOVATION PROJECTS 74 by 55 companies YOUNG INNOVATIVE ENTERPRISE PROJECTS 8 by 8 companies DE MINIMIS AID 9 by 9 companies

23ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AID APPLICATIONS APPROVED

23 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROJECTS by 17 companies

12 SKILLED CRAFT 109 COMPANIES COMPANIES 52 FUNDED START-UPS 2019 LARGE ENTERPRISES 34 SMALL AND MEDIUM- SIZED ENTERPRISES

75 LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

9 CASE STUDY – IEE RESEARCHING THE RADAR SENSORS OF THE FUTURE

Staying on top of the most advanced new technology developments is crucial for innovation leaders who want to maintain their competitive edge. With support from Luxinnovation, automotive sensing solutions specialist IEE has successfully applied for co-funding from the Ministry of the Economy for a scientifically challenging research project aimed at defining the next generation radar technology. The project is conducted in partnership with the University of Luxembourg. R&D AND INNOVATION SUPPORT R&D AND INNOVATION

“ BY ASKING CRUCIAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECTS AND HOW THE OUTCOME WILL BE USED, LUXINNOVATION HELPS US KEEP FOCUSED ON OUR BUSINESS CASE. ” 2019 LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

10 Maintaining a pipeline of new technologies has always been essential for our success.”

IEE is implementing this interdisciplinary project together with the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), headed by Professor Björn Ottersten who is widely renowned for his expertise in wireless communication and radar technology. The two organisations already have a long history of working together on challenging research projects. The SnT is mainly in charge of theoretical work (e.g. signal processing), while IEE focuses more on technology evaluation and experimental research. The Ministry of the Economy is co-funding the initiative for a period of four years.

CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS: A pioneer in passenger presence detection A MUST FOR A SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIP in cars, IEE has become a global leader in automotive safety sensing systems for The focus of academic and industrial research occupant detection and classification. About is not necessarily the same: researchers want 10 years ago, the company started to reflect on to release publications and attend scientific how radar technology could be used to take conferences, while companies concentrate on its sensor applications to a new level. “We will developing intellectual property that they can launch our first product using radar technology commercialise. “Both sides need to understand already this year: VitaSense, a module for each other’s objectives,” Mr Schumacher detecting the presence of a child that has been underlines. “The SnT has extensive industry left behind on the rear bench of a car,” says cooperation and the right professionals in place Chief Technology Officer Alain Schumacher. to handle such projects, which is a big asset “However, the potential for radar technology is for us. Beside the contractual regulations, there by far not limited to VitaSense applications. In is a mutual understanding of the individual order to expand IEE’s market opportunities, the needs and obligations of each partner. This is next generation technology must be created necessary for the project to succeed, not only now and immediately secured by systematic in terms of high-level technology and academic patent filing.” results, but also to enhance the company and its national ecosystem.” MAINTAINING THE COMPETITIVE EDGE IEE has been working with Luxinnovation for The company’s research project “Distributed years. “The Luxinnovation team supports us Collaborative Connected Electromagnetic to formulate R&D projects that are eligible for mm-Wave Sensors” aims at gaining in-depth state aid and reviews that all documents are knowledge about the future possibilities complete and correct,” says Mr Schumacher. “By offered by cutting edge radar technology. asking crucial questions about the projects and

“This is a very complex matter, and we cannot how the outcome will be used in practice, they 2019 be sure in advance of the final results,” also help us avoid ‘inventor blindness’ and to says Mr Schumacher. “However, it is a logic keep focused on our business case. Having this continuation of what we are doing today. support from external experts is very important.” LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

11 EUROPEAN R&D AND INNOVATION SUPPORT 10NEW CO2NTRACTS SIGNED Luxinnovation informs, trains Several information sessions and workshops were organised on general topics such as or Horizon 2020 projects and supports public and private with Luxembourg participants organisations in Luxembourg proposal writing, as well as on thematic with applying for funding from Horizon 2020 programmes. Joint information € sessions were also organised with the MIL32LIONS European and international programmes. As the National European Commission representation in OF HORIZON 2020 Contact Point for Horizon Luxembourg, notably on the European Innovation Council and its start-up support IN FUNDING OBTAINED 2020, the European framework programme aimed at providing substantial programme for research and financial support to innovative researchers and innovation, the agency aims at 2019 companies. increasing the participation and success rate of Luxembourg Written guidelines on how to use specific players and helps them identify funding mechanisms, such as cascading funding opportunities that are grants and the Horizon 2020 lump sum aligned with their own strategies scheme, were compiled and disseminated. and national priorities. Luxinnovation also launched an action aimed SUCCESS RATE at supporting Luxembourg organisations with attracting researchers through the Marie OF SUBMITTED Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) HORIZON 2020

R&D AND INNOVATION SUPPORT R&D AND INNOVATION scheme. The agency helped interested host PROJECT PROPOSALS institutions identify relevant candidates, trained 2014 > 2019 Luxinnovation’s EU funding team supported in 2019 its clients throughout the year with identifying them in proposal writing and reviewed the LUXEMBOURG the most suitable calls for proposals, checking proposals before submission. The initiative PARTICIPATION their proposals and helping them improve was very positively received by potential host LUXEMBOURG their clarity, relevance and links to EU policies. institutions, and numerous applications were IN HORIZON 2020 received from researchers. Accumulated ﬁgures Eligible clients were also informed about Fit 4 EUROPEAN Horizon 2020, a programme from the Ministry % As 2020 will be the last year of Horizon 17 UNION of the Economy that supports companies 2020, a priority for Luxinnovation was also to wishing to submit Horizon 2020 proposals. facilitate the transition to the new framework % During the year, the agency was able to programme, Horizon Europe. The team € 12 disseminated information about the structure 136.31 identify a number of funding opportunities in MILLIONS line with the government’s strategy on data- and forthcoming opportunities of the new programme, and encouraged Luxembourg OF HORIZON 2020 driven innovation. The team also followed the FUNDING launch of the Luxembourg Digital Innovation stakeholders to convey their interests and OBTAINED 369 PROJECTS INVOLVING Hub (L-DIH) in close collaboration with needs in order to improve current and future LUXEMBOURG PARTICIPANTS the European Commission, and supported research programmes and partnerships. companies with getting access to funding for 2019 projects related to energy, materials, industry 4.0, 5G and personalised medicine. LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

12 10NEW CO2NTRACTS SIGNED or Horizon 2020 projects with Luxembourg participants € MIL32LIONS OF HORIZON 2020 IN FUNDING OBTAINED 2019

SUCCESS RATE OF SUBMITTED HORIZON 2020 2014 > 2019 PROJECT PROPOSALS LUXEMBOURG in 2019 PARTICIPATION IN HORIZON 2020 LUXEMBOURG Accumulated ﬁgures EUROPEAN 17% UNION €136.31 12% MILLIONS OF HORIZON 2020 FUNDING OBTAINED 369 PROJECTS INVOLVING LUXEMBOURG PARTICIPANTS 2019 LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

13 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Luxinnovation conducts targeted automated and connected driving. Cleantech prospection activities aimed prospection is mainly orientated towards at identifying and attracting data-driven solutions and “product as a international companies to service” models. The growing need for Luxembourg whose activities are cleantech solutions to be used in several eco- well aligned with the country’s districts under construction in Luxembourg sustainable development and is also attracting much interest and traction from foreign companies. The number of economic diversification. The work foreign companies visiting Luxembourg is carried out in close collaboration with a view to settling here, and of those with the Ministry of the Economy, incorporating in Luxembourg, increased as well as with the Chamber of by around 60% in 2019 compared to the Commerce, the Luxembourg Trade previous year. and Investment Offices (LTIOs) and the embassies. The business development team took part in economic missions organised together with the Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of the Economy, notably to South Korea in July, and conducted sector-specific

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS Luxinnovation’s prospection activities focus on prospection missions and road trips. The three main sectors: the automotive industry business developers also participated in and smart mobility, clean technologies and the selected events and visited leading trade digital economy. The strategies for the sectors fairs. The regions visited are known for were reviewed following the publication of their progress in the specific sectors. The the government’s “Data-driven innovation automotive sector focused on Israel, the US strategy for the development of a trusted and West Coast and the Chinese East Coast. The sustainable economy for Luxembourg” in May. cleantech sector visits concentrated on the Nordic countries and Europe, while the digital The strategy for the digital economy now sector trips were to the US, China, Europe, fully integrates the data-driven innovation Russia and Israel. approach. International prospection missions focus both on attracting relevant companies Strategic events, the locations to visit and on increasing the knowledge about and the companies with which individual innovation and opportunities in relevant meetings were identified were supported by regions. The main focus areas for the Luxinnovation’s market intelligence unit. The automotive sector – autonomous driving, international visits were also carefully planned connected mobility, shared mobility and in close collaboration with local partners such the electrification of mobility – tie in well as embassies and LTIOs. with the data-driven approach and connect

2019 with Luxembourg’s strategic projects in the fields of 5G, high performance computing and the cross-border digital testbed for LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

14 LUXINNOVATION UNDERTOOK 30 INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS LINKED with key conference and fairs

296 NEW COMPANIES WITH A POTENTIAL INTEREST in establishing activities in Luxembourg identified 68 FOREIGN COMPANIES VISITED LUXEMBOURG with support from Luxinnovation 19 FOREIGN COMPANIES INCORPORATED IN

LUXEMBOURG 2019 with support from Luxinnovation LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

15 MARKET INTELLIGENCE

Luxinnovation’s market intelligence The market intelligence team delivered a unit is a key provider of knowledge mapping of the cybersecurity sector, done and economic data. The unit in collaboration with Securitymadein.lu, produces sector mappings that and made updates of its wood and health provide an in-depth analysis of key technologies sector mappings. The results of national ecosystems, undertakes the healthtech sector mapping were published technology watch activities and in the 2019 Bilan de Compétitivité by the Observatoire de la Competitivité and STATEC. analyses relevant markets that are of interest for the further In the context of international prospection, sustainable development of the the team provided recommendations for the Luxembourg economy. automotive, cleantech and digital sectors and targeted prospection lists to test these recommendations. In order to improve the feedback on potential prospects, which is essential to assess the relevance of the prospection strategies, a new version of the i-Net CRM tool was elaborated together with the Ministry of the Economy. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS Luxinnovation tested the use of a new tool for international prospection in 2019, namely the LinkedIn Sales Navigator, which allows the sending of targeted e-mails to selected prospects via LinkedIn. Two main campaigns were implemented to support the economic missions organised to Korea and Morocco. Training material on the tool was developed for the LTIOs, which also received coaching and information on the support available from Luxinnovation via webinars.

A study was carried out on the development of different scenarios for the economic development of an industrial zone located in the south of Luxembourg. An overview of all future construction projects using circular economy principles in Luxembourg, and an accompanying study of the circular construction supply chain, were also produced. 2019 LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

16 3 MARKET STUDIES conducted5 in the fields of data markets, data marketplaces, cyberinsurance, the Chinese digital sector and the Israeli car DATABASES OF tech sector TARGETED POTENTIAL LEADS in the automotive, cleantech and digital 3 sectors

SECTOR 36 COMPANY MAPPINGS undertaken PROFILES established 2019 LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

17 CASE STUDY – HIGHSIDE A NEW CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

In 2019, Luxinnovation supported are only valid in that specific place and thus a growing number of international very difficult for most hackers to compromise, companies opening offices and launched his third start-up, HotShot in Luxembourg. One of them, Technologies. HighSide, has chosen Luxembourg HotShot soon partnered with HighSide, and as a centre for developing its the two companies developed an ultra-secure highly secure messaging and messaging system incorporating Mr Turner’s files platform that protects users encryption technology. As a second step, they against phishing, spoofing, mass developed a complete identity management data breaches and insider threats. platform using location-based encryption to eliminate the need for passwords. After securing a deal with a very large client, the two partners decided to merge and Mr Turner joined HighSide as president and chief security When IT security expert Aaron Turner decided officer. to uproot his budding company HotShot Technologies and his family and move from TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS, GROWTH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS his native Idaho to Luxembourg, it was quite a The link to Luxembourg was formed in 2018, radical step. “I have worked in over 75 countries before the merger. “One of our advisors around the world, but I always had my home introduced us to Vodafone’s procurement in the US,” he says. “But Luxembourg attracted centre here in Luxembourg and its start-up me from a business point of view and spurred accelerator, Tomorrow Street. HotShot was a my sense of adventure.” pre-revenue start-up at the time and not ready PROTECTING DIGITAL PRIVACY to join their programme, but they put us in contact with the Technoport incubator that Driven by a dual fascination of the endless offered us a place at their premises. When my possibilities offered by the internet and the daughter was accepted at the International challenge of limiting its criminal use, Mr Turner School of Luxembourg, we sold our belongings has worked as a cybersecurity specialist for in the US and moved here – and we have never Microsoft and the US government. He also regretted it,” Mr Turner points out. created start-ups working on mobile payments and the prevention of ATM skimming. “After Luxembourg is now becoming HighSide’s selling my second company, I started to think centre of technology development. The about all the ways that people’s privacy is company employs a growing, multinational compromised when they communicate digitally. team of highly qualified specialists and expects I wanted to create a system that would give to have a staff of 12 here by the end of 2020. It is building good business traction, especially 2019 them more power over who could access their information,” he explains. He developed and in the US market, and was recently selected patented a technology generating encryption to represent Luxembourg in the prestigious keys based on people’s physical location that Startup World Cup 2020. LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

18 “There are a lot of good start-ups here,” Mr Turner comments. “Luxinnovation and the Ministry of the Economy have built great programmes such as Fit 4 Start that make it very hard not to come to Luxembourg, especially if you have R&D activities.” He appreciates the personalised support offered by Luxinnovation and other players, and the dynamic business environment. “The combination of available private capital and a flexible national business strategy encourages entrepreneurs to take a chance. This is how innovation happens.”

“ LUXINNOVATION AND THE MINISTRY OF THE ECONOMY HAVE BUILT GREAT PROGRAMMES SUCH AS FIT 4 START THAT MAKE IT VERY HARD NOT TO COME 2019 TO LUXEMBOURG. ” LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

19 START-UP ACCELERATION

Supporting the creation of participation of four Luxembourg start-ups innovative companies is one of in the Startup School organised by investor Luxinnovation’s key missions. and accelerator organisation Nex Cubed in Together with its partners, the San Francisco. Three start-ups also had the agency provides support to opportunity to participate in Benelux Catalyst, entrepreneurs on their start-up a four-week programme based in New York journey and helps them transform and aimed at helping start-ups from Benelux kick-start their international growth by their ideas into sustainable providing them with tools and resources for businesses. It also facilitates the being successful on the US market. contacts with other organisations in Luxembourg’s start-up ecosystem In close collaboration with all the key players that offer additional support. of Luxembourg’s start-up ecosystem, Luxinnovation developed “Startup Luxembourg”, a national brand for the ecosystem. This common brand is used to make Luxembourg renowned at the Fit 4 Start, Luxembourg’s leading acceleration international level as an attractive location programme, aims at helping entrepreneurs for start-ups. It was notably featured at the

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS take their start-up to the next level. Initiated by national pavilion organised in collaboration the Ministry of the Economy, the programme with the Chamber of Commerce at the is managed by Luxinnovation with support internationally renowned technology from Technoport, the Luxembourg-City conference VivaTech in Paris and at Web Incubator and the Luxembourg Space Agency. Summit in Lisbon, considered the largest tech Two editions, which both included 10 places event in the world. Luxinnovation organised a for ICT start-ups, were organised in 2019. In side event at Web Summit in partnership with addition, the autumn edition offered five places Vodafone Power Lab, the Luxembourg Open to a second group comprising healthtech Innovation Club (LOIC) and the Chamber of companies. For the first time, five places Commerce which connected start-ups with were also available for start-ups active in the corporate innovation leaders and investors. field of space technologies. The number of The Luxinnovation team also provided applications increased by 30% compared to support to a number of national events and 2018. 71% of the applications were submitted initiatives, such as ICT Spring, Arch Summit, by entrepreneurs coming from abroad, which is Mind & Market, Pitch Your Start-Up, Start-Up a clear indicator of the programme’s reach and World Cup, Paperjam Start-Up Stories and the attractiveness on the international level. European Start-up Night. Luxinnovation advised over 450 entrepreneurs during the year on a broad range of topics

2019 related to the creation, development and growth of their start-ups. In order to help promising start-ups with their internationalisation, the agency facilitated the LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

20 30START-UPS PARTICIPATING in 2 editions:

5 HEALTHTECH

37of participants% FROM LUXEMBOURG

SPACE 5

63of participants% 20 FROM ICT ABROAD

CONTACTS INITIATED WITH 463 ENTREPRENEURS REQUESTING SUPPORT APPLIC512ATIONS SUBMITTED by entrepreneurs 75 from 2019 INNOVATIVE START-UPS CREATED 61 with support from DIFFERENT

Luxinnovation COUNTRIES LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

21 COMPANY-TO- COMPANY 790 INTRODUCTIONS CLUSTERS / COMPANY ORGANISED

considerable increase compared RELATIONSHIP 800 to previous years. COMPANIES POTENTIAL FLAGSHIP 700 422 received individual PROJECTS 13 MANAGEMENT The clusters are also increasingly involved and tailor-made under evaluation 600 support provided in international initiatives. The Creative and/or implemented One of Luxinnovation’s key 500 by the cluster Industries Cluster joined the German PCI managers objectives is to support the Kreativnetzwerk, which brings together 400 competitiveness, diversification around 40 creative industries clusters. The 300 and sustainable development AutoMobility Cluster joined the Greater of the Luxembourg economy. Region automotive network Pôle Automobile 200 Through the Luxembourg Cluster Européen and ZIM UmSenAuto, which focuses 100 Initiative, the agency offers on commercial solutions for environmental holistic, customer-centric support sensors, as representative of Luxembourg to companies and helps them industry. The Materials & Manufacturing Cluster is a strategic partner in five Interreg STRATEGIC address the global evolution of PARTNERSHIPS 14 their sectors that might, at the projects, where it creates links between project with foreign 202 START-UPS same time, represent challenges participants and local industry. The CleanTech clusters or research AND FOREIGN Cluster continued to contribute to the institutes initiated DIRECT INVESTMENT and opportunities. Luxinnovation PROJECTS also hosts Luxembourg’s newly metacluster Greater Green, an Interreg-funded received personalised created Digital Innovation Hub. project that brings together environmental support from the technology players in the Greater Region. sector experts

The Luxembourg Digital Innovation Hub (L-DIH) was officially inaugurated on 30 September BILATERAL R&D PROJECTS 2019. The hub is a collaboration between the 55 71 COMPANY RELATIONS AND SUPPORT COMPANY Ever since its launch by the Ministry of the COLLABORATIONS OR COLLABORATIONS Economy, the Luxembourg Cluster Initiative Ministry of the Economy, FEDIL — The Voice (excluding funded initiated on the intiative has been an essential tool for accelerating of Luxembourg’s Industry, Luxinnovation, R&D projects), facilitated of the Cluster Initiative the University of Luxembourg, the Chamber by the cluster managers, the transfer of knowledge and best practice, established generating technological cooperation and of Commerce, the Luxembourg Institute developing advanced technologies. The of Science and Technology (LIST) and the initiatives bring together companies, research Luxembourg National Research Fund. It is centres and support organisations in the hosted and managed by Luxinnovation. This key AutoMobility, CleanTech, Creative Industries, element of the national strategy for data-driven ICT, Materials & Manufacturing and Wood innovation is aimed at facilitating the digital Clusters. In 2019, the management of the transformation of industry, with a particular Cluster Initiative was thoroughly reviewed in focus on SMEs. An experienced manager order to better respond to industry needs and was recruited to define the L-DIH strategy be more customer-centric. and its operational implementation for the years 2020-2021. Meetings with 20 industrial During the year, the agency has brought companies were organised to identify their forward various flagship projects aimed at needs and around 10 service providers were stimulating and facilitating innovation. In identified who are able to support companies in order to better address transversal topics 2019 their digital transformation and move towards and technologies such as digitalisation, a Industry 4.0. The hub also prepared to become growing number of cross-sector activities were acknowledged by the European Commission as implemented. 35% of the cluster events were the unique Digital Innovation Hub of the Grand co-organised by two or more clusters, which is a LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL Duchy of Luxembourg.

22 COMPANY-TO- COMPANY 790 INTRODUCTIONS ORGANISED

800 COMPANIES POTENTIAL FLAGSHIP 700 422 received individual PROJECTS 13 and tailor-made under evaluation 600 support provided and/or implemented 500 by the cluster managers 400

300

200

100

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS 14 with foreign 202 START-UPS clusters or research AND FOREIGN institutes initiated DIRECT INVESTMENT PROJECTS received personalised support from the sector experts

BILATERAL 55 71 R&D PROJECTS COLLABORATIONS OR COLLABORATIONS (excluding funded initiated on the intiative R&D projects), facilitated of the Cluster Initiative by the cluster managers, established

+250 NEW ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE in the various clusters PILOT PROJECTS WITH CROSS-SECTOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN PLACE (EXAMPLES) +1,800

PARTICIPANTS CIRCULAR BUILDING: CIRCULAR DESIGN 2019 at all cluster events, LEVELING OFFER AND DEMAND CHALLENGE workshops and meetings combined TIMBER TRADE PLASTICS LOOP

PLATFORM CIRCULAR ECONOMY LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

23 FOCUS – LUXEMBOURG CLUSTER INITIATIVE CLUSTERS: A REFORM FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY

The clusters managed by Luxinnovation took an important step forward in 2019 by reforming their governance and refocusing their missions in order to further improve the way they function.

At the beginning of the 2000s, the Luxembourg Cluster Initiative was launched by the government as a “key element of the R&D and innovation policy“. The management and organisation was entrusted to Luxinnovation. Over time, the context has changed, especially in 2016 when the promotion agency Luxembourg The very first cluster, SurfMat, dedicated to for Business was integrated into Luxinnovation “New Materials – Surface Treatments and and the new international business Coatings“ (since then renamed Materials & development department took over the COMPANY RELATIONS AND SUPPORT COMPANY Manufacturing), was created in 2001. It was responsibility for prospection and promotion. followed by InfoComm (2002, then renamed ICT), BioHealth (2008, now HealthTech), This in no way diminished the activity of the EcoInnovation (2009, now CleanTech), clusters, which now concentrate on identifying Automotive Components (2013, now companies’ needs, networking and creating so- AutoMobility), Wood (2016) and Creative called flagship projects. The flagships involve Industries (2017). More than 1,450 companies at least two companies or organisations, and institutions are currently involved in the favour public-private partnerships and make a Cluster Initiative. The number increased by positive contribution to the ecosystem or the more than 20% in 2019. economy, in a sustainable and intelligent way.

EVOLVING MISSIONS NEW GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

“Originally, the cluster activity was based Initially, the clusters were coordinated by on five pillars: business development; Luxinnovation’s cluster managers, who product and service innovation; branding; followed the overall guidelines of the internationalisation; prospection and agency’s management board, and steering promotion. All this was supported by a committees chaired by representatives of the

2019 strong brand that differentiated the cluster private sector. However, this dual governance services from the other support offered by gradually proved to be out of step with Luxinnovation,“ explains Johnny Brebels, changing needs, the emergence of cross- Director Company Relations and Support at sectoral projects and the development of a

LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL Luxinnovation. more customer-oriented approach.

24 “We realised that the standard model for clusters in the EU, with a PPP-type structure where partners invest to create synergies for the benefit of the whole ecosystem, did not really fit the specific Luxembourg context,” Mr Brebels comments. “We do not have enough critical mass or complete value chains for this. This is also why we decided to reform the way our clusters operate.”

Thus, the mission of cluster managers has evolved towards the role of “sectoral company relationship managers“. The steering committees have been replaced by sectoral advisory groups bringing together around ten stakeholders per sector, from industry, research and public administrations.

As ICT has become a common facilitator for companies in virtually all sectors, the previous ICT Cluster has been connected to the Luxembourg Digital Innovation Hub, a support platform for the digitalisation of industrial companies launched in September. WE FOCUS ON THE “However, the starting point of our activities “ remains the same, with an integral customer NEEDS OF EACH orientation,“ Mr Brebels points out. “We focus on the needs of each company and look for COMPANY AND the most appropriate solutions and paths to follow.” LOOK FOR THE MOST APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS AND PATHS TO FOLLOW. ” 2019 LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

25 SME PERFORMANCE

Luxinnovation contributes to Fit 4 Innovation is the second biggest enhancing the competitiveness programme with a total of 11 new participations of Luxembourg companies, in in 2019. One of its objectives is to help particular small and medium- companies get ready for launching new sized enterprises (SMEs), by innovation activities, and three companies helping them prepare for and submitted aid applications for process and launch innovation activities. The organisational innovation projects to the Ministry of the Economy as a direct result of participation in the agency’s range their participation. of performance programmes more than doubled in 2019. Together with the Chamber of Commerce and Luxinnovation also helped SMEs the Chamber of Skilled Crafts, Luxinnovation take advantage of European is also the Luxembourg node of the partnership opportunities through Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and helps the Enterprise Europe Luxembourg players establish partnerships Network (EEN). with international organisations. Five such partnerships, three focusing on advisory services and two on formal partnership agreements, were established in 2019. Luxinnovation also assessed the innovation The growing family of “Fit 4” performance capacity of six SMEs and held a business COMPANY RELATIONS AND SUPPORT COMPANY programmes for SMEs now includes six innovation workshop with one company. The different components. Fit 4 Digital remains the team supported three beneficiaries of the largest programmes in terms of participation, highly competitive SME Instrument funding with no less than 110 new companies joining provided by the European Commission with in 2019. A complement to the programme advice and coaching. targeting small enterprises, the Fit 4 Digital Three “Club Inno” events were organised Packages, were launched on 23 October by together with the Chamber of Skilled Crafts the Ministry of the Economy, the House of on the topics of change management, service Entrepreneurship (HoE) of the Chamber of design with LEGO® Serious Play®, and business Commerce and Luxinnovation. They offer model innovation for SMEs. companies the opportunity to make a pre- analysis with the support of the Go Digital Finally, Luxinnovation is part of a consortium team of the HoE, choose a package such that submitted a successful project proposal as digital marketing, client management or to the European Commission’s INNOSUP organisational management, and implement programme. Named “DigiJourney”, the a digital tool with the help of an experienced project is aimed at improving digitalisation service provider. The initiative directly proved support services provided to SMEs through to be a success with 135 “Digital Quick the exchange of good practices. It is carried 2019 Checks” performed and over 30 companies out together with partners from Spain participating before the end of the year. and Romania. LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

26 FIT 4 DIGITAL NEEW PARTICIPATIOONSNS IN 20019 110

FIT 4 DIGITAL PACKAGES 31 FIT 4 GROWTH

FIT 4 INNOVATION 1 DIAGNOSTICS

FIT 4 SERVICE 6 26 FIT 4 INNOVATION COMPANIES PROJECTS PARTICIPATING in international 3 matchmaking events organised by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) 5 5 EEN PARTNERSHIPS

INITIATED, 2019 each including one Luxembourg and one foreign organisation LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

27 MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION

The aim of Luxinnovation’s Increasingly sophisticated digital tools marketing and communication offer new ways of reaching target groups effort is three-fold: firstly, the with relevant, specialised information. agency informs companies Luxinnovation’s marketing and about how they can benefit communication team focused its efforts in from R&D, innovation and digital 2019 on the identification and implementation transformation. Secondly, in the of powerful digital tools, and the production of high-quality, attractive content. Original context of Luxembourg Trade & articles drafted by the editorial team as well Invest, it promotes Luxembourg as as videos were continuously published on the an attractive business destination different websites managed by the agency, for international companies as well as in relevant external publications. with high added value. Thirdly, The team disseminated various newsletters, Luxinnovation also promotes notably the monthly Luxinnovation news Luxembourg’s dynamic start-up bulletin Insights and the international ecosystem at the national and newsletter Crossroads. international level in collaboration with its partners. The work with social media was further developed during the year. Several new accounts were created to better target

MARKETING & COMMUNICATION specific groups and enhance the return on investment. The team implemented targeted communication and sponsored ads campaigns using well-defined hashtags and coherent visual approaches. Campaigns focused in particular on economic missions 10 and the Luxembourg pavilions at major international fairs, and on Fit 4 Start. NEW BROCHURES AND MAGAZINES PUBLISHED Luxinnovation played a key role in creating a common brand for Luxembourg’s start- up ecosystem, Startup Luxembourg. A new website for the start-up acceleration 30 programme Fit 4 Start was launched at the end of the year, which will be followed by a NEWSLETTERS completely new Startup Luxembourg website PUBLISHED in early 2020.

Printed publications published during the year included, for example, the third edition of the 2019 46 international Happen magazine and sector mappings highlighting the wood, health VIDEOS technologies and cybersecurity sectors. PRODUCED LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

28 v

FOLLOWERS Luxembourg Trade & Invest accounts (Δ compared to 2018) ON SOCIAL Major events organised included, among others, two Fit 4 Start Pitching and MEDIA 3,035 +3% Graduation Days, the inauguration of the IN 2019: cross-border digital testbed for autonomous 1,160 and connected driving, the Wood Cluster New Forum, the launch of the Luxembourg Digital Innovation Hub, the Smart Manufacturing 3,993 +9% Conference and several events organised in the context of Luxinnovation’s presidency of TAFTIE. Luxinnovation celebrated its 35th Startup Luxembourg accounts Luxinnovation accounts anniversary in November in the presence of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke. 972 New 3,904 +32% Luxinnovation continued to work closely with the Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of the Economy, the national branding 3,129 New 7,926 +67% committee and other stakeholders involved in promoting Luxembourg abroad. The agency also supported the Luxembourg 831 New 6,697 +14% Trade and Investment Offices (LTIOs) in their promotional activities and provided relevant training sessions.

3 +200 NEW WEBSITES MENTIONS OF LAUNCHED LUXINNOVATION in national and international newspapers and magazines

43 8 2019 EVENTS SOCIAL MEDIA ORGANISED SPONSORED ADS CAMPAIGNS

IMPLEMENTED LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

29 COMMUNICATION COLLATERAL 2019

Examples MARKETING & COMMUNICATION 2019 LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

30 2019 LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

31 ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE

Over the past few years, Luxinnovation has expanded rapidly in terms of size as well as the extent of its mission. In order to efficiently support its growing, client-centred teams, a new department for administration and finance was created in 2019 and a dedicated director was appointed. The department brings together all internal services: administration, human resources, information technology, finance, legal, quality management and the general secretariat. ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE ADMINISTRATION One of the department’s main priorities in was launched to develop a comprehensive 2019 was to empower its accounting team digitalisation strategy for Luxinnovation in to integrate and formalise all aspects related line with the government’s vision. To pursue to financing. The team is now managing this task, the team will be reinforced and new accounting, the budget process and follow-up, investments are planned in 2020 and 2021. procurement, and funding of the agency. Being a central player in the field of innovation Luxinnovation advertised 19 open positions also means assuming social responsibilities. in 2019 and received almost 950 applications. In order to lay the foundations of a global In addition, over 230 people submitted corporate social responsibility (CSR) spontaneous applications. In order to be able strategy, Luxinnovation worked on topics

to fulfil its mission, the agency mainly recruits such as reducing CO2 emissions and office highly skilled and experienced personnel. The waste, improving the wellbeing of the staff, gender balance of the current staff members developing a responsible purchasing policy is exemplary – 49% women and 51% men and focusing on the agency’s social impact. – and the employees represent 13 different 16 concrete actions were implemented. nationalities. Luxinnovation’s objective is to be CSR certified in 2021. A key focus of Luxinnovation is to support the

2019 implementation of the government’s strategy for data-driven innovation. This is not only reflected in the agency’s service offering, but also in its internal functioning. An initiative LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

32 ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

BALANCE SHEET 31 DECEMBER 2019 (EUR) ASSETS 2019 2018 FIXED ASSETS 553,337.72 640,407.76 Intangible assets 194,749.66 237,864.87 Tangible assets 358,588.06 402,542.89 CURRENT ASSETS 3,813,203.37 3,188,706.61 Debtors 551,771.96 729,577.96 Cash at bank and in hand 3,261,431.41 2,459,128.65 PREPAYMENTS 119,708.52 75,976.09 TOTAL 4,486,249.61 3,905,090.46

CAPITAL, RESERVES AND LIABILITIES 2019 2018 CAPITAL AND RESERVES 3,411,396.90 2,630,059.58 Subscribed capital 541,739.24 541,739.24 Reserves 2,827,619.96 2,030,389.59 Profit or loss for the financial year 0.00 0.00 Capital investment subsidies 42,037.70 57,930.75 PROVISIONS 231,198.18 249,370.18 CREDITORS 803,947.06 591,105.13 Amounts owed to credit institutions 4,320.52 2,588.97 Trade creditors 529,091.48 288,343.44 Other creditors 270,535.06 300,172.72 DEFERRED INCOME 39,707.47 434,555.57 TOTAL 4,486,249.61 3,905,090.46

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT 31 DECEMBER 2019 (EUR) 2019 2018 Other operating income 10.419.711,25 9.924.342,11 Raw materials and consumables and other external expenses -3.065.338,22 -2.382.220,16 Staff costs -7.041.057,16 -6.986.789,66 Value adjustments -256.023,51 -238.920,54 Other operating expenses -58.504,72 -316.424,14

Other interest receivable and similar income 1.300,22 12,39 2019 Interest payable and similar expenses -87,86 0,00 Profit or loss after taxation 0,00 0,00 PROFIT OR LOSS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 0,00 0,00 LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

33 35 YEARS AT THE SERVICE OF INNOVATION

Luxinnovation celebrated its 35th anniversary on 14 November 2019 at the Athénée de Luxembourg in the presence of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke and in front of an audience of 500 guests. This was also an opportunity to look back on three and a half decades of innovation in Luxembourg.

The genes of Luxinnovation can be traced back to Pierre Werner’s government programme following the legislative elections Isabelle Schlesser of June 1979. The government clearly expressed its will to contribute “to the innovation effort of companies, in particular GENERAL SECRETARY OF LUXINNOVATION by implementing appropriate instruments BETWEEN 2005 AND 2012 to encourage research, the use of new technologies and the adoption of innovation “When I arrived in 1999, I was the 5th employee of Luxinnovation in the production and service sectors“. and one of the first to be recruited by the GIE. I started by managing European projects in the field of innovation In particular, the desire for information, management techniques, as well as the business plan competition awareness raising and assistance for R&D and 1,2,3, Go, created in 2000. I also enjoyed working on the creation of innovation was emphasised: companies and the innovation web portal, which was one of the first state portals. research organisations expressed the need for a privileged point of contact who could At that time, we were working in a real start-up atmosphere provide them with information on existing and I always enjoyed being able to work with researchers and aid and services in the field of innovation, and entrepreneurs at the same time: people who have ideas and assist them in drawing up their national and want to develop things. Being able to help and support them is European projects. very rewarding. As a result, on 1 June 1984, an “Agency for the At that time, the economic and human context was obviously Promotion of Innovation“ was set up within different and sometimes you had to dare to make things happen.” the Ministry of the Economy and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, with a budget of 2,468 million Luxembourg francs (just over €60,000) for its first (half) year of operation.

34 35 LUXINNOVATION ANNUAL REPORT 2019 On the same day, the agency, which was then INNOVATION AND RESEARCH ENTRY POINT represented by Paul Helminger, Secretary of State for the Economy and the Small The first management committee met on and Medium-Sized Enterprises, signed an 4 October 1984, with Georges Schmit and agreement with the Luxembourg Chamber Patrick Nickels (representing the Ministry of of Commerce and the Federation of the Economy), Romain Beffort and Nicolas Luxembourg Industrialists, creating «a Soisson (for the Federation of Industrialists) joint promotion service to support and Jean-Paul Schmit and Étienne Reuter innovation, hereinafter referred to (for the Chamber of Commerce). as LUX-INNOVATION. The very first companies receiving support were Solucom (transport of thermal energy), Ets R. Stoll (integrated computer management) and Jean Dechmann (installations for recovering unused concrete raw materials and for the manufacture of reinforced concrete).

Since its creation, Luxinnovation’s mission has been to be the first “innovation and research entry point“ in Luxembourg. Its vocation was to encourage the participation of entrepreneurs and researchers in national and transnational R&D programmes.

Over the years, the demand for Luxinnovation’s services has grown strongly and two other organisations joined the agency’s partnership: the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (then responsible for research policy in the public sector, meanwhile Serge Pommerell taken over by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research) in 1992, then the Chamber of Skilled Crafts in 1998. MANAGER OF LUXINNOVATION BETWEEN JULY 1991 AND MAY 1997 In 1998, in order to give Luxinnovation its own legal form and consolidate its activities, its “I was recruited after answering an ad. I had just graduated from founding members granted it the status of university: this was my first real job. A few days after starting, Economic Interest Group (GIE) on 1 November. I was sent to Lisbon to attend a very high-level conference on technology transfer. I was immediately thrown in at the deep end! RAISING AWARENESS AND SUPPORT

At that time, many people were still wondering what innovation In 2001, Luxinnovation was entrusted with the really was. So we advocated information and awareness: we implementation of several large-scale national went into companies and identified their R&D needs. The programmes and projects: the creation of challenge was to understand the engineers and turn their idea the Luxembourg Portal for Innovation and into a quantifiable research project. Research, the launch of the Cluster programme and the creation of an innovation observatory. We never counted our hours, nor the long journeys. I have very good memories of this period and of the very strong motivation These programmes enabled it to develop its of all the people we worked with.” internal skills and create a greater force for action. Between 2001 and 2008, Luxinnovation’s workforce grew from 8 to 28 people.

36 The year 2009 marked an important milestone in the economic landscape, with the adoption of the law of 5 June relating to the promotion of research, development and innovation, introducing nine new public aid schemes. Luxinnovation was entrusted with awareness raising and the promotion of this law. The agency continued to grow and saw its staff Ian Cresswell increase from 28 to 40 people between 2008 and 2013.

At the beginning of 2015, there was the big LUXINNOVATION EMPLOYEE move: Luxinnovation left the Chamber of BETWEEN 2002 AND 2020 Commerce building in Luxembourg-Kirchberg “My association with Luxinnovation began in 2002, when the and relocated to the brand new House of organisation was still very small. I started working in support of Innovation at the heart of the the Luxembourg Cluster Initiative in close collaboration with the City of Sciences, Research and Innovation Ministry of the Economy. This work was always very rewarding in Esch-Belval. and I am very pleased that the clusters continue to make a INTERNATIONAL SCOPE valuable contribution to the development of the economy.

In 2016, Luxinnovation grew further as it was More recently, I have been involved in supporting the international assigned the international economic promotion development activities of the agency, requiring completely activities related to the “Luxembourg Trade & different skill sets. This has brought many new challenges, but the Invest“ brand that had previously been carried results of all this hard work are fast becoming evident. out by the promotion agency Luxembourg for Now recently retired, I am very excited to see that the agency Business. is remaining as relevant today as it has always been. It was One year later, the law of 17 May 2017 a privilege to work with such talented colleagues and I am renewing the aid schemes for research, sure that the agency will continue to grow and take on new development and innovation completed responsibilities in the years to come.” and enriched the system dating from 2009. The new law further strengthened Luxinnovation’s mission to support companies in identifying the most suitable mechanisms for implementing and co-financing their innovation initiatives. The growth continued and the agency’s staff now exceeds 70 people.

Very present on the national level, Luxinnovation has also played a role since its creation in providing access to different European funding programmes. The agency is the national contact point for the different The creation of the Luxembourg Digital multi-annual framework programmes of the Innovation Hub in September 2019 is the

European Commission. A role in which it is very latest major milestone for the national agency, 2019 active. As proof: in 2018, Luxembourg was the whose history over the past 35 years illustrates country with the highest success rate in the EU the innovation dynamics of an economy that for project proposals under the Horizon 2020 in 2018 was ranked among the European

framework programme. innovation champions. LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

37 MANAGEMENT BOARD

As of 30 March 2020

BOARD MEMBERS

Mario Grotz Philippe OSCH Board Chair CTO 1er conseiller de gouvernement Hitec Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy Gilles REDING Sasha BAILLIE Directeur Affaires environnementales, CEO techniques et innovation 1er conseiller de gouvernement Luxembourg Chamber of Skilled Crafts Ministry of the Economy Georges SANTER Tom BAUMERT Head of Digital and Innovation Member of the Board of Directors FEDIL – The Voice of Luxembourg’s industry Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce Gilles SCHOLTUS Romain MARTIN Conseiller de gouvernement 1ère classe 1er conseiller de gouvernement Ministry of the Economy Ministry for Higher Education and Research

SUBSTITUTE BOARD MEMBERS

Daniel DA CRUZ Marco WALENTINY Conseiller de légation Conseiller de direction 1ère classe Ministry of the Economy Ministry of the Economy

Robert KERGER Carole WAMMER Conseiller Rédacteur Ministry for Higher Education and Research Ministry of the Economy

Philippe LINSTER Jean-Marc ZAHLEN CEO House of Startups Chargé de Projets Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce FEDIL – The Voice of Luxembourg’s Industry

Anne MAJERUS Lynn ZOENEN Conseillère Technique et Économique Global Affairs Manager 2019 Luxembourg Chamber of Skilled Crafts Ispace LUXINNOVATION REPORT ANNUAL

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