Google Announces Office in Luxembourg City & Launches Collaboration with Uni.lu

On Thursday 27 February 2025, Google announced the opening of its first office in Luxembourg and provided details of the establishment of a Centre of Excellence at the University of Luxembourg.

At a press conference held at Philharmonie Luxembourg (Luxembourg-Kirchberg), Google’s Vice President of Google Cloud EMEA South, Anthony Cirot, along with Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) at the University of Luxembourg, Prof Yves Le Traon, announced the establishment of Google’s new office, located at 53 Boulevard Royal (Luxembourg-Ville) and provided details on the establishment of a Centre of Excellence, which will be funded with a $500,000 investment from Google and will reside on the university’s campus in Luxembourg-Kirchberg.

According to Google, the new office will act as a hub for Artificial Intelligence (AI) transformation and will house experts in Google’s Cloud technology. The team will focus on accelerating the adoption of cloud technology by providing skills training, assisting startups and helping to deliver cloud and AI solutions. Google intends to build on the work already undertaken through its Clarence Project, a joint venture between Proximus Luxembourg and LuxConnect, which developed a “Sovereign Cloud” data solution, which ensures all data and computing operations are carried out in Luxembourg and subject only to EU jurisdictions.

Cloud EMEA South Vice President, Anthony Cirot, stated: “Luxembourg is a vital innovation hub and Google Cloud is proud to partner with its ongoing digital transformation,” adding: “Through our expanded presence and initiatives, we want to empower Luxembourg businesses and citizens to harness the power of technology, foster innovation and build a prosperous digital future for the country.”

Through a $500,000 investment, Google is also supporting its digital vision by establishing a Centre of Excellence at the University of Luxembourg. The centre will reside within the university’s Kirchberg campus and will focus on research, training and incubation in cybersecurity and AI, providing access to the digital skills which students, small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) and other digital ecosystems in Luxembourg will require for success in the field of AI.

SnT Director, Professor Yves Le Traon, stated: “The Centre of Excellence is an exceptional opportunity for SnT to strengthen its research activities in digital sovereignty with Google Cloud and to raise awareness of a technology that has a major impact on society. This partnership is not limited to today's technologies but anticipates tomorrow's developments and their impacts.”

When questioned regarding the ongoing development of Google’s proposed data centre in Bissen, Anthony Cirot stated that the company had no immediate announcements on the matter but emphasised that Google is prepared for any future developments.

After the press conference, an official presentation was given by Anthony Cirot and included speeches from Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister for Media and Connectivity, Elisabeth Margue, and, in a recorded video message, Minister for Digitalisation, Stéphanie Obertin. 

There then followed a “ribbon cutting ceremony” involving Prime Minister Frieden, Minister Bettel and Anthony Cirot, undertaken to signify the opening of Google’s new office and its collaboration with the University of Luxembourg.

SM