Luxembourg Celebrates Space, Digital Ambitions During Trade Mission to US

The Luxembourg Chambre of Commerce has reported on Luxembourg’s recent trade mission to Colorado Springs and New York (US), which brought together 23 Luxembourg companies active in space, defence and digital technologies, alongside institutional stakeholders. 

Organised by the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, in close collaboration with the Luxembourg Trade and Invest partners and the Luxembourg‑American Chamber of Commerce, the trade mission took place from Sunday 12 to Saturday 18 April 2026 with the aim to strengthen Luxembourg’s presence within key US innovation ecosystems. 

The Chamber of Commerce said that the programme provided participating companies with direct access through participation in the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, targeted company visits, high‑level business meetings in New York, as well as the Luxembourg American Business Award Ceremony, held in the presence of Grand Duke Guillaume, Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Gilles Roth, Luxembourg Minister of Finance.

Carlo Thelen, CEO/Director General of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce said: “In a context of geopolitical uncertainty, the Luxembourg and US business communities continue to demonstrate their strong dedication to a future oriented and dynamic transatlantic relationship, especially in today’s interconnected and rapidly evolving global economy. At a time when competitiveness has become a central priority, and resilient supply chains are more important than ever, Luxembourg stands as a stable and reliable partner, offering an attractive and a pro-business environment in Europe. The US is Luxembourg’s leading trading partner out of Europe in terms of trade in goods and services with total volume amounting to EUR 32.6 billion in 2025. This close economic relationship offers a strong foundation to further enhance economic progress and innovation on both sides of the Atlantic and lies at the very heart of this Trade Mission."

From space to digital innovation

The Chamber of Commerce reported that the mission began in Colorado Springs, where Luxembourg participated in the 41st Space Symposium, one of the most influential global gatherings for the space and defence sectors. For the second consecutive year, a national pavilion coordinated by the Luxembourg Space Agency underscored the nation’s priorities and avant guard technologies in the global space economy, while providing a strategic platform for dialogue with key institutional and industrial stakeholders. The programme included targeted visits to Astroscale US and ispace-US in Denver, two pioneering companies in orbital debris removal, satellite servicing and lunar mobility. A networking reception, held in the presence of Lex Delles, Luxembourg Minister of the Economy, SMEs and Energy, offered participants the opportunity to connect in a friendly and convivial atmosphere. The Chamber of Commerce noted that the mission provided first-hand insight into key actors shaping the US space and defence landscape.

Francisco Cuellar Córdova, CEO of Tumi Robotics, said: “Participating in this event as part of the Luxembourg delegation has been a key milestone for TUMI Robotics Space. As this was our first time attending an event of this scale, our goal was to better understand the global space ecosystem and identify how our dual-use robotic technologies can contribute both on Earth and in space. This mission has been extremely valuable in enabling high-quality networking, opening conversations for potential collaborations. We see this as the beginning of long-term partnerships that will accelerate our expansion into the space sector.”

Michel Poucet, Managing Director of Infinite Orbits added: “The US, particularly the Colorado Springs and Denver areas, is highly attractive to Luxembourg companies thanks to its strong space and defence ecosystem, spanning both industry and government. The Space Symposium offers a unique opportunity to engage with key stakeholders in one place. This mission allowed us to reconnect with existing customers and partners, build new relationships, and gain valuable insights through site visits to leading space companies. It also provided an excellent platform to showcase Luxembourg’s robust ecosystem and the strong support from both industry and government for space and defence.”

André Wilmes, President of LuxDefence, also highlighted: “Fostering international relationships with fellow defence industry associations and collaborative engagements are among one of our top priorities. The targeted audience in Colorado Springs enabled us to hold multi-country and multi-stakeholder meetings otherwise impracticable to organise. The sheer number and variety of military and governmental representatives, industrial actors of all size and technology flavours, as well as the presence of innovation and national agencies from several countries created an environment where long term strategic partnerships and business opportunity gateways were crafted, both for individual companies but also for national ecosystems as a whole. As defence‑related activities in space continue to expand, we can expect growing interest and participation from Luxembourg companies and LuxDefence members attending next year.”

The mission then continued to New York, where meetings with key stakeholders such as the Cornell Tech, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), and SOSA provided insights into cooperation programmes, cutting-edge digital solutions and dynamic startup communities, whilst showcasing Luxembourg as a competitive and forward‑looking innovation hub. The programme also included a visit to Newlab Brooklyn, a venture platform supporting more than 400 startups transforming critical industries. In addition, exchanges with the US offices of Arendt & Medernach and Elvinger Hoss provided practical guidance for Luxembourg companies considering expansion into the North American market. The Chamber of Commerce remarked that, together, these interactions highlighted how New York stands at the crossroads of talent, capital and innovation, making it a strategic gateway for transatlantic collaboration.

A flagship moment celebrating transatlantic business success

The Chamber of Commerce reported that a key highlight of the mission was the 12th Luxembourg American Business Award Ceremony, held at the prestigious Metropolitan Club, in the presence of Grand Duke Guillaume, Minister Bettel and Minister Roth. Organised by the Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce, the biennial award recognises companies that have made a lasting and meaningful contribution to Luxembourg-US economic relations.

This year, Plastipak, a global leader in sustainable packaging and recycling solutions, was honoured for its long-standing commitment to strengthening bilateral business ties.

Fernand Ernster, President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce stated: “The Business Award not only recognises excellence but also showcases the success stories of companies that have taken the transatlantic leap to expand their activities. Highlighting these success stories is essential. They reflect the dynamism and shared ambition that characterise the Luxembourg-US partnership and will continue to move it forward.”

The trade mission continued with the USA–Luxembourg Business Forum, which brought together business leaders, policymakers, investors and representatives of innovation‑driven institutions from both sides of the Atlantic. The “Tech & Innovation” session offered perspective from Luxembourg and the United States, exploring digital solutions and common challenges faced by companies operating in both markets. The agenda also included a networking reception at the Luxembourg House, providing a platform for engagement with US companies and the broader business community. The Chamber of Commerce said these interactions translated into concrete takeaways for participating companies, both in terms of market insights and business opportunities.

Johan Scheefer, CEO of STRAS, noted: "As a Luxembourg IT consulting company, I see the US as a true laboratory for scaling digital technologies at speed, and New York perfectly embodies this dynamic, fast-paced ecosystem. The mission allowed me to connect with key tech players, gain deeper insights into the US market, and reinforce my belief in combining European resilience with American innovation to build sustainable digital solutions. This experience strengthens my commitment to further invest in our US presence, and I would strongly recommend it to any entrepreneur looking to expand internationally.”

And Paul Schockmel, CEO of IEE, underlined: “Joining the trade mission to New York is an opportunity to connect, gather fresh inspiration, and learn from one of the world’s most dynamic markets. The trip sparked several promising ideas for how our company can accelerate and scale within the US health sector — a space that’s still new to us but full of potential.”

Turning connections into concrete business opportunities

The Chamber of Commerce said: “By opening new avenues for collaboration in space, defence and digital technologies, the trade mission translated Luxembourg’s strategic ambitions into tangible business opportunities while reinforcing its position as a competitive and globally connected innovation hub.”

Moreover, the Chamber of Commerce announced it is already preparing its next visit to the United States, scheduled for January 2027.