The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) has announced the release of its first annual report since its inception, on 1 January 2015, by the merger of the Gabriel Lippmann and Henri Tudor research centres; the objective of the merger was to refocus RDI activities on the development of technologies and align these with the priorities of economic and industrial growth in Luxembourg.
It has been a success story, as the first annual report confirms.
LIST's strategic priorities were identified in order to strengthen the Luxembourg government's policy of economic diversification and smart growth. Consequently, the structure implemented by LIST is based on a matrix pattern where the three technology departments (materials science and technologies, information technologies and environmental technologies) develop the expertise, know-how and technological building blocks to sustain four intersectoral programmes dedicated to cities (Smart Cities), space (Smart Space), finance (Smart Finance) and industry (Smart Manufacturing). These programmes help support national efforts to transform Luxembourg into a "Smart Nation". They also make it possible for LIST's contract research to match its ambitions. In 2015, LIST increased its partnerships with SMEs and large groups. A total of 60% of contracts signed were with Luxembourg and European companies. Some 42% of these companies belong to the manufacturing production sector, followed by the information technology, construction, healthcare, water management, energy, space, mobility, transport, logistics and finance sectors.
Strengthening synergies
In order to become this powerhouse of national ambition in terms of innovation, LIST must maximise synergies with all stakeholders involved in innovation in Luxembourg, including multinational manufacturers, industrial clusters and SMEs, funding and promotion of innovation bodies such as the National Research Fund (FNR) and Luxinnovation, the national agency for research and innovation, the various ministries in Luxembourg, and research institutes such as the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) and the University of Luxembourg.
There were many such partnerships in 2015: 17 research projects were undertaken with the University of Luxembourg of which three were funded by the Horizon2020 programme, initial contact for implementation of a joint doctoral school with the University of Luxembourg, as well as a training programme for PhD students, the launch of a major project with LISER, discussions on joint working areas with LIH, strengthened collaboration with Luxinnovation to implement sustainable partnerships with companies, 10 new projects in FNR programmes, etc. All of these partnerships will be consolidated in future years. Since summer 2015, the concentration of all of these stakeholders on a single site – the Belval Innovation Campus – has supported this solid dynamic.
Another of LIST's missions is to support, through innovation and research, the definition, implementation and evaluation of national policies. In 2015, LIST consequently offered its expertise and know-how to several ministries including the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection, and many others.
Promoting "Made in Luxembourg" innovation
Together with its various institutional and private partners, LIST also actively contributes towards the re-industrialisation of Luxembourg, not only through building sustainable partnerships with economic stakeholders in Luxembourg to consolidate their installation in the country, but also by developing a Europe-wide and international cooperation strategy to enhance Luxembourg's visibility and industrial appeal and welcome. In 2015, LIST consequently signed 203 contracts with foreign partners (European and international).
Luxembourg boasts significant assets which allow it to figure among the most innovative countries in Europe thanks to its solid economic and financial dynamism, stable and proactive political situation, modern and connected infrastructure, growing multicultural population, varied industrial fabric and research organisations with strong potential, with LIST forming the cornerstone. Moreover, Luxembourg stands out because of its central European location and single-scale factor, from city neighbourhoods to the countryside. Consequently, at a time when the greatest innovations require a testing and experimentation ground before being put into operation on a wider scale, Luxembourg offers unique possibilities for rolling out innovative products and services, which enable them to be tested under real-life conditions and on various levels. Along with its local and European partners, LIST contributes towards making Luxembourg a large-scale experimentation and testing laboratory for products and services.
Sizeable investments
In 2015, LIST also worked on the design and implementation of technological infrastructure offering companies a combination of expertise, methods, know-how, tools and resources helping to speed up the development and maturity of products and services intended to be rolled out across the market. For this, it has relied on a collaborative approach, focused on the promotion of industrial value chains and multi-partner synergies. This strategy was initiated in 2015 in two large-scale projects, firstly the establishment of the National Composite Centre - Luxembourg with several industrial partners, and secondly equipping Luxembourg with a supercomputer and its networking through strategic partnerships with France, Italy and Spain.
A strong scientific and technological base
LIST's goal of serving Luxembourg's economic development goes hand-in-hand with a requirement for high scientific quality, which is the very foundation for its credibility and appeal with partners. In 2015, scientific excellence indicators included in the Performance Agreement signed with the State were largely exceeded, demonstrating that an RTO like LIST geared primarily towards applied research and technological development can simultaneously contribute significantly towards the production and transfer of high-level scientific knowledge. LIST researchers published 188 scientific articles with an impact factor equal to or greater than two in international journals and conference proceedings. Many of them also participated as members of scientific journal editorial boards or steering committees for international scientific conferences. The hosting of six scientific visitors demonstrates the positive dynamic of LIST's academic network. Finally, LIST provided, in partnership with the University of Luxembourg and foreign universities, the supervision of 72 PhD candidates with 20 PhD candidates successfully completing their doctoral theses in 2015.
From a technological perspective, LIST's portfolio of patents in areas of strategic interest continues to grow. In 2015, patent applications increased by nearly 40%. The set-up of a technological showroom in 2015 on the ground floor of the Maison de l'innovation (Innovation Centre) is a showcase for industry and allows the general public to see LIST's latest scientific and technological developments. These are impressive results which point to a bright future for LIST!
