Credit: LIH / Expon Capital
On Wednesday 12 July 2023, the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) and Luxembourg-based venture capital investment firm Expon Capital announced their agreement to enter into a mutual collaboration aiming to identify possible opportunities and synergies in the field of scientific research and technological development in the digital health sector.
LIH and Expon Capital described Luxembourg as "ideally positioned to attract dynamic and innovative healthtech companies and startups" due to its "rapidly-evolving and thriving healthtech scene". They noted that this has been enabled by financial support from the government and national funding agencies, as well as supranational institutions and the expertise and infrastructure of research institutes such as LIH. They added that venture capital also plays a key role in "catalysing this ambitious vision" of Luxembourg becoming a leading translational e-health hub.
In this context, LIH and Expon Capital have signed a collaboration agreement to pave the way towards the establishment of such an e-health ecosystem. More specifically, the agreement aims to set the framework for a collaboration focused on the identification, development and possible implementation of a variety of specific projects and activities. These include, for example, the provision of support to LIH in setting up juries for hackathons and competitions, spin-offs and startups, as well as assistance related to other science commercialisation activities. Similarly, LIH will be able to provide advisory and scientific support to Expon Capital and assist in the elaboration of a joint strategy to develop partnerships between digital health companies and the financial and investor community.
"We are delighted to have entered into this agreement with a reputable venture capitalist with a profound knowledge of the national research and technology landscape," stated Prof Ulf Nehrbass, CEO of LIH. "We believe that the numerous opportunities for knowledge transfer arising from this partnership and the availability of Expon's financial and investment expertise to our researchers will create a bridge between research and its commercialisation. This will ensure that our scientific findings are marketable and can be translated into tangible healthcare solutions, easily accessible by clinicians and patients."
"We are looking forward to setting the basis for a solid and long-lasting strategic cooperation between the complementary worlds of research and finance here in the Grand Duchy, which will contribute to further attracting innovative and disruptive e-health companies, ultimately unlocking the potential of digital health and translational research and improving healthcare and patient outcomes," added Jérôme Wittamer, Managing Partner of Expon Capital.
