Luxembourg's Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth, Luxinnovation and neimënster have announced the cancellation of their respective upcoming events over coronavirus fears.
A number of events in Luxembourg have been cancelled following the Ministry of Health's public recommendation to postpone or avoid organising events bringing together more than 1,000 people.
The latest events to have been cancelled include the 2020 edition of LuxSkills, a national competition for trades and professions organised by the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth and WorldSkills Luxembourg ASBL and originally scheduled for 20-23 April at the Centre national de formation professionnelle continue (CNFPC) in Esch-sur-Alzette, and the accompanying “Léierplazendag”, co-organised by the ministry, RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg, ADEM, the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Trades, which was planned for 22 April 2020. LuxSkills has thus been postponed to the beginning of 2021.
Similarly, Luxinnovation today announced its decision to cancel this year's Fit 4 Start Pitching & Graduation Day, which should have been held on 26 March at Kinepolis in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, reportedly due to the risks linked to the spread of coronavirus. Some 500 people were expected to attend this event, which would have both rewarded start-ups that had completed the 9th edition of the Fit 4 Start acceleration programme, launched by the Ministry of Economy and managed by Luxinnovation in collaboration with Technoport and the Luxembourg City Incubator, and marked the launch of the 10th edition.
Luxinnovation CEO Sasha Baillie explained: "A significant number of participants should have come from all over the world, including from so-called 'risk' areas. It was unreasonable to keep this event as it is, for obvious public health reasons".
Despite the cancellation of this public ceremony, the programme and pitches will go ahead as planned. Indeed, the 77 startups (59 in ICT, 18 in space sector) selected among the 362 applicants (from 56 countries) will be contacted individually and "visio-pitch" sessions will be organised in the presence of the jury members. These startups will now present themselves by video conference before the members of the jury who will ultimately select ten ICT and five Space Technologies startups. The chosen fifteen startups, incorporated in Luxembourg, will receive funding of €50,000 and will follow a four-month intensive and personalised coaching by being hosted in one of the two partner incubators, Technoport or the Luxembourg City Incubator.
In addition, neimënster announced the postponement of the "Hidden Orchestra" concert in a statement issued earlier today. The concert was scheduled to take place this Friday 13 March 2020. The management of Hidden Orchestra explained that within the framework of the prevention measures against coronavirus decreed in France, the band led by Joe Acheson is not able to ensure the end of the tour in satisfactory conditions. Nevertheless, neimënster has confirmed that it is working to set a new date with the group. In the meantime, purchased tickets will remain valid but may be refunded if desired. For further information, contact neimënster via tel.: 262-052-1 or via email: billetterie@neimenster.lu.
The announcement of these cancellations and postponements follow those of ICT Spring 2020 (postponed to July), Relais pour la Vie (cancelled), Comhaltas' annual St Patrick's Day Ceili dances (cancelled), the ALFI European Asset Management Conference (postponed, date TBC), Postlaf (postponed to spring 2021), Springbreak Luxembourg (postponed to July) and a charity screening of "Les Hirondelles de Kaboul" (postponed to September) organised by the Speak Stand Rise Up! association. Similarly, the finals of the basketball competitions Lalux Ladies Cup and National Lottery Cup Luxembourg have been postponed due to coronavirus concerns. The organisers will announce the new date as soon as possible; all purchased tickets will be valid for the new date. The traditional Cavalcade carnival parades in Esch-sur-Alzette and Remich have also been cancelled for this reason.
