FOCUS on Research & Innovation in Luxembourg - N°3/2010 - Environmental innovators hit the spotlight by Luxinnovation

focus

N° 3 / 2010

on Research & Innovation in Luxembourg

Environmental innovators hit the spotlight

Building on a strong tradition of innovation Pages 5 - 7

Luxembourg: an inspired career move Pages 42 - 43

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EDITORIAL

editorial The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is renowned for its tradition of economic performance and stability – a tradition which it has excellent potential to uphold, despite the current economic crisis. The country’s level of competitiveness was ranked 12th in the Global Competitiveness Index 2009 published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). Innovation, research and development (R&D) are key drivers to ensure the long-term sustainability of this f irst-rate performance. They must be placed f irmly at the heart of the policies that will consolidate Luxembourg’s competitiveness and help the country to weather the current global economic downturn successfully. The Grand Duchy continues to build on solid foundations, with a high proportion of small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) introducing new innovation on the market, a well-developed sector of knowledge-intensive services and a highly competitive legal framework for intellectual property. The new law on R&D and innovation support adopted in 2009 marks another step forward in the government’s drive to put in place effective measures to stimulate innovation in the business sector and reinforce the collaboration with public research institutions. In order to diversify Luxembourg’s economy and to develop centres of scientif ic excellence of high international standing, the government has identif ied several technological key sectors which it will prioritise during the next few years. Environmental technologies is one of them. This third issue of FOCUS on Research and Innovation in Luxembourg highlights companies as well as research organisations that derive their competitive edge from eco-friendly innovation. Moreover, the Grand Duchy is investing heavily in the public research sector in order to build scientif ic excellence. This number of FOCUS presents a range of examples, such as the new Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust at the

Serge Allegrezza, Head of the Directorate-General for Competitiveness, Research and Innovation, Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade

University of Luxembourg, which aims to put the country on the map in terms of high-quality research in secure ICT systems and services. It also illustrates the programmes put in place to encourage high-level researchers to establish activities in the Grand Duchy. The 25th anniversary of Luxinnovation, the National Agency for Innovation and Research, provided an opportunity to review the development of the national innovation system in Luxembourg since the mid-1980s. From having virtually no public research two-and-a-half decades ago, the country has succeeded in establishing an extensive public research sector and comprehensive support for private businesses – a remarkable journey, which holds much promise for the future.

Serge Allegrezza

Head of the Directorate-General for Competitiveness, Research and Innovation at the Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade

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TABle of CONTENTs

Table of contents Keynote interview Building on a strong tradition of innovation Interview with Mr Michel Wurth, ArcelorMittal

News from innovative Luxembourg

Environmental technologies Environmental innovators hit the spotlight Empowering eco-technologies Innovative technologies for sustainable steelmaking Financing opportunities for eco-innovation Turning nature into power A breakthrough for solar energy For a lower carbon footprint ... globally Eco-experts at your service Innovative spaces

11 12 14 16 17 18 20 22

Making innovative strides towards the next decade

Entrepreneurship and innovation Entrepreneurship and innovation news Energy eff iciency for a well-aired lift Imagine. Create. Innovate.

29 32 34

Public research An ambitious agenda for CRP Henri Tudor Building IT networks and services that will never let you down Luxembourg: an inspired career move The thrill of pure science

38 40 42 44

Did you know it’s from Luxembourg? Reaching for the sky: Luxembourg’s contribution to the world’s tallest tower

Five questions for … Mr Claude Steinmetz, Managing Director of Luxlait

The RDI directory

FOCUS on Research and Innovation in Luxembourg is published by Luxinnovation GIE National Agency for Innovation and Research Director of publication Gilles Schlesser Editor-in-chief Lena Mårtensson lena.martensson@luxinnovation.lu

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Cover Boshua

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4 I Focus 3 – 2010

KEYNOTE INTERVIEW

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Michel Wurth, Member of the Group Management Board, ArcelorMittal

Building on a strong tradition of innovation

That world steel industry leader ArcelorMittal has its global headquarters in Luxembourg City is one of the Grand Duchy’s principal economic claims to fame. The country plays a signif icant role in the company’s commitment to product excellence, hosting one of the group’s major R&D centres. The Luxembourger Michel Wurth is a member of the Group Management Board, with, amongst other duties, responsibility for global product development and R&D. FOCUS spoke to him about this and the work he does to support entrepreneurship and innovation in his home country. With around 287,000 employees in more than 60 countries, ArcelorMittal is the largest steel company in the world. Total output amounted to 103 million tons of steel in 2008, almost three times more than the second largest company. The company was formed in 2006 following the merger of the former industry numbers one and two Mittal Steel and Arcelor. Arcelor was created in 2001 from the partnership of Luxembourg’s Arbed, Spain’s Aceralia and France’s Usinor. “Today’s customer often does not only require a standard product, but appreciates the service that goes along with it,” notes Michel Wurth. “I think that this will increasingly become a priority.” As the global economy has become more sophisticated over recent years, businesses have had to f ind new ways to add value, a challenge Luxembourg’s steel industry began to address over three decades ago. The result is one of the most sophisticated steel production centres in the world.

Outward-looking flexibility

For many, steel production remains the soul of Luxembourg’s economy. Not only was it the bedrock of the country’s economy until the mid-1970s when it provided 30% of total national value added and 16% of employment, but it was the vehicle for the country to display its unique talents, particularly its outward-looking flexibility. So when the steel crisis hit, the country was quick to pull together to rationalise and change strategy, moving into higher value-added production. Today, output is centred on three electric-arc furnace mini-mills which focus on high-end niche products. The industry, like the country, has an instinctive vocation to embrace globalisation. For example, the leading national company Arbed was investing in Brazil in the 1920s and Korea in the 1970s. In short, Luxembourg has for

Focus 3 – 2010 I 5

KEYNOTE INTERVIEW

speciality products. He claims worldwide market leadership in areas such as “sheet piling” and “very heavy sections”, with work ongoing regarding f ire engineering, earthquake resistance and concrete-steel composite construction as well as predesign and cost estimation software. As an example he highlights the award-winning “Angelina” beam, through which pipes and cabling can be laid, “thus reducing the height of the whole building, so cutting construction and energy costs.” The Dudelange production site in the south of Luxembourg, he says, “is also at the forefront of innovation, for example, with its Aluzinc product which has many applications, particularly in construction for cladding, roof ing, f irebreak solutions, etc.”

Central environmental concerns

decades been a by-word for future-oriented steel production; whether as an independent national champion or as the headquarters of an ambitious multinational corporation.

Innovation nexus

This flair for innovation has helped Luxembourg’s reputation within the industry. The steel giant’s worldwide R&D organisation is managed from the Grand Duchy, and one of the company’s 15 global research centres is based in Esch-surAlzette. “The Esch research centre focuses on niche products,” notes Mr Wurth. “Although there is a staff of just 37 people, it takes advantage of know-how from other labs.” The team often works closely with the group’s biggest research centre, which is just 40 km across the French border in Maizières-les-Metz. The centre in nearby Liège, Belgium, is also a frequent partner. The work of these laboratories is organised on a global basis, with the Esch plant having intra-group customers on every continent where the group has a presence. Work in these centres ranges across many products and techniques, but Mr Wurth says the main focus for market development is on local

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He highlights the demonstration projects on blast furnaces for top gas recycling as well as carbon capture and storage technologies planned to be built in eastern Germany and

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Heavy industry is particularly sensitive to client demands for sustainability, and Luxembourg plays its part here too. Steel in this country is made in modern electric-arc furnaces that process scrap metal. “This makes the region one of the biggest recyclers of steel in Europe,” notes Mr Wurth, and this practical experience is used in the local R&D effort too. “They are mainly in the framework of intelligent production, i.e. modelling, understanding of processes, measuring and automation with the aim of improving costs, energy consumption, emissions and material yield,” Mr Wurth explains.

nearby Florange in France. “Steel as a material is exceptionally sustainable,” he adds, claiming an 85% global recycling rate. To complete the picture, he points to technological advancements such as lighter, more fuel-eff icient cars and more effective wind turbines.

KEYNOTE INTERVIEW

Rebounding from the crisis

It is this innovative mindset that Mr Wurth hopes Luxembourg’s manufacturing sector will embrace. Finance is now dominant, but as president of the Chamber of Commerce he supports the drive towards sustained economic diversity. He is convinced that Luxembourg has to become “the benchmark in terms of productivity” whilst also continuing to seek out “high-quality specialities and niche products with a very high added value.”

More to achieve

“Luxembourg is an attractive place for innovation,” comments Mr Wurth, highlighting the tax regime as being particularly important amongst the range of incentives on offer. “I think research policy is most successful when it enables a strong partnership between public research institutes, the University and the private sector,” he adds. And therefore, he welcomes the research, development and innovation promotion law passed in June 2009. “To develop this public-private relationship further, we need more work on policies, from education to tax, to encourage venture capital and entrepreneurship and keep our country open to the best researchers.” He is particularly excited by the Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg project, which has received substantial public backing. Similarly, he thinks the potential for the planned Esch-Belval City of Sciences will be important, as it will bring together all facets of the research effort. Mr Wurth has been closely involved in this project as Belval once hosted six Arbed blast furnaces. He concedes there is a danger of creating an “ivory tower”, but feels this can be avoided through private sector involvement, particularly through Luxinnovation.

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Key to this is the fostering of innovation, a concept he feels needs to be addressed from all sides. “I’m not just thinking about new products,” he comments, “but also about innovation in terms of customer service and customer-supported R&D activities.” Thanks to the fresh thinking of Arbed, Arcelor and today ArcelorMittal, he says, new technologies have continued to sell well even during the worst months of the downturn. “Much as I prefer times of growth and prof itability, every downturn is a valuable learning experience,” is Mr Wurth’s opinion. He feels the survivors will be better equipped to face the future, particularly in terms of cost control and competitiveness.

Michel Wurth

Michel Wurth is a member of the ArcelorMittal Group Management Board, with responsibility for Flat Europe, Distribution Solutions, Product Development and R&D, and Global Customers. After joining Arbed in 1979, the Luxembourger rose to become vice president of Arbed in 1998, maintaining that position with successor f irm Arcelor. Mr Wurth also plays an important role within the wider economy of Luxembourg as president of the country’s Chamber of Commerce since 2004 and vice president of FEDIL – Business Federation Luxembourg. In addition, he is president of the board of directors of steel industry supplier Paul Wurth S.A. and vice chairman of the Luxembourg Red Cross.

ArcelorMittal + 352 47 92 1 contact@arcelormittal.com www.arcelormittal.com

Focus 3 – 2010 I 7

News from innovative Luxembourg

Increased f inancial support for innovation and R&D in Luxembourg

A law providing a new framework for f inancial support to companies undertaking R&D and innovation processes came into force in July 2009, replacing the one from 1993. It is especially designed to meet the needs of SMEs and start-ups.

News

While previous support was reserved for R&D projects, the upgraded legal framework offers f inancial support for f irms carrying out a comprehensive range of innovation activities. It offers incentives that include R&D projects and programmes, technical feasibility studies, protection of technical industrial property, support to young innovative enterprises, innovation advice and support, secondment of highly qualif ied personnel, process and organisational innovation in services, and innovation clusters. It thus conf irms Luxembourg’s f irm intention of supporting innovation efforts.

A renowned director for the University of Luxembourg’s Centre for Systems Biomedicine

“Putting Luxembourg on the international map of biology and genome research” is the vision of Dr Rudi Balling, new head of the University of Luxembourg’s Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB).

www.innovation.public.lu/loi_rdi

A cluster for logistics

Rudi Balling, Director, LCSB

The LCSB is key to a major government initiative to develop Luxembourg as a centre of excellence in molecular and personalised medicine. With a mission that includes analysing mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, identifying new drug targets and increasing the eff icacy and safety of new preventative and therapeutic strategies, the interdisciplinary LCSB envisions units in experimental biology, theoretical and computational biology and the development of the technical platforms that support such research.

To strengthen Luxembourg’s position as an international logistics centre, a cluster for logistics has been formed with the support of the Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade. The seven founding members are the Chamber of Commerce, FEDIL – Business Federation Luxembourg, Luxinnovation, Luxembourg Confederation of Commerce (clc), the Maritime Cluster, Public Research Centre Henri Tudor and the University of Luxembourg. The cluster’s scope will include not only logistics companies but also businesses that use logistics. The cluster’s working groups include: Education and Training, Innovation and Project Development, Infrastructure, Legal and Regulatory Framework. The cluster, which has recently launched its own website, participated in the Logistics Management Forum in Luxembourg in 2009 as well as in 2010.

Dr Balling joined the centre in September 2009 from the Helmholtz Centre of Infection Research in Braunschweig. The facility itself is under development as part of the new university campus in Belval. www.lcsb.lu

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www.clusterforlogistics.lu

News from innovative Luxembourg

New Plastipak R&D centre in Bascharage

Plastipak, along with its local subsidiary LuxPET S.A., has announced the opening of its Plastipak Europe Packaging Development centre in Bascharage. The € 5 million R&D facility will serve as Plastipak’s European R&D presence and will launch with 10 researchers working on projects to create new designs, improve manufacturing processes and develop new materials and alternative technologies to give Plastipak a competitive edge in the marketplace. Plastipak is a world leader in the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) injection-moulded technology that is used to produce beverage, food and other liquid containers. With LuxPET’s expertise in food-approved recycled materials, it is also launching a recycling centre in Luxembourg. These projects will create 40 new jobs in Luxembourg over the next 3 years. www.plastipak.lu

Name change at Goodyear emphasises commitment to innovation

In September 2009, Goodyear changed the name of its research facility in Colmar-Berg to Goodyear Innovation Center* Luxembourg, or GIC*L. The name change symbolises the centre’s global and multifunctional character, as well as its openness to collaboration with external technology sources. These include the University of Luxembourg and the two public research centres Gabriel Lippmann and Henri Tudor. With a staff of more than 900 engineers, scientists and technicians, GIC*L develops auto, truck and farm tyres for the African, Asian, Australian and European markets. It is Goodyear’s largest research centre outside of the US. GIC*L’s research focuses on engineering and testing new products in environments that range from the lab to its outdoor track to the road. The number of kilometres logged in such testing is equivalent to more than 10 trips around the world each day. www.goodyear.com

Focus 3 – 2010 I 9

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News from innovative Luxembourg

First results from the University of Luxembourg’s Photovoltaics Laboratory

Luxinnovation, Luxembourg’s National Agency for Innovation and Research, has produced a new publication that describes the extensive range of capabilities of the Grand Duchy’s public research organisations. Titled Public Research in Luxembourg – Discover the competences and know-how of public research organisations, it aims to encourage public-private sector partnerships as well as collaborations with other research organisations. It is available free of charge from Luxinnovation.

Guide to public research in Luxembourg published

The f irst thin-f ilm solar cells have been produced at the University of Luxembourg’s Photovoltaics Laboratory, the outcome of a public-private partnership between the University and TDK, Japan. Thin-f ilm solar cells are next-generation cells that are signif icantly less expensive to produce than the photovoltaic modules currently in production. These are the f irst cells produced by the laboratory and have already reached competitive eff iciencies.

Luxinnovation GIE + 352 43 62 63 1 info@luxinnovation.lu www.luxinnovation.lu (see “Newsletter and Publications” to download the guide)

New promotional f ilms: Is it true what they say about Luxembourg?

To counteract stereotyped ideas and present Luxembourg the way many inhabitants, visitors and investors experience the country today, 10 short promotional f ilms have been released under the joint heading Is it true what they say about Luxembourg? Covering aspects such as business, investment and f inance as well as holidays and wine, this government-supported initiative invites viewers to f ind out why the Grand Duchy is worth a visit, an extended stay or a long-term investment. To view the f ilms, please visit the initiative’s website. www.promoteluxembourg.com

10 I Focus 3 – 2010

The new cells use a semiconductor made of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) and have reached an eff iciency of 12%. University of Luxembourg researchers, headed by Dr Susanne Siebentritt, have also produced a second cell that does not contain the costly material indium, but uses a lower-cost galvanic process. This cell has reached an eff iciency of 3.2%, close to the 3.4% world record. http://physics.uni.lu/photovoltaics_lpv

Environmental technologies

Environmental innovators hit the spotlight

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Luxembourg is best known as a f inancial centre, but the country also boasts a thriving eco-technologies sector. This area of activity may, as yet, be less visible than other sectors of the Grand Duchy’s economy, but it is growing fast. Actively supported by the government, the sector already features a wide variety of new companies specialising in areas ranging from solar panels to biogas plants and energy conservation – to name but three examples presented in this section. Other, more established players are also involved, such as steel industry supplier Paul Wurth with its increasingly eco-eff icient technologies. The country’s public research centres are at hand to support the sector with vital R&D input.

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Environmental technologies

Empowering eco-technologies

Concern for the environment is triggering a sharp rise in the demand for eco-friendlier products and processes. Cleaner technologies are urgently needed to conserve energy and resources, curb pollution and avoid waste. Imagination, dedication and know-how will be required to meet this challenge, together with a blend of research excellence and entrepreneurial spirit which Luxembourg is fostering assiduously. The Grand Duchy is actively supporting the eco-technologies sector – as a way of contributing to greater sustainability, but also as a means of diversifying its economy. “Eco-technologies play an important role in helping us to tackle environmental challenges,” says Jeannot Krecké, Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade. “It is vital that Luxembourg positions itself clearly in that market and encourages companies to seize the opportunities at hand.”

… backed by an ambitious action plan

To accomplish this, the government has developed an action plan to promote eco-technologies, endeavouring to make economic development compatible with environmental protection. The plan, which was adopted in January 2009, “intends simultaneously to accelerate the use of eco-technology products in all sectors of the economy and to increase Luxembourg’s production of eco-technology,” Minister Krecké explains. The government has also doubled aid schemes supporting research and development in the environmental technologies f ield, allocating a budget of € 5 million in 2009.

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Eco-technologies involve f inding ways of reducing the environmental impact of processes, products and services. Whether it is by f inding a more energy-eff icient process, a way to address environmental problems or a replacement for an excessively polluting production method, the scope is very wide. Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade sees considerable economic prospects in this area.

A sound business case …

Recent estimates put the world market for environmental technologies or related services at about € 1 trillion. In the European Union alone, this industry is valued at more than € 60 billion, amounting to 2.2% of GDP, and has created as many as 3.5 million jobs. Three quarters of these jobs are in labour-intensive sectors such as ecoconstruction or solid waste management.

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Simone Polfer, Deputy Director of the Board of Economic Development, which is part of the Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade, notes that the plan seeks “to increase the competitiveness of Luxembourg’s economy by lowering energy costs and resource consumption, and to develop the eco-technologies sector as a driver of sustainable economic growth and employment.” She adds that there is a parallel goal of “improving the population’s quality of life by reducing pollution”. The action plan was formulated by a working group formed by the Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade, collaborating with Luxinnovation, the University of Luxembourg and Public Research Centre Henri Tudor’s Environmental Technology Resource Centre. Operationally, says Ms Polfer, “the participants are at the early stages of the process, which seeks to engage all public and private players in an interdisciplinary process” and promote “new cooperation between towns, local governments, ministries and related institutions”.

The plan goes beyond reinforcing Luxembourg’s eco-technologies sector, seeking to accelerate the use and acceptance of environmental technologies by “encouraging already established companies in the traditional sectors of the economy to move into these new markets,” Ms Polfer remarks. It also seeks to “promote the adoption of environmental technologies and encourage innovation and research in this area”. The ministry has, for example, announced f inancial support for companies using external expertise to help them improve their environmental performance.

Blitz Agency

Environmental technologies

Creating momentum

One of the plan’s key elements is to bring the actors together in a “cluster” of businesses and research organisations in the eco-technology and sustainable development f ield, called the EcoDev cluster for short, which was off icially launched in February 2009. The notion of a cluster has emerged as a way for businesses in close proximity to increase their success by actively working in the interests of the group as a whole. “The cluster creates a network for people active in the different parts of the sector,” explains Laurent Magi of Luxinnovation, who is responsible for developing the cluster. “It aims to bring the different players together, to put them in contact with each other and offer them common services.” Dr Magi identif ied several hundred players active in this sector in Luxembourg, most of which are companies. Interviews with leaders of 50 of these helped to pinpoint their concerns and explore which services would enable them to boost their offer. The EcoDev cluster encourages cooperation between companies and public and private research centres, seeking common interests and developing cooperative relations, explains Dr Magi. The cluster concept is intended to increase participants’ competitiveness by spreading know-how and best practices, simplifying access to research facilities, f inding synergies between small and larger companies, and carrying out joint projects where the risks (and the costs) are shared.

A very active sector

Luxembourg’s existing eco-technologies sector covers a wide range of companies involved in a variety of areas. In order to reach critical mass, Dr Magi says, the cluster will start working

Jeannot Krecké, Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade

in areas where there are about 30 or more active players. These include renewable energy, especially from biomass, as well as eco-construction and energy management. Eco-design has become one of the main elements of the eco-technologies action plan. In this context, Minister Krecké has announced f inancial support for coaching in the eco-design area: “We are supporting eco-design to help Luxembourg’s strategic positioning, for the competitiveness of our companies tomorrow and to transfer technical know-how from our public research centres to our businesses.” The minister is pleased with the progress made in the implementation of the eco-technologies action plan. “The momentum is building up,” he says. While he considers many of the ecotechnology companies in Luxembourg to be successful, he feels that further action is needed: “We need to strengthen their market presence and actively promote their products and services.” Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade + 352 24 78 41 28 innovation@eco.public.lu www.eco.public.lu Luxinnovation GIE + 352 43 62 63 1 info@luxinnovation.lu www.luxinnovation.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 13

Blitz Agency

Environmental technologies

Marc Solvi, Chief Executive Officer, Paul Wurth

Innovative technologies for sustainable steelmaking

Environmental issues have raced up the agenda of steel producers in recent years. As a leading technology supplier, the Paul Wurth Group f inds itself at the heart of these considerations. “We are improving all our products and processes with a view to environmental issues, and only those companies which follow this trend will survive,” is the stark assessment of Chief Executive Off icer Marc Solvi. FOCUS spoke to him about how his Luxembourg-based company is using its commitment to innovation to take these challenges in its stride. Marc Solvi is convinced that the environment will be a decisive issue for the metals industries over the coming decades. He sees two related “mega-trends”: energy eff iciency and more general environmental protection. Consumers are demanding more products and infrastructure made from metal, but they also want these green considerations taken into account. In Mr Solvi’s experience, everyone wants to benef it from the most eff icient, latest developments.

Long-standing commitment

Paul Wurth’s commitment to innovation has allowed it to make the necessary changes that give its clients “greener” options. Founded in 1870 to service the local steel industry, it is now a global business driven by its exports of high-end services and knowledge. Although two thirds of the workforce operate outside the country, Luxembourg maintains a central role coordinating technological development and maintaining the company’s core values.

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The group has proved its long-standing commitment to “green” steel production when it began work over a decade ago in Luxembourg on its Primus system, which recovers iron and zinc from iron- and steelmaking residue. The f irst commercial deployment of Primus took place successfully in 2009 in Taiwan, but otherwise the economic slowdown has led to the postponement of many environmental projects. Despite these diff iculties, the group is convinced of the longterm potential. Furthermore, since 1998 Paul Wurth Umwelttechnik in Essen, Germany, has been operating as a centre for the development of environmental protection technologies for the metals industry. Of note in this context is also Paul Wurth’s continuing involvement in the ULCOS (Ultra-Low CO2 Steelmaking) and Hisarna (project extension to direct reduction) European R&D programmes, which aim to minimise CO2 emissions in the production of pig iron.

Environmental technologies

Luxembourg plays a vital double role at the heart of the Paul Wurth Group. The research and development work here creates and ref ines the processes, systems and hardware that constitute their product range. Thus the headquarters have become the repository of the f irm’s core values, which are founded on a culture of innovation and client support. “If we do not innovate, we will not survive,” is Marc Solvi’s raw assessment of the necessary strategy for his company. Given the nature of the global market he feels that the group has no choice but to develop high-end products and services, as it cannot hope to compete with the lower-cost producers. “It is essential to keep renewing our offering: if we do not make patents, we do not make prof its,” he insists. On average, around a quarter of annual prof its are reinvested into research and development; in 2009 this amounted to about € 10 million.

Deep client understanding

“We engage in applied research to support specif ic needs,” Mr Solvi underlines, adding that this work requires a large degree of humility as failure is more common than success. In general, Paul Wurth puts most effort into improving the existing offering, whether in terms of quality or maintenance. Specif ic problems are identif ied and addressed, with solutions sought in the company’s laboratories. “Everything that works during testing does not necessarily translate directly into the demanding work of production,” Mr Solvi notes, “so this is why we need a close relationship with our clients.” Most of the research is conducted in Luxembourg by a team of 30 engineers, out of total staff in the home country of 520 people. The Paul Wurth Group, where two thirds of employees are engineers, has a further 1,100 staff dotted around the world who develop these technological advances and put them into practice. For example, in specialist competence centres in places like Italy and Germany, and further operations in key markets such as the 130 people in Brazil and 100 each in China and India. “We are thankful we are active throughout Asia, as the European market is very tough at the moment,” Mr Solvi remarks. “China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam all need steel for their infrastructure to grow and are all important markets, but even so orders are heavily down this year compared to an exceptional year in 2008.” Work is carried out hand in hand with the clients to achieve the required solutions. Mr Solvi insists that there are no one-size-f its-all products and

processes, with each needing to be tailor-made to suit local surroundings. The group’s knowledge of the business is reinforced by its close relationship with ArcelorMittal, which owns nearly half the group’s capital. © Paul Wurth

Innovate or die

Blast furnace no. 8 at ThyssenKrupp Steel, Duisburg-Hamborn, Germany, built by Paul Wurth integrating the most advanced technologies for environmental protection

Fount of knowledge

The process by which this knowledge and spirit of innovation are managed and transmitted is a key process. Experienced management brings this awareness when subsidiaries are created, and there is a similar process when businesses are purchased. So whether it is the innovative exploration of new products and processes or different markets, Paul Wurth is an exemplary role model for all Luxembourg’s businesses. Mr Solvi salutes the government’s efforts in building a research university in Luxembourg, hoping others will use this resource to help generate the high valueadding businesses the country needs.

Paul Wurth S.A.

The Paul Wurth Group is an internationally renowned engineering company supplying the global metals industry, principally the iron, steel and non-ferrous metals sector. Since it was founded in Luxembourg in 1870, it has built a portfolio of around 650 patented inventions related to the design and supply of complete plants, systems and processes as well as specialised equipment. These range from blast furnaces to coke-making plants to “direct reduction” plants, with each ready to be equipped with environmental protection technologies. The group has also developed expertise in construction and project management.

Paul Wurth S.A. + 352 49 70 1 paulwurth@paulwurth.com www.paulwurth.com

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Blitz Agency

Environmental technologies

Financing opportunities for eco-innovation

Raymond Schadeck, former Chief Executive Off icer, Ernst & Young Luxembourg

SICAR

Investment company in risk capital. A vehicle restricted to investment in risk capital by well-informed investors. No diversif ication rules or investment limits apply. The minimum capital amounts to € 1 million. A large treaty network pre-empts double taxation.

SIF

Specialised Investment Fund. This instrument is similar to the SICAR, but available for all asset classes including derivatives, real estate, hedge funds and private equity with a diversif ication requirement, and involves a minimum capital of € 1.25 million.

For a few years now, an attractive source of capital has been available in Luxembourg to companies developing eco-technologies or active in the f ield of renewable energy, in the form of private f inancial instruments. Raymond Schadeck, a business leader with a long-standing passion for eco-technologies, tells FOCUS about the possibilities.

“Luxembourg should be a precursor of environmental technologies, and the country is already well advanced,” says Mr Schadeck, the former Chief Executive Off icer of Ernst & Young Luxembourg, who is also member of the plenary assembly of the Grand Duchy’s Chamber of Commerce and of the Board of FEDIL – Business Federation Luxembourg. As early as 1993, Mr Schadeck and his colleagues had already outlined a vision for Luxembourg as a front runner in the eco-friendly sector. “Currently, almost every country wants to be a trendsetter in the eco-technologies sector, but Luxembourg is one of the few which can also offer the funding,” he explains. “Our f inancial sector is strong, is run professionally and has advanced f inancial instruments and products at its disposal.” Luxembourg, the second largest investment fund centre in the world, launched two innovative structures in 2004 and 2007: the SICAR and the SIF. Both are on-shore vehicles reserved for wellinformed investors. They are commonly used by private equity f irms or other strategic investors to invest in high-risk sectors such as clean technologies or eco-technologies – and thus, more specif ically, in established companies or start-ups specialising in renewable energy and environmentally aware technology. SICARs and SIFs are lightly regulated vehicles, therefore striking the right balance between investor protection and flexibility as well as

16 I Focus 3 – 2010

disclosure and transparency; they are also highly tax eff icient. “Combined with the Luxembourg know-how and experience in the f inancial sector, only very few other countries can offer such advantages. This further means that innovative eco-technology companies based in Luxembourg have an advantage, as it is only natural for investors to come and look at what the local market has to offer,” Mr Schadeck remarks. As a SICAR is not subject to investment diversif ication criteria, it may limit its investment to one or two companies only, making it very attractive to investee companies and allowing flexible, customised structuring. More than 1,200 such alternative investment vehicles have been set up in the past years, with many investing between € 100 million and € 500 million in innovative companies. “Even if only a small percentage of this money goes to Luxembourg target companies, there is a lot of money to be invested. In addition to a good government strategy, government support schemes, excellent research and development facilities, this really gives top-notch opportunities to ecology and technology companies here,” Mr Schadeck concludes. Ernst & Young Luxembourg + 352 42 12 41 ernst.young@lu.ey.com www.ey.com/lu

Environmental technologies

Turning nature into power

It might not be immediately obvious, but new energy sources can be found everywhere in nature. For almost 10 years now, the Luxembourg engineering f irm L.e.e. has been building agricultural and industrial biogas plants to convert biomass into biogas, producing power and heat. This is an environmentally friendly and carbon-neutral technology, and farmers, towns and enterprises are already benef iting from it.

Boshua

The company currently employs 13 people, mainly engineers, and is actually a spin-off of the EU project LSDN (Local Sustainable Development Network). LSDN enabled cities in Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain to create a network for sustainable development on a local basis, focusing on the energetic use of biomass.

Blitz Agency

L.e.e. was established in 2000 in the town of Junglinster, to the north of the capital. The f irm’s name, an acronym based on the Luxembourgish for farming, energy and environment, clearly reflects its philosophy: farms generate plenty of biomass, organic material from plants or animals, which can easily be converted into energy. A sound business proposition, as the f irm’s annual turnover growth of about 15% would tend to prove.

Jean Schummer, Managing Director, L.e.e.

In a biogas plant, liquid manure, energy crops, grass silage and/or dung are fermented together with organic waste in anaerobic conditions (without air), producing biogas. Biogas is a methanerich gas very close to natural gas. These “wet” biomass plants drive heat and power units with thousands of kilowatts of output, which can be supplied to the grid or used locally. The heat produced in Redange is piped to the local swimming pool, school and sports centre.

Biogas installations

The engineers at L.e.e. design so-called biogas plants or installations, independently of specif ic equipment suppliers. “Our core competence is in the f ields of planning, development, construction and support for agricultural and industrial biogas plants,” says Jean Schummer, the managing director. “We started with a cooperative biogas plant in Redange, a town in a water protection region near the Belgian border, in the framework of LSDN,” he adds.

The solid residue from the process is used as a fertiliser in agriculture. Biogas can also be injected into the natural gas network or used as a fuel for public buses running on natural gas. “As biogas plants are quite expensive, many farmers work together to create a cooperative. Biomass can be supplied in trucks from up to about 10 km around. Anything further away means the installation would not be carbon neutral, making it not interesting,” says Thorsten Kläs, the commercial director at L.e.e. “Depending on the country, farmers can get up to 50% of the total plant’s cost back in subsidies from the government.”

Focus 3 – 2010 I 17

Environmental technologies

From wet to dry biomass

“L.e.e. has already worked on about 100 biogas plants since 2000, for instance in Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Canada and China,” according to Mr Kläs. “In Turkey, for example, we designed a biogas plant processing 150,000 tonnes of organic household waste per year. Our plant outputs heat and power and has 5,600 kW of installed electrical power, with an annual electricity production of about 47 million kWh – which is enough to supply 15,000 households.”

Boshua

L.e.e. is already looking to the future as it is now engineering and designing combined energy plants where wet and solid biomass are used. One such project involves a combustion unit of 3 MW thermal power where wood chips are burned, combined with a biogas plant of 1 MW electrical power able to use agricultural biomass, such as manure and energy crops, to produce the heat required by an industrial estate and the neighbouring residential area. Heat pipes are being installed to connect all businesses and homes. Once completed, this installation will save about 1 million litres of domestic fuel oil.

A breakthrough for solar energy Solar power is ahead of many other ecotechnologies as it has been in use for a relatively long time. New installations are under way the world over, for both individual and corporate use. SOLARtec, a small f irm specialised in the large-scale installation of solar panels, has also developed an independent power system together with a container which accumulates and distributes the electricity produced by these solar panels. This innovative project has obvious environmental benef its and also supports communities in developing countries.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. The potential for biogas plants is enormous, both environmentally and commercially. The EU has also set itself the target of increasing the share of renewable energy to 20% by 2020, so the relatively shortterm market potential in Europe alone is huge,” Mr Kläs concludes. L.e.e. + 352 26 78 34 1 klaes@lee.lu www.lee.lu

18 I Focus 3 – 2010

SOLARtec was founded in 2001. It already employs 16 people and has a projected turnover of € 7.5 million in 2009. Unlike most other installers of solar panels, SOLARtec conducts extensive R&D activities in-house, identifying and combining the best components and engineering innovative management technologies from the ground up. The company started by installing solar panels on buildings in the Greater Region but soon graduated to much larger projects. It installed

Boshua

Environmental technologies

independent power systems. These consist of solar panels connected to a container which houses a complete energy management system, including a huge battery system. The container accumulates, converts, distributes, manages and controls the electrical energy produced by the solar panels and is completely manufactured in Luxembourg.

more than 2,300 photovoltaic panels with peak capacity of nearly 400 kWh on the roof of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. In France, the company has handled the construction of several roofs with integrated solar panels, mainly for large farms. The fact that the solar panels actually form the roof itself enables the farmers to make further savings.

Hundreds of references

“The engineers of SOLARtec have already carried out more than 300 installations, from smallscale ones to huge projects,” says Jean-Marie Mathgen, the director. “Our latest large project is the open-land installation of more than 6,400 solar panels on an ancient rubbish dump in Wittlich, just across the border in Germany.” This installation can deliver up to 5,000 kWh of electricity per day (under ideal conditions in summer), towards an annual total of some 800,000 kWh (based on expected average output for the whole year). This amounts to the total energy consumption of about 220 families. “For roof installations, our know-how and technique allow our installations to yield 10 to 15% more power than traditional solar panel installations and require 30 to 50% fewer holes in the roof ing,” Mr Mathgen adds.

Independent power systems

In addition to the network supply installations using solar panels, SOLARtec has also developed

Through a grid designed and installed by SOLARtec, the electricity then flows to homes, off ices, hospitals and anything else needing power. “SOLARtec has already installed several of these energy containers in Africa,” explains project manager Marianne Schnell. “One of them provides power to about 1,000 to 1,500 inhabitants of a village in Tanzania, with its hospital, its school, its kindergarten and its convent. These projects are very important to developing countries, because many villages are off the grid or the grid is unreliable.” The energy container includes a backup system and even air conditioning (also powered by the solar panels) to keep the batteries cool, which greatly increases their lifespan. “These containers have three to f ive days of autonomy in case the sun does not provide enough energy. This independent power system runs for many years without any maintenance from us; everything can easily be handled by the local residents. We also monitor all of our energy containers from our headquarters in Luxembourg as the systems can be accessed remotely over satellite or the mobile network,” adds Jürgen Schopp, the technical director.

A sunny future

“The market shows a huge potential for solar energy,” Mr Mathgen says, “but in Europe we still depend on government programmes for many of our orders.” When a national government introduces or increases subsidies in order to promote the installation of solar panels, there is a huge spike in demand. “Fortunately, as we are located in Luxembourg, we have the opportunity to tap neighbouring markets, like Belgium, France and Germany.”

SOLARtec + 352 33 00 23 info@solartec.lu www.solartec.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 19

Boshua

Environmental technologies

For a lower carbon footprint ... globally

Reducing carbon footprints is the goal of many, if not all, companies in the eco-technologies sector. Rotarex, a market leader in industrial valves, is helping to push this drive forward for automotive applications. In its Luxembourg headquarters, the company has already developed a comprehensive range of products enabling engines to run on compressed natural gas or liquef ied petroleum gas, thereby reducing carbon emissions by up to 30%. Rotarex is also working on hydrogen technology both for internal combustion engines and fuel cells – leading-edge innovation paving the way for tomorrow’s zeroemissions vehicles.

Liquef ied petroleum gas (LPG)

is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles.

Compressed natural gas (CNG)

is a fossil fuel substitute for petrol or diesel which is compressed to less than 1% of its standard volume. CNG is also much safer in the event of a spill as it disperses quickly.

20 I Focus 3 – 2010

Rotarex Group was established in 1922 in Lintgen, a town to the north of Luxembourg’s capital city. It currently employs no less than 1,100 people worldwide, with 10 factories and 4 R&D laboratories located as far away as Brazil, China and the United States. More than 400 people work at the headquarters in Luxembourg, of which 50 are engineers. The company – originally called Ceodeux, which is still the name of one of the group’s divisions – started with the manufacturing of carbon dioxide for the local market. In the 1930s, development and manufacturing of valves for industrial gases and f ire suppression began, and later valves for cylinders and carburation were added. The group as a whole reported a turnover of € 138 million and prof its of about € 7 million for 2008.

Compressed natural gas

Rotarex Automotive was established in 2000 in order to engineer and commercialise alternative fuel applications such as natural gas, liquef ied

petroleum gas (LPG) and hydrogen. “The technical knowledge of other activity sectors within the Rotarex Group is an invaluable resource; we draw on it on a daily basis to develop new products for the automotive industry,” says Director and Deputy CEO Philippe Schmitz. “More than 10% of our sales are now in the automotive area, making it one of our key activities, and this mainly because of our innovative and unparalleled R&D.” Initially, Rotarex Automotive focused exclusively on valves, regulators and f ittings for compressed natural gas (CNG) installations in vehicles, but the company soon started designing and selling entire conversion kits. “Rotarex does not only produce these kits, but also develops and extensively tests them in-house on certif ied engine test benches at the R&D department’s headquarters in Luxembourg,” says Michel Antoine of the company’s intellectual property department. The conversion kits are genuine fuel management systems, allowing most vehicles to run on natural gas instead of petrol.

Environmental technologies

Rotarex develops and produces the valves, f ilters and sensors needed for these systems and has also designed the required electronic control unit (ECU), which must be programmed for the specif ic type of engine in order to manage all components of the system and to ensure that the vehicle runs smoothly. Masterpiece of these kits is the CNG regulator. Marketed as Sirius, this uniquely designed product does not involve a water-cycle process for heating, unlike the competition, and thus makes the system much more compact and safer. The Sirius even came second in the 2006 edition of the industrial innovation awards organised by FEDIL – Business Federation Luxembourg. Rotarex obtained support from the Luxembourg government for this and other eco-friendly projects.

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Industrial innovation award

Asia and America

Rotarex Automotive products are mainly sold in Asia, in countries such as China, India and Malaysia, as well as in Brazil and the United States. “The potential is huge, as many other countries will promote this technology in the near future and provide subsidies to users, both private individuals and companies. Moreover, the amount of untapped natural gas under the soil is enormous, in fact immeasurable, making it even more promising,” Mr Schmitz explains. And, in fact, a number of Asian countries actually require their inhabitants to use natural gas as it is a natural resource available in the country, boosting the demand for conversion kits, valves, regulators and f ittings – and thus adding momentum to this eco-technology. In Asia, Rotarex also sells conversion kits for small vehicles such as scooters and tricycles, popular means of transport in countries like China and India. Some kits can be outf itted for bi-fuel, allowing natural gas, in compressed or liquid form, to be combined with petrol in the same vehicle. In the United States, Rotarex markets a power fuel kit specif ically conceived for SUVs and other trucks with engines of up to 300 kW. Naturally, the success of this technology relies on the availability of compressed natural gas in service stations.

Towards zero emissions

Rotarex is determined to upgrade its products and technologies on an ongoing basis, and the company is already investing in systems which will be even more environmentally friendly: engines running on hydrogen gas. This technology reduces carbon emissions to almost zero. One of the challenges, in terms of R&D, lies in the fact that hydrogen must be cooled down to less than

Philippe Schmitz, Director and Deputy CEO, Rotarex (left) Michel Antoine, Intellectual Property Department, Rotarex (right)

-253 °C to become liquid and thus permit storage of suff icient amounts in a vehicle, but needs to be warmed up for combustion in the engine. “We developed equipment for liquid hydrogen management systems in-house in Luxembourg and worked under the authority of BMW to equip about 300 BMW 7-series cars with a hydrogen tank, valves and other components,” Mr Schmitz says. The valves Rotarex engineered take care of f illing, tapping and warming up the liquid hydrogen to ultimately deliver it to the engine. In addition, a number of security valves are in place as well. Instead of emitting carbon dioxide, vehicles running on liquid hydrogen only emit steam. “BMW uses these cars to show the world that liquid hydrogen is a viable and clean alternative to gasoline or fuel, and we are very proud to be part of this,” Mr Schmitz adds. Cars using this technology combined with an internal combustion engine run exactly the same way as cars powered by petrol, so there is no performance decline. Rotarex is also pursuing another promising line of R&D: hydrogen fuel cell systems combined with an electric motor. Currently held back, in part, by the lack of f illing stations, hydrogen technology may well revolutionise the automotive sector in the near future. Rotarex will, without doubt, play a major role in this process.

Rotarex S.A. + 352 32 78 32 1 info@rotarex.com www.rotarex.com

Focus 3 – 2010 I 21

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Environmental technologies

Lucien Hoffmann, Director, EVA

Eco-experts at your service

Two departments of Luxembourg’s public research centres Gabriel Lippmann and Henri Tudor play different, but complementary, roles in environmental protection and eco-innovation. Whether you are a farmer interested in using agricultural by-products for energy production or a chemist working on a new packaging material that must comply with EU regulations, EVA and CRTE can help. Luxembourg, in common with many other countries around the world, has a sense of urgency about combating environmental pollution and climate change. EVA and CRTE support Luxembourg and the surrounding region by providing scientif ically based decision support and developing innovative eco-friendly technologies.

EVA: protecting the elements of the environment

The ancient Greeks believed that the earth was made of four elements – earth, water, wind and f ire. The work of the Environment and AgroBiotechnologies Department (EVA) of Public Research Centre (CRP) Gabriel Lippmann centres on f inding innovative ways to analyse and preserve each of them. EVA’s Director, Dr Lucien Hoffmann, explains that “With the destruction caused by airand water-borne pollutants and climate change, eco-innovation – technologies that prevent or substantially reduce the negative impacts of our resource use – is needed urgently.” Together with an extensive network of international research partners, EVA is addressing this challenge.

Earth and water

Pesticides, heavy metals and pharmaceuticals in ground, surface and drinking water are all causes for grave concern. Identifying sources of pollution, analysing its chemical make-up and determining fluctuations in pollution levels are all services offered by EVA. Bioindicators such as

22 I Focus 3 – 2010

algae blooms in standing water and diatoms in rivers also assist EVA in determining water quality. EVA offers tools for water management, including wastewater treatment using microbial agents which “eat” the pollutants. For soil problems, EVA can provide both diagnostic services for soil mapping, and analysis and management tools for erosion risk control. Particular areas of interest include the use of plants to decontaminate soil. This method, known as phytoremediation, involves growing plants – such as sunflowers, for example – in soils that have been contaminated by heavy metals like cadmium or lead. The plants, which are carefully selected for their ability to withstand such high levels of toxicity, literally vacuum the contaminants out of the soil through their roots. When harvested, they can be used to make biofuel, and the contaminants can be captured safely as part of the processing. Phytoremediation dispenses with the costly excavation and disposal of soil pollutants.

Wind and f ire

EVA offers tools for air quality management and monitoring that provide decision-making data for development projects, such as where to place a school or build new roads. Modelling tools allow the assessment of the short- and long-term impact of emissions on human health and identify emission-reducing measures and scenarios on a local to regional scale.

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Environmental technologies

Fire is certainly present when biofuels ignite in a combustion engine. EVA provides services in evaluating biomass and organic wastes for biogas production that include process optimisation and online decision support tools for biomethanisation plants. In April 2009 a new facility, the Ecotechnology Pilot Hall, was inaugurated at CRP Gabriel Lippmann. The lab contains bioreactors for waste and wastewater management as well as equipment for studying the optimisation of biogas production.

CRTE: dedicated to sustainable development

Supporting eco-innovation and the implementation of eco-technologies is a key goal of the Resource Centre for Environmental Technologies (CRTE). The Centre was established in 1997 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of the Environment (now the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructures) and CRP Henri Tudor. Joëlle Welfring, CRTE’s Co-Director, says that “CRTE’s main goal is connecting socioeconomic development in Luxembourg and the Greater Region to the protection of the environment. We do this by adopting an integrated and pro-active approach and giving special attention to the sustainable management of substances and energy.” To meet this objective, the Centre deploys three main areas of competence: multi-criteria assessment and environmental management, clean technologies and process engineering, and environmental modelling. These complementary areas are of interest to a broad range of stakeholders, and so CRTE provides support, in the form of expertise and technological assistance, to large and small businesses, to groups of f irms analysing similar environmental issues and to ministries, municipalities and other public bodies. Projects range from environmentally friendly product design to urban water cycle management, often involving a variety of applied research projects and services – such as scientif ic studies and assessments, or training on environmental legislation, technologies and concepts. CRTE hosts the REACH Helpdesk, a resource designed to provide guidance to Luxembourg companies on complex EU regulations relating to the use of chemicals. MyClimate, a webbased CRTE initiative (www.myclimate.lu), informs citizens and companies about ways of effecting positive environmental change, especially by reducing carbon emissions and taking responsibility for their personal contributions to planetary CO2.

Joëlle Welfring, Co-Director, CRTE

Helping communities

In a recent project of public interest, CRTE drew on its expertise in environmental modelling to assess air traff ic noise and identify cost-effective solutions to reduce its impact on the nearby community. CRTE also contributes to other efforts, for example in alternative energy, by assessing photovoltaic panels under f ield conditions; in the realm of clean water, developing prototypes for wastewater treatment and instrumentation for online monitoring of water quality; and in the area of energy production and consumption. A particular focus at CRTE is BATs (Best Available Techniques). Their transfer to small businesses by providing cleaner production guidelines as well as holistic approaches to eco-design and integrated pollution prevention is one of the Centre’s areas of excellence.

CRP Gabriel Lippmann Environment and AgroBiotechnologies (EVA) + 352 47 02 61 40 0 hoffmann@lippmann.lu www.lippmann.lu CRP Henri Tudor Resource Centre for Environmental Technologies (CRTE) + 352 42 59 91 600 crte@tudor.lu www.crte.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 23

Innovative spaces

Making innovative strides towards the next decade

Blitz Agency

Four enterprising Luxembourg-based companies present technological solutions that highlight their respective competencies and established reputations as market leaders.

Imatec has managed and implemented global projects, mainly in the f ields of conditioning, packaging and logistics, for close to 15 years. The Managing Director, Guy Putz, is seen here next to an automatic baby bottle assembling machine, the result of a complete engineering project. The machine was installed in 2009 at the plant of a Belgian customer, Beldico, a provider of high-tech medical equipment. The assembly of the disposable bottle parts is managed by robotised installations at an unrivalled speed. The bottles are then protectively packed in the blistering machine and boxed up ready for delivery. www.imatec.lu

24 I Focus 3 – 2010

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Innovative spaces

With a team drawing on more than 25 years of experience, Spiece has developed a sound reputation in the f ield of electronics, imagery and informatics. The Manager, Bernard Laurent, is standing alongside an image processing quality control system specif ically developed for pistons of automotive engines. “To screen for possible defects, the pistons are passed through an x-ray box and the resulting image is then scanned by picture-analysing software created by our company,” he explains. Depending on the presence and nature of any flaws in the product, an appropriate treatment solution may then be devised. www.spiece.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 25

Innovative spaces As Vitrum-Lux celebrates its tenth year of service to companies in the glass transformation sector across central Europe, Managing Director Alexis De Bernardi explains the company’s recent investment in this giant furnace with its inbuilt acclimatising chamber: “We can now create laminated glass sheets of up to 3 m by 6 m, and soon will also be able to provide a convex form not previously available in Europe.” Security glass can also be produced to an impenetrable thickness of 12 cm (anti-bullet glass). The enhanced techniques will enable services to be extended within and beyond the main f ields of construction, architecture and furnishing industries.

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www.vitrum-lux.lu

26 I Focus 3 – 2010

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Innovative spaces

One of Gradel Sarl’s key activities includes the maintenance of equipment crucial to the safe and eff icient running of nuclear plants. This “unscrewing and nut cleaning machine” shown to us by the company’s Director, Claude Maack, is an essential cog in the nuclear process. The highly secure three-step process involves unscrewing, cleaning, then re-screwing nuts of the reactor vessel onto bolts that extend up to an enormous 210 cm in length. Established in 1965, the company is an offshoot of Gradel Services S.A. and also provides services for the space, aeronautics, glass and tyre mould industry from its Steinfort base. www.gradel.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 27

a SyStem to improve the energy efficiency of builDingS equippeD with elevatorS This system has been developed to reduce the heat energy consumption of buildings equipped with elevators, by minimising heat losses through ventilation ducts. Thanks to this technology, significant cost savings and CO2 emission reductions are achievable.

eyewear SuSpenSion Device This device redistributes the weight of eyewear off of the nasal bridge and ears. As a patented Class I non-invasive medical device it is utilised by post-operation Rhinoplasty and Otoplasty patients and any other persons who cannot bear the weight of their eyewear on the nasal bridge and/or ears for various reasons.

State-of-the-art electrolumineScence technology for Solar cell inSpection This technology, based on the principle of electroluminescence, has been developed in order to inspect the quality of photovoltaic solar cells. Unlike thermography-based or visual methods, the system enables the detection of all types of defects inherent to the manufacturing process. A constant product quality is thus ensured.

peDeStrian Detection SenSor This intelligent sensor-based system is able to detect pedestrians waiting to cross a street. Information given by this sensor can be used to optimise traffic lights management and therefore traffic flow.

3D ultra-faSt automateD viSual quality control SyStem A camera takes a multi-angle photo of the part to be checked, which is then processed ultra-rapidly by an algorithm to identify any kind of defects. Initially developed for the visual quality control of small parts, the system can be adapted to any similar visual control application. Unlike traditional operator check or vision systems this technology enables the ultra-fast and reproducible control of complex and small production parts.

managing, organiSing, hyperlinking anD publiShing legal Documentation This innovative system enables the user to classify and publish centralised documents either on the Internet or on paper with an automatic layout. This all-in-one solution also allows multiple output types with a single database update.

State-of-the-art know-how of aDvanceD ceramicS proDuctS fabrication Knowledge and long-term expertise in the field of technical ceramics development and production is offered, from custom-made formulation to raw material product. These materials have successfully demonstrated their properties of high strength, light weight as well as high wear and temperature resistance. The company wishes to investigate the medical, energy and defense domains.

Technologies developed by Luxembourg-based companies looking for partners For more information, please contact: Luxinnovation, National Agency for Innovation and Research • Rémi Grizard • + 352 43 62 63 1 • info@luxinnovation.lu

Innovative technologies from Luxembourg

Entrepreneurship and innovation news

“1,2,3,Go”: f ive winning entries from Luxembourg

The interregional Business Plan Contest “1,2,3,Go” aims to assist innovative entrepreneurs with the establishment of a business plan. In the 2008/2009 edition, nearly 200 projects from across the Greater Region applied to compete for prizes worth up to € 10,000.

News e-Government made easy

Assisting many European institutes and governments, J-Way, created in 2001 by a team of IT professionals, has an established reputation for delivering e-government solutions. With its J-Publisher software, it provides customised documents and expert systems to facilitate administrative tasks online. To date, over 2,000 e-government forms have been published and are being used by millions of e-citizens in over 30 countries around the world.

Out of 13 winning entries, 5 were from Luxembourg, including: Agilis Engineering, producers of “Thermagas”, a patented recycling technology for safe cleaning of industrial products; CultureInside, an internet platform providing an international social network and marketplace for artists; Homesystem, a home automation system enabling electronic control of domestic devices; Netfutura, a European cooperation and competence network for joint utilisation of free software; and SEEzam, an electronic safe system with a three-level social networking function. www.123go-networking.org

Stimulating spin-offs

The partnership agreement between CRP Santé, the Grand Duchy’s public research centre for health, and Luxembourg-based international venture capital company Vesalius Biocapital, signed in March 2009, seals a unique collaboration intended to provide mutual benef its of technology transfer and spin-offs.

J-Way’s latest product, FormPublisher, available since the end of 2009, incorporates the most constructive features of J-Publisher with additional benef its of being more cost-effective and user-friendly. “We are now conf ident that J-Way can compete with world market leaders,” explains the company’s owner, Jean-Marc Boueyerie. To achieve this target, FormPublisher may be downloaded free of charge using an EU public licence (EUPL).

Vesalius, which invests in young to mid-stage European life-science companies specialising in diagnostics, therapeutics and cutting-edge medical technologies, moved into CRP Santé’s Edison building in Strassen last November to facilitate the joint venture. The € 76 million capital fund company will help with the assessment of the economic potential of research projects, assist in the development of innovative new ideas and advise on the economic viability of strategic partnerships, so reducing investment risk and improving commercial results for the research centre. www.crp-sante.lu www.vesaliusbiocapital.com

www.jway.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 29

Entrepreneurship and innovation news

Fraudsters beware

Xintec, a Luxembourg-based company established in 2007 that serves mobile and f ixed-line telecommunication companies worldwide, was selected to provide Vodafone Ghana with the evolutionary fraud management platform FMSlite in 2009. The African network opted for this cost-effective system in a bid to protect its business prof itability and avoid revenue loss. Xintec pioneered the concept of this innovative lightweight solution, which is helping to combat a global problem known to cost billions of US dollars annually, with emerging-market operators particularly at risk.

Art à la carte

CultureInside is an innovative, online social network and art marketplace aimed at improving the visibility of local artists. It was one of the winning entries in the 2009 Interregional Business Plan Contest “1,2,3,Go”, also featured in this section. Artist Gila Paris, company founder and CEO, describes her incentive behind the launch of the project in 2008. After moving to Luxembourg from the USA, she says, “I wanted to connect with other artists and get an idea of the regional art and culture scene, but found this to be lacking.” Artists may now connect via e-spaces, create art networks and share ideas and creative projects. Open to art enthusiasts and artists of all domains across the Greater Region and European Union countries, the website has a particular focus on upcoming cultural events, many of which are emerging from the EU member states and candidate countries. www.cultureinside.com

30 I Focus 3 – 2010

Xintec’s CEO, Sean Killeen, described winning the contract as “a tremendous boost for an early-stage company,” a success which was further consolidated by a request for the same service by Vodafone Qatar. Xintec also provides revenue assurance and roaming solutions, including the Near-Real-Time-Roaming Data Exchange (NRTRDE). www.xintec.com

BETTER CITY BETTER LIFE

WORLD EXPO 2010

CHINA - MAy 1ST - OCTOBER 31ST

Small iS beautiful tOO

www.expo2010china.com

VISIT THE LUXEMBOURG PAVILION

Visitor gallery, roof-top terrace, restaurant, 2 floor seminar and cultural events facilities (150 people). For business participation inquiries, please contact shanghai2010@eco.etat.lu +352 2478 4130 www.luxembourgexposhanghai.com

Luxembourg@ExpoShanghai 2010. Founding members: Luxembourg government, ArcelorMittal, Cargolux, Chamber

of Commerce Luxembourg, SES. Associated members: Clearstream/Deutsche Bรถrse, Husky Injection Molding Systems S.A., Luxembourg for Finance, P&T Luxembourg, RTL-Group.

Entrepreneurship and innovation

Guy Stamet, Managing Director, AirFlowControl

Energy eff iciency for a well-aired lift

Many of us use elevators every day. We push a button, the doors open and we are whisked to our floor. But there is more to elevator design than meets the eye. Elevator system shafts must, for example, be able to evacuate smoke and provide ventilation to the elevator car. Ventilation holes placed at the top of the elevator shaft fulf il this crucial function. But as fresh air is let in, heated air is let out, inflating the building’s energy bill. AirFlowControl, a start-up company in Luxembourg, has designed a solution that minimises waste while safeguarding elevator air quality.

AirFlowControl was born in 2005 when its founders, who were involved in the construction of high energy eff iciency buildings, realised that this new generation of buildings had a problem with elevators. Since the late 1980s, explains Managing Director Guy Stamet, elevators have been required by law to have permanent openings for ventilation, smoke or heat evacuation. “That is when we got really interested,” he says, “and we started doing research and development to gather all the f igures in real cases.” In a non-airtight building, a permanent opening at the top of an elevator shaft creates “a permanent thermal movement”, Mr Stamet points out. As a result, the building practically bleeds thermal kilowatts into the open air.

Ventilation: a complex challenge

Keeping these openings permanently closed, as has been done in Germany for example, is not a good idea, as it jeopardises air quality. While standards have been set for air exchange rates

32 I Focus 3 – 2010

in most parts of buildings, Mr Stamet regrets that “this has been completely forgotten for the elevator shaft.” According to him, the elevator has been treated like a stairwell, where people do not spend much time – which is an unrealistic assessment. When elevators are undergoing maintenance or if people are trapped, the system’s ability to supply fresh air is crucial. An elevator company’s worst nightmare, he tells FOCUS, is to have a pregnant woman trapped in an elevator. Stress and breathing rates go up, building up heat and CO2. “No elevator company even wants to dream about this.” With the assistance of Luxembourg’s CRP Henri Tudor, AirFlowControl has devised a simulation programme that helped it to calculate the expected energy savings “if you managed not to have this opening permanently open, but limited to acceptable times,” says Mr Stamet. The possible savings were so substantial, and the fledgling company’s business plan so convincing, that it managed to secure a private sector bank loan to top up the founders’ own investment.

Entrepreneurship and innovation

Armed with the start-up capital, the company developed a series of products addressing the need to control the opening of the vents. AirFlowControl produces three different versions of its BlueKit technology, which manages the amount of ventilation so that the elevators and adjacent areas receive fresh air, but the amount of wasted heating energy lost through the ventilation hole is minimised. The entry level model is the BlueKit-LIGHT. This model fully opens the vents when sensors around the elevator car detect movement, breakdown, maintenance or a f ire, closing it otherwise. The next model up is the BlueKit-ECO. This version uses the same sensors to ensure the minimum aperture necessary for hygienic ventilation while the elevator is in use. “Instead of opening fully during the day when the elevator is in full use, which is unnecessary, we can just open it partially, say one third, to save a maximum of money,” says Mr Stamet. This version can also open the vent to monitor internal and external temperatures for free cooling of the building.

in lifts across Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg. Luxembourg’s Work and Mines Inspection authorised the product for installation in the country in 2007. The company is also beginning to move into the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK. About 500 BlueKits have been installed in Luxembourg, and about 150 have been sold in the other countries.

Grand Duchy as pilot country

Luxembourg, Mr Stamet emphasises, was a great place to start his company and undertake R&D. The country’s diminutive size is a great asset, particularly as it comes with the added advantages of an attentive administration and ready access to the national market. It offers an ideal setting for businesses aiming to gain market experience at a pilot scale. “We were exposed, within this limit, to all the problems one can meet on a European scale,” he says, adding: “It’s very practical to set up in Luxembourg if you want to test the integration and introduction of your product.” Boshua

BlueKit options

The latest model in the series, the EVO, available as of January 2010, is “highly intelligent, can be installed in all kinds of buildings and is developed for the coming changes in legislation in Europe in this domain.” The device automatically learns how and when the elevators are used. Applying soon-to-be-legislated air exchange standards, Mr Stamet adds, “Our web-based EVO will start managing the opening and the closing of the vent in order to guarantee the requested air flow on a daily basis.”

Immediate cost savings

How much energy the BlueKits save depends on the specif ic installation, but Mr Stamet notes that savings ranging from € 1,800 to 3,200 a year can easily be achieved for a typical four- or f ive-level, eight-person elevator in Luxembourg. This means that the investment in a BlueKit can usually pay for itself within one to three years. While the BlueKit saves money even in conventional buildings, the product is really taking off in high-eff iciency buildings with class A or B energy ratings. Mr Stamet reports that BlueKits are installed in 90% of the new elevator-equipped buildings in this class in Luxembourg. All the research and development involved in AirFlowControl’s machines was performed in Luxembourg, while the devices are manufactured in Germany. BlueKits are being f itted

The company had initially opted to work with private business service providers, but Mr Stamet now thinks he should have cooperated more closely with Luxembourg’s public research centres: “It is a real partnership. Working with them is like working with people who belong to the same company.” The company is growing quickly, but its real objective is not just to make prof its. “Our most important ambition is to avoid unnecessary energy wastage and help to make the CO2neutral building a reality,” he concludes.

AirFlowControl S.A. + 352 40 44 44 20 info@afc.lu www.airflowcontrol.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 33

EUROPEAN YEAR OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION 2009

Imagine. Create. Innovate.

Now more than ever, Europe needs new ideas. People, societies and their economies always need fresh thoughts to foster general well-being, but crises heighten threats and opportunities. So there was no better time than 2009 to hold the European Year of Creativity and Innovation aimed at mobilising young people, teachers, businesses, voluntary groups and policy makers. This initiative of the European Commission was reflected in a variety of activities in Luxembourg.

“Imagine. Create. Innovate.” was the European Year of Creativity and Innovation’s slogan, reflected in a three-strand strategy in the Grand Duchy. Firstly, by raising awareness of the need for people to reinvent themselves both as economic actors and creative members of society. This begins with a desire to learn and adapt, habits that are best acquired when young but remain vital throughout life. Hence the teaching professions were closely involved in this effort, particularly in primary and secondary schools but also in those involved in professional training.

34 I Focus 3 – 2010

At the intersection of art and technology

Secondly, creativity also means personal development, with cultural and artistic diversity helping to challenge preconceptions and offering a means of self-expression. Together, these will contribute to the third strand: using innovation as a motor for economic competitiveness. Entrepreneurship is a state of mind that is required in all businesses, whether they be new or old, small or large. It is a skill to be learned, hence Luxinnovation’s courses on innovation management and the techniques of creating value added that were organised this year, as well as seminars bringing together designers and entrepreneurs.

EUROPEAN YEAR OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION 2009

Creativity and Innovation Week in May was the headline event of the year, with the focal point being the multi-faceted stand at Luxembourg’s annual Spring Fair, itself the keynote economic event of the year. Over 30 companies, cultural associations and schools took part to bring to life the concept of “Imagine. Create. Innovate.”, efforts that attracted nearly 15,000 people. The locally designed stand represented a pathway between artistic creativity and technological innovation, using groundbreaking materials produced by businesses from Luxembourg. The event featured workshops, exhibitions, shows, conferences, competitions and demonstrations on related themes.

Encouraging a new generation of innovators

Preconceptions are foreign concepts to the young, so to tap into and encourage this free thinking, the school-based prize “GENIAL!” asked children of all ages to dream up innovative ideas rooted in practicality. Projects were judged on their originality and creativity but also on how these ideas were described. Winning entries included a system to streamline medical treatment for diabetics and suggestions for recycling domestic wastewater.

Focus 3 – 2010 I 35

Innovation support in the limelight

Coincidentally, 2009 also marked the 25 anniversary of Luxembourg’s National Agency for Innovation and Research, Luxinnovation. Celebrations centred on an event held at EschBelval near the site of the future City of Sciences that is to become the focal point for the country’s innovative activities. As well as presentations from local actors tracing the history of the Agency, the more than 400 participants heard a presentation from leading academic Professor Hugo Tschirky who debated the theme: “Innovation: lucky coincidence or managed th

36 I Focus 3 – 2010

consequence?” The programme also provided insights into the work of the celebrated German institution Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as well as several other eye-opening surprises.

Luxinnovation GIE + 352 43 62 63 1 info@luxinnovation.lu www.luxinnovation.lu www.creativite-innovation.lu www.genial.lu

Students at the University of Luxembourg 2010

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Information & computer sciences Integrated systems biology Développement durable Mathematics

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Histoire européenne contemporaine Erasmus mundus: philosophie allemande et française Philosophie Psychology: evaluation and assessment ou Études franco-allemandes: communication et coopération transfrontalières Médiation Gérontologie ou Spatial development and analysis Learning and development in multilingual and multicultural contexts ou Langues, cultures et médias - Lëtzebuerger Studien

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For further information: University of Luxembourg - 162a, avenue de la Faïencerie - L-1511 Luxembourg www.uni.lu - seve.infos@uni.lu - T. +352 46 66 44 - 6617 / - 6222

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Marc Lemmer, CEO, CRP Henri Tudor

An ambitious agenda for CRP Henri Tudor

Public Research Centre Henri Tudor impresses with the broad range of its expertise. Under new CEO Dr Marc Lemmer, CRP Henri Tudor is adapting itself to meet the challenges of the future, one of the most important of which is raising domestic and international awareness of the breadth of the Centre’s know-how and building on this to launch new partnerships. With prof iciencies that range from sustainable construction and supply chain management to advanced materials and the optimisation of ICT use in SMEs, CRP Henri Tudor is ready to make some noise. Established in 1987, CRP Henri Tudor has developed core competencies in f ive scientif ic and technological domains: health care, materials, environmental technologies, information and communication technologies, and business organisation and management. Staffed with nearly 400 researchers and engineers, of whom more than 16% are PhDs, the Centre also has the distinction of being Luxembourg’s largest public research centre.

Characterised by youth

On 1 June 2009, CRP Henri Tudor formally welcomed a new CEO, Dr Marc Lemmer. With a PhD in chemistry and credentials as the Business Development Director at Luxcontrol, a Luxembourg private company specialised in risk management services relating to quality, health and safety, food safety and environmental protection, Dr Lemmer is well equipped to take on this latest challenge.

38 I Focus 3 – 2010

“Everyone has heard of the Centre, but far fewer know or understand what it really does,” explains Dr Lemmer. He knows CRP Henri Tudor has an excellent reputation but, because of its broad scope, can be diff icult to pinpoint in terms of exactly where it f its “in the innovation value chain”. Seeing part of the issue as being Luxembourg’s relative youth in public R&D, Dr Lemmer aims to change perceptions and raise the Centre’s prof ile internationally.

A broad range of expertise

CRP Henri Tudor has nine departments. The Centre for IT Innovation (CITI) focuses on ICT architecture, secure communication networks, ICT quality management and ICT for human resources. CITI offers ICT engineering and ICT project management services and has special expertise in open source software. Organised in 1991, the Resource Centre for Health Care Technologies (CR SANTEC) is CRP Henri Tudor’s oldest resource centre. With competencies in hospital and health care information systems, eHealth systems, medical engineering and clinical engineering, CR SANTEC’s partnerships include the Ministry of Health, Luxembourg’s social security organisation, several hospitals and medical associations as well as the new Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg (IBBL), of which the Centre is a founding member. The Resource Centre for Environmental Technologies (CRTE), which fosters innovation in environmental science and technology, is described in detail elsewhere in this issue. In addition, the Resource Centre for Technologies and Innovation in Construction (CRTI-B) offers expertise in sustainable construction as well as a web-based platform that facilitates a collaborative exchange of the documentation used in construction projects.

The department of Advanced Materials and Structures (AMS) has a staff of 60 who work on developing, characterising and modelling new materials. They have special expertise in surface treatment, such as with plasma at atmospheric pressure and vacuum plasma, and bulk processing, such as extrusion, synthesis in solution and supercritical CO2. This knowledge base makes AMS an attractive partner for collaboration with the private sector.

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Another department of CRP Henri Tudor is the Laboratory for Industrial Technologies (LTI). LTI consults with companies in supply chain management and is a key actor in Luxembourg’s new cluster for logistics.

Tracking and transferring new technology

The Technology Watch Centre (CVT) has a mission to provide intelligence in the latest technology trends and the competitive landscape for new products and services, while CRP Henri Tudor’s department for Lifelong Learning for Technological Innovation SITec® offers courses in high-tech skills, best practice and technology transfer. About 240 training sessions for professionals are organised every year. The Technoport®, CRP Henri Tudor’s technology-orientated business incubator in Esch-surAlzette, offers high-tech start-ups 1,000 m2 of space to grow. Since 1998, the Technoport has helped launch 47 new companies, 13 of which are currently domiciled at the incubator. With such a diversity of expertise, Dr Lemmer would like to see CRP Henri Tudor develop special know-how in the service sciences. The service sector is the most signif icant component of Luxembourg’s economy, and convergence between manufactured goods and services is accelerating. After all, what would the iPhone be without its applications? With the majority of service sector innovation being based on ICT, expanding to embrace service sciences is a natural next step for the Centre.

A public-private partnership in its own right

The new trend for public research organisations is generating income by developing strategic partnerships with the private sector. Dr Lemmer sees CRP Henri Tudor itself as a public-private partnership since, although it receives the “public” part of its funding from the government, it also has the freedom and responsibility to generate its own revenues – the “private” part. To support the Centre in developing partnerships with

companies in the Greater Region and beyond, Dr Lemmer has established a business development unit within the Centre, coordinating personnel from each department to work together to extend its reach. The new CEO believes that the new law of 1 July 2009 supporting private sector R&D, with a particular emphasis on service sector innovation and on supporting R&D in SMEs, will be especially important for CRP Henri Tudor. And he sees the research, development and innovation (RDI) landscape in Luxembourg changing over the coming three years. He is convinced that this will lead to a greater emphasis on the valorisation of research in the public sector, and also anticipates increased support to SMEs enabling them to make the best possible use of their intellectual property. Dr Lemmer also sees larger companies needing to take advantage of CRP Henri Tudor’s expertise in both innovation management and change management. The agenda is ambitious but, given the quality of CRP Henri Tudor’s accomplishments to date, certainly achievable. CRP Henri Tudor + 352 42 59 91 1 info@tudor.lu www.tudor.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 39

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Building IT networks and services that will never let you down

Björn Ottersten, Director, Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT)

When you turn on a light, you take for granted that you will not get an electric shock when you flip the switch. You are conf ident that there will be electric current available, and that the light bulb will perform as expected. The characteristics of security, reliability and trust you associate with this everyday action are based on a lifetime of positive experience. With the help of a new, specialised interdisciplinary research centre at the University of Luxembourg, similar levels of comfort may soon be reached for other crucial technologies.

In today’s world, the delivery of vital services is increasingly dependent on a global web of ICT networks and systems. Failure of a system or network can result in f inancial turmoil, social disruption or even, in the case of a hospital system or air traff ic control network, death.

Stability against all odds

As the functionality and scale of systems increases, so does their complexity. Operating systems of such size can become unpredictable. For reliability to be achieved, systems must be able to operate with increasing autonomy so that they can reconf igure themselves when disruption occurs. “Self-conf iguring and self-healing computer systems? Isn’t that like The Matrix or The Terminator?” Dr Björn Ottersten, Director of the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), smiles reassuringly. But apparently we are a long way from that degree of autonomy.

40 I Focus 3 – 2010

One day, maybe – for the moment, ICT systems that can ensure they are never down would already be a major achievement. As would reliable communication networks capable of operating in a wide range of environments.

Hackers not welcome

Mentioning banking systems brings up another of SnT’s goals: security. “With Luxembourg being a f inancial centre, it is natural that we would be concerned with issues involving security,” say Dr Ottersten. The native Swede has a PhD from Stanford University and even some entrepreneurial experience, gathered in Silicon Valley. Working with the Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade, and other local partners, SnT seeks to develop the means to protect conf identiality and the integrity of information while preventing cyber crime and other attacks and intrusions.

Public research

Ef ipsans in a nutshell

Abandoning the silo

To properly address the issues which form its mandate, SnT draws on a broad range of interlocking competencies. In addition to specialists in various aspects of computer science, the team also includes experts in law and psychology. A keen understanding of psychology is needed, for example, to apprehend the complex issues relating to trust. “Even if a service or network infrastructure is secure and dependable from a technical point of view, users may not necessarily trust it,” Dr Ottersten points out. Trust is an especially important component in an area where Dr Ottersten sees great potential: ICT in transportation. “It will soon be possible to provide real-time information to drivers about an accident just occurring ahead on the motorway and suggest alternative routes or even take control over the vehicle. However, will drivers trust the information they are being given and allow automatic collision avoidance? And can it be given in a way which does not interfere with their concentration?”

Powerful research partnerships

Currently SnT is focusing on three research platforms: Enterprise Security; Services, Content and e-Government; and Communication and Network Infrastructure. These research platforms have attracted a range of partnerships for SnT.

Suppose you wanted to launch a website and found there were no IP addresses left? IPv4, the internet protocol currently in use, is 20 years old and, while it probably seemed like a lot at the time, offers only four billion internet addresses. These are now on the verge of running out. Enter IPv6, which has 79 octillion times the IPv4 address space, with 340 undecillion IP addresses (that’s 2128 or about 3.4 x 1038). Such very large numbers should secure an abundant supply of IP addresses for the future. SnT is participating in Ef ipsans, a project supported by the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme for research and development. Partners include Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs, Beijing University of Posts and Communications, and Ericsson. The project, headed by SnT Vice Director Dr Thomas Engel, will use features of IPv6 that can be exploited or extended to design or build autonomic networks and services. Desirable autonomic behaviours in diverse ICT environments will be captured and specif ied.

that will focus on innovative projects in the f ield of the internet, vehicular networks, “machineto-machine” communications, logistics and sustainable development. According to P&T CEO Marcel Gross, “P&T will contribute know-how and resources to build a research programme in these f ields together with SnT researchers and PhD students.”

The research into communication and network infrastructure appeals to ICT network providers and operators. It has led to partnerships with SES and, in October 2009, Telindus Luxembourg, a regional leader in ICT. In what Dr Ottersten characterises as a “signif icant milestone”, the f irst research project will involve creating a federated test bed for public safety communication and information systems. The test bed will allow European telecom manufacturers and software providers to carry out tests and evaluate their products with the participation of public safety users. Even more recently, in November, SnT and P&T, Luxembourg’s leading postal and telecommunications services operator, arranged a partnership

Enterprise security is of vital interest not only for Luxembourg’s f inancial services industry, but also for FEDIL, Luxembourg’s business federation. The e-government theme suggests obvious partnerships, but research on content is also of interest to the content-hungry European entertainment network RTL and its Broadcasting Centre Europe, which is a leader in content digitalisation.

Autonomic behaviour is characterised by selfconf iguration and selfhealing capabilities, aimed at permitting a system to manage the failure of one of its agents and ensure continuous functioning.

For an endeavour that was only launched in February 2009, SnT seems well on its way to meeting its goals of creating a centre of excellence in its f ield while providing a collaborative research platform for partners and an exciting environment for researchers and PhD candidates. Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust University of Luxembourg + 352 46 66 44 57 21 snt@uni.lu www.securityandtrust.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 41

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Luxembourg: an inspired career move

Phillip Dale, Researcher, University of Luxembourg

The Grand Duchy’s ambitious plans for its public research sector rely on talent – be it homegrown or imported. And it admits no barriers in its quest for the best. In a drive to entice foreign researchers to come to Luxembourg, the government has put the National Research Fund in charge of two new science funding programmes. One of these, called PEARL, is aimed at senior scientists, whereas the other, entitled ATTRACT, provides opportunities for promising scientists at the start of their career.

The ATTRACT programme focuses on young researchers who intend to set up their own research groups in the Grand Duchy. “This programme is about attracting fresh new ideas to Luxembourg,” says Dr Frank Glod, senior programme manager at the National Research Fund (Fonds National de la Recherche, FNR), who administers both funding programmes. Recipients obtain funding of € 1 million to € 1.5 million over f ive years. The money is to be spent on the researcher’s salary, the establishment of a lab and the remuneration of assistants. The f irst funding from the ATTRACT programme went to Dr Phillip Dale, a British scientist who, for just over two years, has been working on solar cell materials at the University of Luxembourg. Dr Dale and his team of f ive currently work in a laboratory in CRP Gabriel Lippmann in Belvaux, a town located south of the capital city.

42 I Focus 3 – 2010

A generous programme

Dr Dale is enthusiastic about the ATTRACT programme’s impact on his career. “It has given me such an amazing opportunity,” he reports. Dr Dale’s work is aimed at f inding a low-cost method to produce thin-f ilm solar cell materials using non-toxic, abundant raw materials. “It has been fantastic,” he says. “I have a big budget so I’m able to recruit my own students and access equipment.” Dr Dale explains that the f ive-year duration of the ATTRACT programme is longer than the typical three years offered in other countries. The work on thin-f ilm cells performed by Dr Dale’s team is carried out in close cooperation with Dr Susanne Siebentritt, who holds the European TDK chair at the University of Luxembourg and runs the photovoltaics laboratory. Dr Dale says

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that Dr Siebentritt’s presence puts Luxembourg on the map in his speciality, in which she is “one of the top 10 to 20 experts in the world.” Dr Dale f irst became aware of Luxembourg’s research initiatives while reading an advertisement in the press for the position at the University of Luxembourg that Dr Siebentritt eventually f illed. At that time, he was unfamiliar with the research landscape in Luxembourg, but upon closer inspection the opportunities soon became apparent. Dr Dale is optimistic about the programme’s prospects. “If you have people really f ighting and working to show that they are worth the money, the faith and the investment, I think anything is possible – it is extremely exciting,” he states.

The role of mentoring

Dr Glod explains that the programme contains signif icant mentoring and coaching elements. “That is really what ATTRACT is about: to identify talent and then give them funding and nurture them to become good and senior project leaders,” he says. Candidates are linked with a professional coach from day one, in addition to their academic supervisor. “My coach has taught me a lot of things,” Dr Dale reports, adding that the coach has helped him identify his research priorities. “That’s important for building self-control and focus on work,” Dr Dale aff irms.

The red carpet treatment

to its roster. The programmes, especially PEARL, go far beyond the recruitment budget the institutions could otherwise offer. “It’s like a big flag that they can wave” to attract prestigious scientists, Dr Glod suggests.

Developing a long-term vision

For both programmes, but especially for PEARL, selecting candidates is about more than their research ability. “The programme is really not just all about the candidate, but also about the institution,” Dr Glod explains. “There needs to be a whole package – a business case.” The institutions have to answer some largerscale questions. “Why do they want to employ this person at the CRP or university? What do the candidates bring to the institution, and where will they lead it?” Dr Glod says the programmes force the institutions to think strategically and decide how to build up their research.

Making the connections

Dr Bruno Domon, who has recently been recruited to Luxembourg’s CRP Santé as the f irst PEARL funding recipient, is extremely wellconnected. While he is currently working in Zurich at the Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, he has previously worked with CELERA Corp., the high-prof ile US biotech f irm that cosequenced the human genome, setting up highthroughput proteomics analysis laboratories. He has an ongoing collaboration agreement with US scientif ic equipment maker Thermo F isher Scientif ic, Inc.

While the ATTRACT programme brings in junior scientists, PEARL is aimed at senior scientists like Dr Siebentritt, whose outstanding research and high prof ile attract people who want to work with them. Luxembourg would like to recruit particularly eminent scientists for the areas it is building up, Dr Glod explains.

Dr Glod describes CRP Santé’s application for PEARL funding for Dr Domon’s proteomics work as “a very good f it institutionally,” given Luxembourg’s recent investment in health technologies. “The proposal works well with the ongoing biomedical initiatives, and benef its from his relationship with the US companies.”

The programme offers senior scientists € 5 million over f ive years. “The standards within the programme are very high; we really want to recruit the best,” explains Dr Glod. “That means someone who is in the top 10 or so in their particular f ield.” At the ATTRACT programme level, scientists work alone or with a few assistants, whereas PEARL candidates can arrive with as many as 15 junior researchers.

As Luxembourg continues “very much in a building-up phase”, Dr Glod notes, instruments like PEARL and ATTRACT are key. With the Luxembourg government’s aim of doubling the country’s research force over the next 5 to 10 years, “we need these types of instruments to guide the recruitment process,” he concludes.

In both ATTRACT and PEARL, the request for funding comes from the research centre or the university which hopes to add the researcher

National Research Fund Luxembourg + 352 26 19 25 1 info@fnr.lu www.fnr.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 43

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The thrill of pure science

Earth tides:

The gravitational pull of the moon and the sun creates tides not only in the oceans but also in the earth’s surface. Twice a day the planetary surface bulges out by a measurable 30 cm at our latitude.

Dr d’Oreye began his studies at the Catholic University of Louvain in theoretical physics. “My brother studied engineering and I thought – erroneously – that I would do a subject with less math.” During his f inal year, he took a course in geophysics from the head of the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB). “I knew that was what I wanted to do.” Dr d’Oreye began his work at the ROB in 1989, then moved to Luxembourg’s European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology in 1994. At the Laboratoire Souterrain de Géodynamique, he studied earth tides, and designed and built what may well be the world’s most sensitive tilt meter. This device, which is 50 m long, measures the minutest variations in the slope of the earth’s surface.

The private life of volcanoes

Tilt meters are also used for monitoring the slopes of volcanoes, which can exhibit subtle shifts in the build-up to and during an eruption. When Dr d’Oreye became a researcher at the

44 I Focus 3 – 2010

National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in 2001, his focus shifted to embrace these explosive wonders of nature – as well as space geodesy, a little later, in 2005. © Nicolas d’Oreye/NMNH

Nicolas d’Oreye, Researcher, National Museum of Natural History

Imagine a man in one of the most perilous places on earth. Partially obscured by acrid plumes of sulphur dioxide, he is rappelling hundreds of metres straight down into the fetid mouth of an active volcano. Indiana Jones? No, geophysicist Dr Nicolas d’Oreye, who is setting up f ield equipment in order to monitor Congo’s Mount Nyiragongo volcano for Luxembourg’s National Museum of Natural History.

Currently, Dr d’Oreye and his colleagues are monitoring volcanoes in Cameroon, Cape Verde and Tanzania as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the latter, Mount Nyiragongo (3,470 m) and Mount Nyamulagira (3,058 m) lie just 15 km

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and 30 km respectively from Goma, a city in eastern Congo and arguably “the most dangerous place on earth”. Rwandan rebels, Congolese soldiers and local militias wage intermittent combat that makes geophysical research a risky business. It was in the midst of this conflict that Mount Nyiragongo last erupted in January 2002. The volcano’s highly fluid lava, travelling at 100 km/h down the volcano’s slopes and at 20 km/h on more level ground, cut through the centre of Goma, destroyed 15% of the city, killed nearly 200 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Help from above

Fortunately, the use of satellites and more specif ically of radar interferometry (InSAR) means that volcanoes can also be monitored more comfortably from Luxembourg. Back in his off ice, Dr d’Oreye uses this state-of-the-art technique to measure millimetre-scale movements on the planet’s surface. Data sent back from one of the European Space Agency’s satellites enables geophysicists like Dr d’Oreye to track the smallest surface movements that indicate volcanic activity. What motivates Dr d’Oreye in his research? There is, he admits, the sheer thrill of doing “pure science” and the diversity of tasks. But the potential benef its are just as exciting. Unlike research on earthquakes, which Dr d’Oreye believes are probably impossible to predict exactly, scientists will some day be able to predict volcanic eruptions accurately and save lives.

More than woolly mammoths

Thus the NMNH is more than the sum of its collections. It supports scientists conducting ambitious research in astrophysics, botany, ecology, geology-mineralogy, palaeontology,

Travelling to a city with no infrastructure and a constant threat of violence is diff icult, but placing the tilt meters and GPS monitors around Mount Nyiragongo is just as challenging. Simple issues can quickly turn into complicated problems, requiring a lot of imagination and resourcefulness. Lootings, lightning and rodents add another layer of complexity – and the volcano itself releases a steady plume of sulphur dioxide, which is corrosive to organic materials, irritates the eyes and nose and is responsible for acid rain. On one of Dr d’Oreye’s recent expeditions to install monitoring equipment in the volcano, a storm tore apart the group’s tents, which had been fragilised by long exposure.

population biology as well as vertebrate and invertebrate zoology – and Dr d’Oreye’s work in geophysics. Dr d’Oreye is greatly appreciative of his position at the NMNH. “It allows me to spend weeks in Africa, setting up and maintaining the monitoring equipment in tough conditions. Despite the obvious needs, few people are willing to work in this area, particularly as this type of research progresses very slowly. In an academic position I would have to spend most of that time teaching and writing for publication.” Most recently, Dr d’Oreye’s work in the prestigious journal Nature received the National Research Fund’s award for “Outstanding Scientif ic Publication”. National Museum of Natural History + 352 46 22 33 1 + 352 33 14 87 1 musee-info@mnhn.lu info@ecgs.lu www.mnhn.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 45

Did you know it’s from Luxembourg?

Reaching for the sky: Luxembourg’s contribution to the world’s tallest tower

Luxembourg’s Guardian plants were chosen to provide approximately 600,000 m2 of coated glass – one of Guardian’s largest coated glass orders ever – for the construction of the 206-storey Burj Khalifa Tower in the United Arab Emirates. For this project “reaching an altitude of 828 m and with a temperature difference of 6 ºC from ground to summit,” explains Guardian’s Francesco Tritta from the company’s Technical Advisory Center, “the Bascharage plants (Luxguard and Luxcoating) were unrivalled in their ability to produce the advanced architectural glass required.” A leading-edge high vacuum magnetron sputtering technique was used to cut sun inf iltration levels down to 18% and create the spectacular silver appearance of this truly world-class glass. Guardian Luxguard I S.A. + 352 50 30 1 ftritta@guardian.com www.guardian.com www.sunguardglass.com

46 I Focus 3 – 2010

Did you know it’s from Luxembourg?

Focus 3 – 2010 I 47

Blitz Agency

f ive questions for …

48 I Focus 3 – 2010

FIVE questions for …

Five questions for … Mr Claude Steinmetz, Managing Director of Luxlait

Claude Steinmetz, Managing Director of Luxembourg’s main dairy products company, is sitting in the midst of a plant still under construction. While the executive off ices of his company’s new plant are f inished, hundreds of workers are busily installing equipment, f inishing the interiors and tuning new machinery. The new Luxlait plant, near Bissen, north of the city of Luxembourg, has the potential to produce 50% more dairy products than the combined production of the two older plants it will replace. Mr Steinmetz gave FOCUS his answers to f ive questions about innovation, R&D and the role they play in his company.

What does innovation mean to you personally?

I am in business, and in business we must achieve prof itability, so for me innovation is everyday business – using innovation to boost market share, create new products that can be sold, and develop means to sell these products innovatively. For example, we are here in a completely new factory, which is in itself an innovation. Why? Because we have cut down on resource and energy usage. We have cut water consumption by up to 35%. We have also cut energy use by 30%. The factory has been modernised with automation and robotics.

What role do innovation and R&D play in your company?

They are crucial. So important, in fact, that four years ago we created a dedicated R&D department. We have to continually introduce new products to the market, and this only happens through innovation, even though some might say that milk cannot be innovative. They would be wrong. Milk, yoghurt and cheese are versatile products; they all have enormous potential that can only be unlocked through innovation, and through R&D.

What has been the most important development of your company during the past f ive years?

The most important development was our new factory, our most important innovation. The design was geared to one key concept: to make us more flexible and give us the ability, over the

next 40 years, to add new products or product lines as necessary. In short, to enable us to respond to the market’s demands.

How does your company respond to rapidly changing market conditions?

By being close to the market. We know what is happening on the national market, and of course the European market, because exports represent 60% of our turnover. We monitor our markets all the time. We have the flexibility to develop new products. For instance, we often work in the area of niche products, for example ethnic products. We have a very large Turkish client in Germany who distributes all over Europe. For this client we have developed a Turkish yoghurt that stays fresh for 28 days while competing products from Turkey only last 5 days.

What do you consider as the most important factors for your company to remain competitive over the coming 5 to 10 years?

It is important to have a healthy f inancial situation. A company must be liquid. In today’s economic climate, business is a struggle if you are not f inancially sound. It’s important to keep track of market developments at home and abroad, to continually analyse, to adapt quickly as circumstances change. Change must be confronted: one must act, not react. Luxlait + 352 25 02 80 1 info@luxlait.lu www.luxlait.lu

Focus 3 – 2010 I 49

The rdi directory

The RDI directory Governmental portal for innovation and research www.innovation.public.lu

Ministries

Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade Directorate of Research and Innovation 19-21, boulevard Royal L-2914 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 24 78 41 28 I Fax: + 352 26 20 27 68 innovation@eco.public.lu www.eco.public.lu

Research and innovation agencies

Luxinnovation GIE National Agency for Innovation and Research 7, rue Alcide de Gasperi L-1615 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 43 62 63 1 I Fax: + 352 43 81 20 info@luxinnovation.lu www.luxinnovation.lu

National Research Fund Luxembourg 6, rue Antoine de Saint-Exupéry P.O. Box 1777 L-1017 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 26 19 25 1 I Fax: + 352 26 19 25 35 info@fnr.lu www.fnr.lu

Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade 19-21, boulevard Royal L-2914 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 24 78 43 45 I Fax: + 352 26 20 27 68 info@investinluxembourg.lu www.investinluxembourg.lu

Société Nationale de Crédit et d’Investissement P.O. Box 1207 L-1012 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 46 19 71 1 I Fax: + 352 46 19 79 snci@snci.lu www.snci.lu

Chamber of Commerce 7, rue Alcide de Gasperi L-2981 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 42 39 39 1 I Fax: + 352 43 83 26 chamcom@cc.lu www.cc.lu

Luxembourg for Business GIE 19-21, boulevard Royal L- 2449 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 24 78 41 16 I Fax: + 352 22 34 85 info@luxembourgforbusiness.lu www.luxembourgforbusiness.lu

University of Luxembourg 162A, avenue de la Faïencerie L-1511 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 46 66 44 60 00 seve.infos@uni.lu I communication@uni.lu www.uni.lu

University of Luxembourg Researcher Mobility Centre EURAXESS Service Centre Luxembourg 162A, avenue de la Faïencerie L-1511 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 46 66 44 66 81 I Fax: + 352 46 66 44 67 60 barbara.daniel@uni.lu www.euraxess.lu

Public Research Centre Gabriel Lippmann 41, rue du Brill L-4422 Belvaux Phone: + 352 47 02 61 1 I Fax: + 352 47 02 64 contact@lippmann.lu www.lippmann.lu

Public Research Centre Henri Tudor 29, avenue John F. Kennedy L-1855 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 42 59 91 1 I Fax: + 352 42 59 91 77 7 info@tudor.lu www.tudor.lu

Public Research Centre Santé Bâtiment Thomas Edison 1A-B, rue Thomas Edison L-1445 Strassen Phone: + 352 26 97 08 93 I Fax: + 352 26 97 07 19 aurelia.derischebourg@crp-sante.lu www.crp-sante.lu

CEPS/INSTEAD 44, rue Emile Mark L-4620 Differdange Phone: + 352 58 58 55 1 I Fax: + 352 58 55 60 communication@ceps.lu www.ceps.lu

Ecostart Enterprise and Innovation Centre c/o Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade 19-21, boulevard Royal L-2449 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 24 78 41 85 I Fax: + 352 26 20 27 68 mario.grotz@eco.etat.lu www.ecostart.lu

Technoport Public Research Centre Henri Tudor P.O. Box 144 L-4002 Esch-sur-Alzette Phone: + 352 352 42 59 91 1 I Fax: + 352 42 59 91 55 5 info@technoport.lu www.technoport.lu

Invest in Luxembourg

Luxembourg business promotion

Main public research organisations

Incubators

50 I Focus 3 – 2010

Ministry of Higher Education and Research Department of Research and Innovation 20, montée de la Pétrusse L-2273 Luxembourg Phone: + 352 24 78 52 19 I Fax: + 352 46 09 27 recherche@mesr.public.lu www.mcesr.public.lu www.recherche.lu

Research = training + perspective. See what’s behind. Supporting researchers in their doctoral and postdoctoral training in Luxembourg and abroad is of central interest for the National Research Fund (FNR). Through the AFR Funding Scheme (Aides à la Formation-Recherche), the FNR contributes to the improvement of the researchers’ training conditions and enhances their career development. The AFR scheme promotes work contracts between AFR beneficiaries and their host institutions as well as public-private partnerships. Interested in an AFR grant? Check eligibility conditions and deadlines for forthcoming calls. Go and see what’s behind on www.fnr.lu

AFR

FUNDING SCHEME FOR PHDS AND POSTDOCS (AIDES À LA FORMATION-RECHERCHE)

INVESTIGATING FuTuRE CHALLENGES

Small size, outstanding effects.

Fall in love. In the heart of Europe the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg gleams with its multitude of facets. Innovation-driven companies, state-of-the-art technologies and cutting-edge R&D make Luxembourg a diamond of timeless beauty. An irresistible, trustworthy and flawless partner for your international business.

Luxembourg. Small country, safe values. www.investinluxembourg.lu