Annual report 2014
GOING FURTHER TOGETHER ”Implementing the ’Knowledge Triangle’ and making it an economic reality in Luxembourg is a priority. For 30 years now, the activities of Luxinnovation have been geared towards strengthening the links between higher education, research and innovation. It is often said that ‘research is turning money into knowledge and innovation is turning knowledge into money’. Our mission is to stimulate this transformation by facilitating the emergence of innovative projects. The expertise and support provided daily by the Luxinnovation team help companies of any size to innovate. A culture of innovation is not created in one day. But we can, in one day, decide to launch and implement a new, dynamic approach in order to reach ambitious objectives. The success of the pilot phase of the Fit for Innovation programme proves that with good tools, innovation can rapidly be translated into economic growth and jobs. In view of the increasing number of companies that wish to benefit from our support, the programme will now be implemented at a larger scale and allow more enterprises to improve their performance and innovation capability. The flagship projects launched during the year by the Clusters also illustrate this move. Finally, with the prospect of soon becoming an innovation funding agency, we will shortly be able to offer new services and increased support all the way through the innovation chain and the creation of added value. Innovation is a collective effort. In order to succeed, it is crucial to have reliable and experienced partners. Henry Ford said that ‘coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success’. Let’s continue to join forces, because even if we might progress faster on our own, together we will go further.”
Clients INNOVATIVE START-UPS, SMALL, MEDIUM-SIZED AND LARGE ENTERPRISES PUBLIC RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS
7SERVICES
DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR INNOVATION CAPABILITY
284 COMPANIES AND ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTED IN 2014, INCLUDING 60% OF SMEs
30 years OF EXPERIENCE AT THE HEART OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM
47 TEAM MEMBERS 23 WOMEN AND 24 MEN
LUXINNOVATION IS THE RESULT OF A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN:
9 NATIONALITIES
REPRESENTED WITHIN THE TEAM
MINISTRY OF THE ECONOMY
FEDIL — BUSINESS FEDERATION LUXEMBOURG
MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
CHAMBRE DES METIERS
Raymond Schadeck Chairman, Luxinnovation
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
2014 AT A GLANCE National funding 129 files were accepted and submitted by 87 different companies including 47 PMEs. (Provisional figures as of 31 December 2014) All RDI projects that fall within the scope of the RDI and Environmental Protection laws of the Ministy of the Economy are taken into account.
Distribution of funded companies by size
Distribution of the 129 files:
111
files
Distribution of files according to the various aid schemes:
RESEARCH/INNOVATION
Distribution of files by theme
RDI LAW
submitted by 73 companies including:
54% SMEs
46%
LARGE ENTERPRISES
EcoInnovation
57 R&D files submitted by 36 companies 33 innovation files submitted by 30 companies 21 de minimis (including 6 Fit Diagnostics) by 16 companies (including 6 companies involved in the Fit for Innovation programme)
5 Feasibility studies
Young innovative enterprises
29%
11
47% Innovation advisory services Protection of intellectual property Process and organisational innovation in services
8
1%
Space
7 57
2
22%
R&D de minimis (including 6 Fit Diagnostics)
18
ENV
files
Materials & Production Technologies
1%
ICT
21
BioHealth
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAW
submitted by 15 different companies
Number of start-ups and craft firms financed within the framework of the RDI and ENV laws 24 start-ups 9 craft businesses
Investments
8
10
Studies
16
PUBLIC-PRIVATE
partnerships
(collaborative and contractual research) in the context of projects supported by the RDI law
02 ACTIVITÉS 2014
European funding Horizon 2020: signed contracts in 2014
25 projects
AAL, EUREKA and EUROSTARS programmes
Total national financial return of Luxembourg’s participation in RDI programmes in 2014 by sector
Active and Assisted Living (AAL) 3 Luxembourg entries were recorded during this first challenge. 1 entry by the LIST was chosen for co-financing.
were won by Luxembourg organisations FOR A TOTAL OF
€
6.25 million
THE SUCCESS RATE of Luxembourg projects for 2014 calls is
Public :
€ 5,539,942
Private :
€ 4,334,565 € 684,246
Other :
€ 10,558,753
19.71%
, which is the second highest rate recorded in Europe 19 unique participants obtained projects. Around 10 companies have benefited from the
Fit4Horizon2020
41
funded in 2014 and by type of organisation Public research centres Other
University of Luxembourg
3
5
16
Private enterprises
National Research Fund/Luxinnovation
European Space Agency (ESA) programmes Over
50 files
WERE ACCOMPANIED AND SUBMITTED This led to LUXEMBOURG
entries €
Number of companies whose 6 diagnostics phase was funded in 2014 Number of companies 5 in the project phase Potential gain € 4.6 millions of these 5 companies The Fit for Innovation programme was selected by the European Commission as good practice according to the “Small Business Act”.
9 8
47
12 Luxembourg entries for the EUREKA programme were identified in 2014 including 7 that were recorded for the two Eurostars 2 calls for projects launched in 2014 and 5 entries for the ITEA2 cluster(1).
Fit for Innovation
LUXEMBOURG
projects
aid to help them set up a H2020 project
EUREKA
23 million
OF FINANCIAL RETURN (provisional figures as of 15 January 2015) These excellent results confirm the rise of this sector, driven by the mobilisation of the space community, which benefits from the continuing support of the Luxembourg government and Luxinnovation.
Support for innovative start-ups Almost
300 entrepreneurs
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) 244 clients received advice 4 companies and public research laboratories supported with the publication of 6 technology profiles leading to 3 partnership agreements with Belgium and France. 36 participants participated in 147 business meetings during 5 events organised by the Luxinnovation EEN team.
Innovation in the craft sector 60 RDI ideas stemming from the craft sector
Innovation Management & Design Support for start-ups
Intellectual property
2
4
H2020 funding
1
Personalised support
5
5
Technology transfer
28
15
National funding
33 innovative projects by 26 different companies supported in 2014
Promotion of design in companies 132 visits to enterprises 17 files supported
WITH INNOVATIVE BUSINESS IDEAS received advice concerning the creation of innovative enterprises in Luxembourg
45
INNOVATIVE
start-ups
created in 2014 More than 1,600 members in the “Start-up Luxembourg” LinkedIn group and over 800 followers on the “@startuplu” Twitter page More than 300 participants in the 2014 editions of the “Luxembourg Start-up Networking Events”
(1)
ITEA2: Information Technology for European Advancement
1. INNOVATIVE START-UPS: STIMULATING IDEAS AND CREATION Stimulating the creation of innovative enterprises and encouraging entrepreneurs to develop their ideas is one of the main missions of Luxinnovation. Pre-incorporation
Incorporation Support in the administrative creation of a company (in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and the Chambre des Métiers) Assistance with incubation opportunities (Technoport, lux future lab, etc.)
Advice on implementing new activities in Luxembourg Support during the transition from an idea to a commercial project Assistance in creating a business plan (in collaboration with 1, 2, 3 GO)
1
7 April 2014: Luxembourg Start-up Networking Event Throughout the year, Luxinnovation offers customised support to innovative start-ups in order to support them in their administrative procedures as well as in the drafting of a business plan, the search for funding and partners and the definition of a high value offer. The “Start-up Networking Events“ that are organised two or three times a year draw an increasing number of participants from the startup community. In 2014, the Europäische Fachhochschule Rhein (EU-FH) carried out a study on the economic environment of Luxembourg startups at the request of the Ministry of the Economy and Luxinnovation. The study highlights clients’ satisfaction with the quality of the services offered by the Agency, which scored 5.4 on a scale of 1–6. Nearly thirty players were questioned on various topics such as civil liability, market entry, networks, benefits of the legal context, location, types of
subsidies, taxation and competition. In addition, this study revealed the entrepreneurs’ desire for easier access to banking and/or private funding. Finally, these start-ups also expressed strong needs regarding the recruitment of qualified staff. This is one of the major challenges faced by entrepreneurs. 56% of them point out that it is indeed difficult to devote time to attracting the required high-level and diverse skills, while implementing an innovative entrepreneurial strategy at the same time.
2 INNOVATIVE START-UPS S
4 Networking Moderation of the start-up community in Luxembourg through the organisation of networking events Creation and management of the Startup Luxembourg LinkedIn group
3 Post-incorporation Partner search (research organisations, manufacturers and technological partners) Support in requesting public aid from the Ministry of the Economy Assistance in accessing private financing
03 ACTIVITÉS 2014
Digital payment solution made in Luxembourg
The Leudelange-based start-up that employs 13 people found itself confronted with a host of questions around its creation. “We spent a lot of time and effort considering financing and searching for partners. In this context, it was very valuable to be able to rely on the support of the Luxinnovation teams. The people we spoke to quickly understood our issues, provided sound advice and supported us in the preparation of our public aid application, which was successful,“ explains Raoul Mulheims, CEO of Digicash. “We were introduced to high quality partners, both through our regular contacts and through our participation in the “e-payments and e-invoicing“ working group offered by the Luxembourg ICT Cluster. Luxinnovation was very helpful for both our strategic and our commercial development.“
www.digicash.lu
Based on the use of existing payment channels (SEPA credit transfers, cards, etc.), Digicash Payments offers retail banks and payment service providers a white label digital payment solution that is easy to integrate into their infrastructures. The solution is also cleverly integrated within cash systems, at point of sale or online, or in billing systems. Its objective is to provide its users with the best possible payment experience regardless of the context, for instance through a multi-technology approach (QR Code, Bluetooth, NFC). Today, after having successfully created a national mobile payment ecosystem in Luxembourg, Digicash Payments uses Luxembourg’s very competitive financial centre as a springboard to enter international markets. Digicash is an initiative by young entrepreneurs which offers high technological added value for economic players such as service providers, telecommunications and technology companies, banks, shops, etc.
3 questions to
PATRICK RAHME, CEO, ALL SQUARE Could you please describe your activity and its innovative aspects? The All Square social platform aims to connect golfers around the world to allow them to discover the most beautiful golf courses based on their friends’ recommendations. The goal of the founders is to consolidate the golf market and to become the “market place“ for golfers. Users of the platform will very soon be able to pay their green fee in over 3,500 golf courses worldwide. The innovative nature of the start-up – which was among the top 10 of the HSBC Innovation Award ranking – lies in its unique positioning in the golf industry. In addition, the platform allows the aggregation and collation of golfers’ preferences and course attendance. Such data has not been available yet at the international level. A team of five
developers, including two PhD students, use the latest technologies in order to offer innovative features and a unique user experience.
They knew which issues to raise and how to guide us throughout the process in order to maximise our chances of success.
Luxinnovation has supported you all along the way. Could you please describe their service offer and clarify to what extent this support was beneficial?
What are the direct results of this support and how will these results impact your future activities?
Luxinnovation supported us in the preparation of our Young Innovative Enterprise aid application file submitted to the Ministry of the Economy. With the collaboration of a consultancy firm, we reworked the business plan and refined our business model in order to fulfil the conditions imposed by the Ministry of the Economy. The Luxinnovation team was very professional and responsive during the entire application process.
Luxinnovation’s assistance brought many tangible results. First of all, we have adopted a well-developed business plan that has enabled us to better assess our short and medium term objectives. In addition, thanks to the support of Luxinnovation, we succeeded in obtaining the Young Innovative Enterprise aid which is one of the most important subsidies offered by the Ministry of the Economy. This aid serves as a real financial leverage which, in the future, will allow us to boost the development and growth of our start-up.
www.allsquaregolf.com
52 pages of advice on creating your own innovative company in Luxembourg All companies start with an idea: how to offer something new, better, faster or cheaper to potential clients, among other things. The guide “Start-up.lu: Succeed in establishing your innovative company in Luxembourg“ describes the main steps for the creation of an innovative company and helps entrepreneurs from Luxembourg and abroad to turn their ideas into reality and set up their companies in the Grand Duchy. www.start-up.lu
04 ACTIVITÉS 2014
2. FINANCIAL AIDS AS A DRIVER OF INNOVATION The Luxembourg government offers various financial aid schemes aimed at supporting RDI activities in the private and public sectors. Textilcord Steinfort: a public-private partnership to conquer new markets
“With new in-house areas of expertise, we are getting off the beaten track.“ José Beaudoint, Managing Director, Textilcord Steinfort
Luxinnovation offers advice and support services for the preparation of co-financing applications at the national level for RDI public aids (Ministry of the Economy), public aid for eco-technologies and sustainable development (Ministry of the Economy) and aid for training and research to stimulate public-private partnerships (National Research Fund). To this end, the Agency’s advisory team ensures the promotion of such measures, orientates firms towards the most suitable type of aids and support companies in implementing their projects. Textilcord, a division of Glanzstoff Industries based in Steinfort, used to manufacture essentially reinforcement fabric for the tyre industry. Today, a public-private partnership with the LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, formerly CRP Henri Tudor) has helped the company conquer new mar-
kets. With three production sites in Italy, the Czech Republic and Luxembourg and headquarters in Austria, the Glanzstoff group produces coated and reinforced fabrics made of nylon, polyester or aramid. For decades, Glanzstoff has been working for renowned companies in the automotive sector such as Michelin, Continental, Goodyear, Pirelli, etc. Due to the crisis, Textilcord Steinfort’s annual turnover of €50 million as well as its 160 jobs were threatened. Managing Director José Beaudoint wanted to become less dependent upon a single market sector. Thanks to the LIST team’s know-how and the results of a feasibility study, new niche markets were identified. A research & development project was initiated in collaboration with the LIST’s materials department. Typically, in a public-private collaborative research project, each partner finances part of it. The project will conclude successfully in early 2015. “The pro-
ject has met our expectations. It has opened up new markets for us, and also contributed to developing our corporate culture,“ states José Beaudoint. Today, Textilcord Steinfort’s high-tech fabrics are designed to meet a broad array of needs, including pipes for oil platforms, lifting bags or flexible storage tanks. According to the managing director, public-private collaborations offer many advantages: access to new technology as well as to state-of-the-art testing and the possibility to apply for a patent. The public-private partnership project was supported by the parent company, which appreciated the funding received from the Ministry of the Economy. “Without the intervention of Luxinnovation in the project, we would have had to give up, because the paperwork required to set up the collaboration was really too heavy. With new areas of expertise in our company, we are getting off the beaten track,“ explains José Beaudoint.
In addition to identifying new niche markets with high added value, Textilcord Steinfort has also decided to address one of the company’s largest budget items, i.e. energy costs. A partnership with the BioCentrale of Steinfort will allow the company not only to achieve its objective, but to use green energy and reduce its ecological footprint.
www.glanzstoff.at
3 questions to
PHILIPPE CUELENAERE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, BIOCENTRALE OF STEINFORT What is the framework, the objective and the ambition of the BioCentrale project? The BioCentrale of Steinfort will exploit the energy content of wood to produce and sell heat and green electrical energy. Its activity is perfectly in line with the national CO2 reduction and job creation objectives. The BioCentrale will also meet the expectations of Textilcord in terms of ecological footprint and energy cost reduction. Similarly, it will lessen its dependence on fossil fuels and soften the impact of price volatility.
What are the innovative aspects of the project? For the first time in Luxembourg, a fuel-fired boiler will be coupled with an ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) module. This thermodynamic cycle offers a higher yield than a low power steam turbine. Secondly, the BioCentrale has obtained permission from the “Administration of the Environment” and the “ITM” (Inspection du Travail et des Mines; Labour and Mines Inspectorate) to use Textilcord’s effluents as combustion air for a co-generation facility. This is innovative.
How is the project faring currently? Contracts have been signed with most of the suppliers. The BioCentrale of Steinfort has received support from the Ministry of the Economy and is currently finalising the last preparations of the project as well as the heat supply contract with Textilcord. Luxinnovation has helped us to develop the funding model and supported us during the whole application preparation phase, facilitating, among other things, contacts with ministerial bodies. Its advisors’ high-quality guidance and responsiveness greatly contributed to the success of the project.
05 ACTIVITÉS 2014
3. SUPPORTING PARTICIPATION IN EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES Research and innovation projects often stem from cross-border collaborations between researchers and companies. Depending on their profiles and development strategies, innovative companies and research laboratories will be able to participate in various European programmes. The most important of these include Horizon 2020, the European Commission’s framework programme for research and innovation, the intergovernmental initiative EUREKA, Eurostars and the programmes of the European Space Agency (ESA). Luxinnovation is the Luxembourg National Contact Point (NCP) for these programmes. Luxinnovation’s “European Funding Programmes“ service offers advice and support to researchers and companies in preparing their European projects based on its experience of European programmes since FP6 and its thematic expertise. The team takes a proactive approach and provides neutral and tailor-made recommendations.
Better researcher mobility with the Marie SklodowskaCurie Actions The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) support the mobility of researchers within Europe and the development of their careers. They are available for all fields of research and to researchers of all ages and skill levels, regardless of their nationality. There are several types of actions: Initial Training Networks (ITN) Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND) Individual Fellowships (IF) 2014 was characterised by a significant increase in the participation of Luxembourg players in this programme. Following the 2014 calls, 5 projects (MCSA) will be funded for a total of €1 million. This is an excellent result, because only 7 Luxembourg projects emerged over the entire duration of the FP7 programme. As an NCP, Luxinnovation has organised 6 information sessions on these researcher mobility programmes, which brought together more than 130 participants.
A guide on best practices for drafting “Individual Fellowships“ proposals was also published. All these actions unveiled the potential benefits of opening up to other institutions, learning new techniques and then returning to one’s home organisation to apply and implement lessons learned.
Space activities: in orbit for renewed success Luxembourg, along with Switzerland, ensures the co-chairmanship of the European Space Agency (ESA) until 2016. At a successful first Council of Ministers, organised in December 2014 in Luxembourg, a number of key decisions related to the European space exploration strategy were taken, including the development of the next European launcher Ariane 6 and the evolution of the Vega launcher in a bid to safeguard Europe’s independent access to space. Another agenda item consisted in defining the activities related to space exploration, including the continuation of ESA’s participation in the operation of the International Space Station (ISS) for the next few years. In addition, Luxembourg’s “flagship projects“ enjoyed considerable progress. Indeed, the development phase of the micro-satellite constellation dedicated to maritime surveillance was initiated while the technical and financial dossier concerning the ELECTRA public-private partnership, which concerns the development of the first European geostationary satellite with full electric propulsion, was finalised. Luxinnovation, through its Luxembourg representation mandate in the ESA programmes and European Commission committees, assisted the Ministry of the Economy throughout 2014. In its role as NCP, Luxinnovation supports space sector players who seek to attract funding for their innovative ideas as well as those that look to expand internationally.
NCP Horizon 2020 Newsletter Horizon 2020 defines the European RDI priorities for the 2014-2020 period and is founded on three main pillars: excellent science, industrial leadership and societal challenges. The ambitious goal of fostering “smart, sustainable, and inclusive“ growth is supported by a €80 billion budget for this period. Successful participation requires the submission of projects with a scientific and technical quality beyond reproach. Projects must provide added value on a European level. The programme offers co-funding rates of between 70 and 100%.
Visit www.horizon2020.lu to find information on European programmes and discover trainings, events and information sessions held throughout the year. You will also find articles, publications and communications by the European Commission. In particular, 2014 saw the launch of a dedicated newsletter delivering the latest news straight into the mailbox of subscribers.
4. PURSUING EXCELLENCE BY FOCUSING ON UP-AND-COMING SECTORS Working according to the principle of the knowledge triangle – i.e. producing knowledge through research, disseminating it through higher education and technological transfer and applying it through innovation – is the key to strengthening and consolidating long-term economic competitiveness. Effective innovation networks that involve players from the private and public sectors are therefore increasingly important for Luxembourg’s competitiveness. This is why the Grand Duchy has set up several initiatives to strengthen companies’ RDI potential. These include the Luxembourg Cluster Initiative which is managed by Luxinnovation. The aim of the Clusters is to diversify the national economy in the fields of biotechnology, materials, ecotechnologies, space, information and communications technologies (ICT) and automobile components. Players from industry and research join forces to exchange and collaborate on common projects, which puts them into a better position to face current challenges by elaborating complex solutions in response to their needs. This is the main objective of the Cluster Initiative.
GATHERING THE CLUSTER COMMUNITY “Together, we are stronger“
06 ACTIVITÉS 2014
was the leitmotiv of the second Luxembourg Cluster Forum that took place in the presence of the Cluster community. This simple principle encapsulates the philosophy of the Luxembourg Cluster Initiative. In the same place and on same date, one year to the day after the 1st edition, the Clusters took stock of 2014 and announced the outlook for 2015.
Luxembourg press via various media (RTL Kapital, Tageblatt, Luxemburger Wort, Lëtzebuerger Journal, Lëtzebuerger Gemengen, Le Jeudi, Paperjam, etc.). This past year, the Clusters were also actively engaged with their members in communicating and sharing information on most social networking platforms.
In addition, a series of news stories and interviews about the Clusters, their activities and their members were published, broadcasted and disseminated throughout the year by the
ACTIVATE: MY LIFESTYLE, MY HEALTH Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster
Following a successful application submitted by Luxinnovation, the European Commission selected Luxembourg as one of six pilot regions designated to demonstrate the power of service sector innovation at the European level. Following the expression of interest, Luxembourg received support from the new “European Service Innovation Centre” (ESIC) set up by the European Commission. The purpose of the ESIC is to help European regions understand how innovation in services can contribute to transforming their economies and lead to sustainable growth. The experiences of the six pilot regions will thus be used throughout Europe to highlight the benefits of innovation in services. Within the context of this initiative, Luxinnovation has oriented Luxembourg’s participation towards service innovation in the healthcare sector and defined a pilot project focused on the prevention of diabetes in collaboration with the ZithaGesondheetsZentrum. The pilot project entitled “ACTIVATE: My Lifestyle, My Health“ is based on the assumption that personalised healthcare, tailor-made to the needs of each person, is more effective than standard treatment. The pilot project will collect data from volunteers with risk factors
www.biohealthcluster.lu
for diabetes or recently diagnosed diabetes patients. The study will analyse their general state of health, their treatments and more generally their lifestyle – diet and sport activities, for example. The analysis of the data collected will provide information on what type of care is most beneficial to improve patients’ quality of life while also reducing costs for the public health system. If the programme proves to be effective, it will be extended to other chronic diseases as well as to healthy people as a mesure of prevention. The structure of the Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster is not suited to manage a project such as ACTIVATE. This will therefore be performed by one of its members, Laboratoires Réunis, probably through a dedicated spin-off. Personal data management is at the core of the ACTIVATE project. Since the Luxembourg legislation is particularly protective of such data, the Cluster plans to launch a working group in collaboration with the National Data Protection Commission (Commission nationale pour la protection des données, CNPD), ministries and other players involved in the project to identify potential legal obstacles and evaluate what amendments would be needed to facilitate the implementation of ACTIVATE.
POLAND – LUXEMBOURG INDUSTRIAL MEETINGS: FOSTERING BILATERAL EXCHANGE TO DEVELOP BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Luxembourg Space Cluster
In 2014, the Luxembourg Space Cluster focused its activities on international cooperation with, for example, the organisation in Luxembourg of a space industry day with Poland, which was held within the context of Poland’s recent accession to the ESA. The event was organised in close collaboration with the Ministry of the Economy, the Embassy of Poland in Luxembourg, the Polish Ministry of the Economy and the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP). It contributed to providing new opportunities for exploiting the technological skills of companies and research organisations active
www.spacecluster.lu
in this sector. This initiative preceded a Luxembourg economic mission in Warsaw that took place from 6 to 9 May 2014. The Cluster manager participated in a Start-Up Village Event in Russia in order to get a better overview of the cooperation opportunities that appear as the Russian space sector is being reformed. The exploration of new market segments continued through the ongoing activities of the Cluster’s working groups on location-based services and remotely piloted aircraft systems. The Cluster also co-organised the annual ESA workshop in Luxembourg dedicated to space applications.
MOBILISE LUXEMBOURG: JOIN THE MOBILE REVOLUTION Luxembourg ICT Cluster
In 2014, Luxembourg was selected by the European Mobile & Mobility Industries Alliance (EMMIA) to stimulate the country’s potential for innovation in mobile services and applications. In this context, the Cluster organised an event that led to recommendations in the fields of new technologies, open data and mobility that were integrated into the final version of the European EMMIA study. The study recommends the following actions: increasing financial sector involvement in start-up activities and encouraging investment and collaborations with Luxembourg entrepreneurs creating a National Open Data Portal that would provide access to data in order to develop innovative new services offering a free Wi-Fi connection in Luxembourg City in order to encourage innovation in mobile services
www.ictcluster.lu
encouraging collaboration between industry and public research organisations and between large industries and entrepreneurs. Other proposals also include, for example, measures to facilitate the creation of companies or to encourage Luxembourg to become a “test bed“ for new technologies and new mobile services. Concrete pilot projects based on these recommendations will be set up and managed by the Cluster and its partners in 2015. In addition, the Cluster established closer relations with the governmental initiative “Digital Lëtzebuerg“ set up in 2014 with the aim to strengthen and consolidate the country’s position in this field over time.
FROM LINEAR TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY Luxembourg EcoInnovation Cluster
According to Christian Tock from the Directorate for new technologies at the Ministry of the Economy, the circular economy concept “has nothing to do with traditional recycling since it is not a matter of knowing what to do with waste, but rather of thinking at the early design stage of what a product will ultimately become“. The aim of the circular economy is to dissociate economic growth from the depletion of natural resources through the creation of innovative products, services, public policies and business models. In the Grand Duchy, 15,000 jobs can be attributed to this model today, mainly in the steel and construction industries. In collaboration with the Luxembourg EcoInnovation Cluster, the Ministry of the Economy commissioned a study on the potential of this innovative economic model. The study aimed to map out the current situation and assess the potential of the future development of a circular economy in Luxembourg. According to the authors of the study, the rigorous implementation of this concept could in the mid-term lead to annual supply cost savings for Luxembourg companies of up to €1 billion. A large-scale circular model
www.ecoinnovationcluster.lu
could thus create more than 2,200 jobs over the next few years and have a great economic, social and environmental impact. To achieve the medium-term objectives, pilot projects will be implemented in all sectors. The Luxembourg EcoInnovation Cluster supports companies that wish to participate in these projects and integrate the circular economy principle within their global strategy.
ACTIVITÉS 2014
Similarly, the Cluster seeks to involve the financial sector, a key driver of economic growth in Luxembourg, in the circular economy. A recent memorandum of understanding between Luxinnovation and a consultancy company aims to inform the financial sector of the principles, opportunities and financial needs related to a transition towards a more circular economy. Teaming up with financial players, the Cluster will organise working groups and conferences to stimulate the creation of new financial instruments as well as new business models. In June 2015, the Cluster will organise a major event to put Luxembourg on the circular economy map.
CONCENTRATING EXPERTISE WITHIN A COMPOSITE COMPETENCE CENTRE Luxembourg Materials & Production Technologies Cluster
EMPOWERING THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR IN LUXEMBOURG Luxembourg Automotive Components Cluster
www.automotivecomponents.lu
www.materialscluster.lu
“We hope to encourage emerging and existing companies as well as foreign investors to set up new activities in the composite materials sector to address the current gaps in the industry. The establishment of the Centre would also be consistent with the government’s desire to diversify and re-industrialise Luxembourg’s economy.“ Étienne Schneider, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy
The composite materials sector is growing at 10% p.a. at the international level. In Luxembourg it has a turnover of more than €400 million and employs over 1,600 people. Given its importance, the Cluster launched a flagship project that aims to create a Composite Competence Centre in Luxembourg. With the help of a consultant and co-financing by 12 industrial companies, the University of Luxembourg, the LIST and the Ministry of the Economy, the Cluster conducted a feasibility study focusing on a variety of economic and technological aspects. The objective of such a centre would be to better meet the needs of the composite sector, manage national multi-player innovation projects, increase the sector’s visibility nationally and especially internationally, and close current gaps by attracting new players and activities. “Today, composites are used in a growing
07
number of applications. These materials made from fibre and resin – the most widely known being made from carbon fibre – are particularly appreciated for their unique properties. Each constituent of a composite material provides a special quality. The combination of two of them gives rise to new innovative properties. For example, they enable you to combine resistance and lightness, thinness and insulating capacity,“ says Carl Christiaens, General Manager of Airtech Europe, a company specialising in the manufacture and distribution of auxiliary materials used for the production of composite parts. The discussions with various players demonstrated a clear interest to create such a centre. With the active involvement of its members, the Cluster worked on the definition of its economic relevance, financing terms and organisational model.
Overall, about thirty OEMs are active in Luxembourg, including major manufacturers such as Goodyear, Delphi, Guardian Automotive and Accumalux that have established research centres and/or production sites here. The sector employs a little over 10,000 people, has a global turnover of about €1.5 billion and sells its products all over the world. Since automotive industry equipment and service providers are facing enormous challenges, it is important to provide them with new tools that help them remain dynamic – and thus innovative – in a constantly evolving market. Against this backdrop, the Luxembourg Automotive Components Cluster – the youngest of the six clusters with currently 23 members – seeks to foster new business opportunities by facilitating the cooperation between the relevant players. Defined in 2014 and based on 5 key priorities, the Cluster’s strategy is the result of numerous exchanges between industry professionals: Automotive Campus: an industrial site specialised in R&D for automotive components; it offers synergy opportunities for testing and validating prototypes in logistics, training and education.
The campus also promotes “open innovation“ and technology exchange Referencing and creation of skills: the aim of the Cluster is to help its members be competitive and expand in a highly technological market Operational excellence: best practices exchange and synergies in the field of product development (process, efficiency, and quality), purchasing and logistics Training, education and recruitment: to further the qualifications and the flexibility of the most valuable asset, human resources International development: easier access to the European automobile market, also for non-European investors, and increased visibility of Luxembourg as a recognised automobile centre of excellence Together with its members CEBI, IEE, Post Telecom, Luxcontrol and SNCH, the Cluster also participated in the economic mission to Japan and South Korea on 5-11 October 2014, giving it the opportunity to organise visits to e.g. the HyundaiMobis research centre, Doosan Infracore and Sanyo Trading.
4. OPTIMISING PERFORMANCE THROUGH INNOVATION 4 questions to
PIT WELTER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ROBIN GROUP (PEINTURES ROBIN S.A.) Could you please describe your activities and highlight a few elements that you consider as particularly innovative? We manufacture paints for the construction industry (for interior and exterior use), industry (e.g. rustproof and fire-proof paints) and the timber sector (e.g. exterior woodwork and window frames). We also offer our know-how in the field of vehicle bodywork paint. In terms of innovation, our offer extends well beyond the simple preparation of paints. We have an in-house team of five qualified chemists who, on a daily basis, advise our clients and conduct applied research in our laboratory. For example, one of our customers, a glass manufacturer, has asked us to develop a paint that is heat resistant up to 700 degrees Celsius. The creation of a paint 100% based on renewable raw materials also enabled us to win the 2013 FEDIL environment award.
Luxinnovation invited you to participate in Fit for Innovation. What are the main benefits of this programme in your view? Since 2007, Peinture Robin has undergone many changes: we inaugurated our new plant in Useldange, opened a show room in Leudelange and saw our revenue increase and our staff double. We now focus on applied research and on sales results, among other
things. Our internal organisation, however, has been lapping behind these developments. We felt the need to address this shortcoming which is why the Fit for Innovation programme seemed to be the perfect tool to help us achieve our goals.
What are the immediate benefits of your participation in the programme?
the needs of our clients, which will allow us to achieve a turnover increase of 5 to 10% annually. Internally, we did not have sufficient staff to focus on these restructuring issues. Now, we have set up a dedicated team tasked with implementing the recommendations with the assistance of the consultant. Our objective is to reduce logistics costs by at least 30 %. In the light of this excellent collaboration, we are considering an extension of our participation in Fit for Innovation.
With the help of Luxinnovation and a consultant, we have identified ways of improving our logistics and customer service. What products should we store, and in which quantity, to better serve our clients? Do we enter purchase orders correctly? How do we prepare our orders? Have we chosen the appropriate delivery method? It did not take us long to realise that if sales are doing well but at the same time logistics cannot keep up, we have a problem. Fit for Innovation enabled us to analyse all the logistics aspects of our business. This helped us to review some processes in order to considerably improve our functioning and therefore to increase our productivity.
How will these results affect the activity of Peinture Robin in the future? We enrolled in the Fit for Innovation programme for a one-year period. Currently, we are at mid-term. We have already aligned our internal structure with
www.robin.lu
08 ACTIVITÉS 2014
FIT FOR INNOVATION Fit for Innovation is a Luxembourg SME support programme, developed in cooperation with the Ministry of the Economy and managed by Luxinnovation. The programme is designed to help SME managers to improve their business performance by identifying the potential for improvement and evaluating the related gains. Luxinnovation works together with organisation and change management experts who have extensive experience in this field. The programme consists of a diagnosis phase of 4 to 6 weeks, followed by a project phase stretching over 6 to 24 months. To help SMEs increase their overall performance, the experts focus on three areas:
Costs Generate savings by eliminating waste in current business processes.
Productivity Increase the company’s activity through exploiting unused productive resources and streamlining current business processes.
Luxinnovation acts as a liaison between the companies and the experts and ensures the smooth operation of the project. The Agency is also in charge of promoting the programme amongst SMEs and assisting in drafting co-financing applications. Consultancy expenses are partly borne by the Ministry of the Economy. The Fit for Innovation programme has been recognised as best practice according to the “Small Business Act“.
Deadlines/quality Enhance customer satisfaction and sales by improving the quality level of existing products and services.
Better organisation, better results The “Innovation Club” is a joint initiative between the Chambre des Métiers and Luxinnovation, set up within the framework of the Enterprise Europe Network and dedicated to business managers, in particular in the craft sector. An Innovation Club workshop devoted to the optimisation of company management presented the results of a mission conducted by a German consultant at craft business OST Manufaktur, where he applied industrial organisation methods. About 50 participants were thus able to find out how organisational enhancements can lead to structural improvement and financial gains. OST Manufaktur is one of the few Luxembourg companies that still manufactures windows, doors and porches using traditional craft methods. The dynamic company manager involved his team in activities aiming to enhance quality in stock management and the optimisation of organisation and space. These efforts allowed OST Manufaktur to generate gains of over €300,000.
Information and training With innovation being a cornerstone of a company’s competitiveness, the question is not, therefore, if but rather how to innovate. Each year, Luxinnovation offers training courses in innovation management in partnership with the Luxembourg School for Commerce (LSC), the LIST and the Chambre des Métiers. The courses are taught by practitioners and academics from the best European institutions and give participants the opportunity to learn about and deepen their knowledge of concepts, processes, methods and tools available at each of the consecutive steps of an innovation process. The topic changes every year in order to better meet participants’ expectations and present the latest trends in innovation management. The theme of service design was at the core of the 2014 edition. It is important to consider intellectual property issues in the context of innovation. Since the end of 2014, the services and the assistance offered to companies regarding the protection of intellectual
property rights are handled by a new economic interest grouping, the Intellectual Property Institute Luxembourg (Institut de la Propriété Intellectuelle Luxembourg, IPIL). Its objective is to centralise national and international competencies in the field of intellectual property (identification, protection, exploitation and respect of rights). Luxinnovation has helped businesses and public research organisations to identify and manage their intellectual and industrial property rights, especially through training with the Intellectual Property Office, the LIST’s Technology Watch Centre and the LSC.
5. FROM IDEA TO MARKET Embedding design into their core activities allows companies to offer new products, services and processes or to improve existing ones and set themselves apart in an increasingly competitive market. Luxinnovation offers a range of services for project managers wishing to work with innovation through design. European Design Innovation Platform Strengthening innovation, growth and job creation in the European Union is the objective of this project launched by the European Commission in March 2014. The European Design Innovation platform aims to increase the use of design for innovation and growth everywhere in Europe. The project is carried out over a three-year-period by a consortium of 14 European partner organisations – including Luxinnovation – that is led by the Design Council. “Design for Europe“ is a
web platform collating case studies, funding opportunities and learning tools for the public and private sectors as well as for policy makers in the field of design-driven innovation. The platform also facilitates networking, the creation of new partnerships and peer learning activities through thematic events held across Europe.
www.designforeurope.eu
“Moving Materials“: A traveling exhibition on materials and innovative manufacturing techniques Organised in the context of the ‘People Researchers Organisations Using Design (PROUD)’ initiative, the “Moving Materials“ exhibition was held from 25 April to 22 May 2014 at the Da Vinci Forum. “Moving Materials“ is a traveling exhibition managed by Material Sense. It has been shown in Lancaster, Eindhoven and Kortrijk, among other destinations, as well as at the famous Red Dot Design Museum in Essen and was presented for the first time in Luxembourg. The exhibition focused on new insights into repair
and renewal, new ingenious processing and manufacturing methods, strong lightweight materials and the reduction of energy use. Visitors were invited to discover different innovations realised with the use of new manufacturing technologies as well as the unprecedented combination of various materials.
www.proudeurope.eu
09 ACTIVITÉS 2014
Initiatives for promoting creativity and innovation Combining music and technology In 2014 also, Luxembourg participated in the “Creative Business Cup”, whose final took place on 17-19 November in Copenhagen, Denmark. In Luxembourg, the participation in the “Creative Business Cup” is co-organised by the incubator Technoport S.A., 1535C°- Kreatiffabrik Déifferdeng, MUDAM and Luxinnovation with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Danish Embassy in Luxembourg. Following a call for projects launched among the local players of the creative industry, design, digital media, craft and culture, a company called Muzic Maestro was ultimately selected to represent the Grand Duchy. In 2014, Dino Diviacchi decided to choose Luxembourg to create a start-up called Muzic Maestro. Fascinated by music, the company founder started with a simple idea: making it easier and more entertaining to learn how to play the guitar aided by technology. He thus developed Muzic Maestro, an intelligent device that fits directly onto a guitar and that turns music notes into light signals through an integrated LED system.
“We combined our knowledge of music with technology in order to come up with a playful solution that makes guitar lessons more pleasant for everybody,“ explains Dino Diviacchi. Even if Muzic Maestro did not win the 2014 cup, the company intends to keep on developing this technology.
www.1535.lu/ creative-business-cup GENIAL The innovative ideas contest GENIAL, which is organised by Luxinnovation with the support of the Ministry of National Education, attracted 87 young people who were eager to attend creativity workshops. 449 students submitted 300 innovative ideas of which 37 were rewarded. All of the projects were displayed during a 5-day-exhibition at the gallery of the Belle Etoile shopping centre.
www.genial.lu
6. RDI: SPREADING THE WORD FOCUS on Research and Innovation in Luxembourg
Business meets Research: toward the industry of the future The 7th edition of the “Business meets Research“ Forum attracted a high number of participants as well as visitors from the “GR” (Greater Region) Business Days. The world of industry is changing rapidly. Production processes are becoming more efficient and are enhanced by new automated manufacturing technologies. This year, the Business meets Research Forum focused on a key topic: “Manufacturing of the future“. Participants discussed challenges related to the development of new production technologies such as 3D printing or advanced robotisation, and benefitted from the expertise of the Greater Region players.
www.business-meets-research.lu
www.innovation.public.lu: The innovation and research portal
The 9th edition of the magazine, entitled “Space: Expanding the Frontiers of Innovation“, was published in September 2014. This English language publication has been designed to promote Luxembourg research and innovation among a national and international audience and has a circulation of 15,000 copies. It is widely distributed to companies, universities, public research laboratories, investors and decision makers, via ministries, professional organisations and Luxembourg embassies throughout the world, among others.
In 2014, the Luxembourg Portal had on average 11,300 visits per month and 9,350 unique monthly visitors. 26% of the portal visitors are based in France, 24% in Luxembourg and 21% in the United States. In order to adapt the site to new ways of browsing the internet, the Agency launched a project in 2014 to give the portal a responsive design and make it easily accessible on small screens (smartphones or tablets) as well as on PCs. The project is conducted in collaboration with the Centre des Technologies de l’Information de l’Etat. The launch of the site in responsive design is planned for 2015.
10
ACTIVITÉS 2014
Seen and heard... A new performance contract and a new location
Luxinnovation adopted the guideline “faring better with less“ in its day-to-day business throughout the year. 2014 marked the beginning of a new 4-year performance contract between Luxinnovation and its stakeholders. Led by Jean-Paul Schuler, the Agency has placed additional emphasis on its “impact indicators“, such as the survival rate of start-ups or the number of jobs created, to measure its activities. The year was also marked by preparations for the move to the Maison de l’Innovation in Belval which is scheduled for autumn 2015.
Big-hearted Luxinnovation
Christmas Child Operation
Luxinnovation’s participation in the “Relay for Life“ reflects the Agency’s renewed engagement towards the “Cancer Foundation’s“ annual solidarity initiative in support of cancer patients. Under the slogan “Running for Innovation and Research“, Luxinnovation collaborators took turns to complete the 24-hour race of hope. All donations were given to the Cancer Foundation.
Luxinnovation participated in the Christian charity initiative “Operation Christmas Child“, which sends shoeboxes full of Christmas gifts to underprivileged Eastern European children aged 2 to 14 years. For most of these children, the box is their only Christmas gift. Typically, the boxes contain toys, school supplies, toiletries, clothes and candies.
LIVING THE VALUES Luxinnovation has adopted 7 strong values shared by all Agency staff: RESPONSABILITY CLIENT ORIENTATION RESULT ORIENTATION INNOVATION INTEGRITY TEAM SPIRIT RESPECT They define who we are; they shape our identity and determine our core beliefs, they guide our actions and our decisions. In order to exceed our clients’ expectations, we will ensure that these values enable us to align our aspirations with our actions.
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS BALANCE SHEET 31 DECEMBER 2014
(EUR)
ASSETS FIXED ASSETS Intangible fixed assets Tangible fixed assets
2014
2013
103,021.94
116,452.91
27,261.89
30,233.34
75,760.05
86,219.57
2,946,194.83
2,842,119.24
873,769.11
513,801.75
2.072,425.72
2,328,317.49
73,184.01
42,000.79
3,122,400.78
3,000,572.94
2014
2013
2,216,843.24
2,200,651.55
541,739.24
541,739.24
1,675,104.00
1,658,912.31
0.00
0.00
PROVISIONS
142,242.00
116,072.00
NON SUBORDINATED DEBTS
574,125.34
645,401.24
524.50
1,902.73
Trade creditors
118,315.51
124,192.66
Tax and social security debts
159,062.53
247,453.43
Other creditors
296,222.80
271,852.42
DEFERRED INCOME
189,190.20
38,448.15
3,122,400.78
3,000,572.94
CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at bank and in hand PREPAYMENTS
LIABILITIES LIABILITIES Subscribed capital Reserves Profit or loss for the financial year
Amounts owed to credit institutions
11
ACTIVITÉS 2014
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT 31 DECEMBER 2014 CHARGES Use of merchandise, raw materials and consumable materials
(EUR) 2014
2013
16,200.58
18,862.90
Other external charges
1,446,335.60
1,384,236.46
Staff costs
3,843,875.44
3,553,414.29
80,572.79
119,126.97
Value adjustments on tangible and intangible fixed assets Value adjustments on current assets Other operating charges Extraordinary charges
INCOME Reversal of value adjustments on current assets Other operating income Other interest and other financial income Extraordinary income
10,752.92
46,157.62
169,728.30
156,975.90
2,669.08
3,354.64
5,570,134.71
5,282,128.78
2014
2013
53,822.38
68,017.79
5,514,401.84
5,201,295.39
1,876.46
11,497.77
34.03
1,317.83
5,570,134.71
5,282,128.78
Serving our customers Fabiola Bardelli, Frédéric Becker, Claudine Bettendroffer, Carmen Beyerle, Johnny Brebels, Sara Bouchon, Lionel Cammarata, Fanny Coeurdoux, Dr Patricia Conti, Ian Cresswell, Livia Dahan, Brigitte De Haeck, Dr Thomas Dentzer, Marie-Hélène Douret, Arnaud Duban, Pascal Fabing, Laurent Federspiel, Claude Feiereisen, Marc Ferring, Laura Fichtner, Jan Glas, Virginie Godar, Rémi Grizard, Jannik Hagen, Nadège Hégué, Jean-Paul Hengen, Isabelle Hennequin, Dr Younis Hijazi, Isabelle Hinkel, Katharina Horst, Antoine Hron, Marcel Klesen, Tania Lucas, Jean-Michel Ludwig, Lena Mårtensson, Grégory Martin, Dr Françoise Meisch, Dr Frédéric Melchior, Marine Mombelli, Elisabete Nuno, Joost Ortjens, Frédéric Rouesnel, Laurence Rougeot, Martine Scheuren, Jean-Paul Schuler, Nicolas Valaize, Kathrin Wattelier
The Agency operates under the guidance of a management board consisting of 7 board members and the corresponding substitute members.
MANAGEMENT BOARD as of 25 March 2015 BOARD MEMBERS Raymond SCHADECK CHAIRMAN Independent Director Marco WALENTINY VICE CHAIRMAN Conseiller de direction 1re classe Ministry of the Economy Gaston SCHMIT VICE CHAIRMAN Premier Conseiller du Gouvernement Ministry for Higher Education and Research
SUBSTITUTE BOARD MEMBERS Gérard EISCHEN VICE CHAIRMAN Member of the Board of Directors Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce Tom MAJERES VICE CHAIRMAN Economic Advisor Luxembourg Chambre des Métiers Georges SANTER Advisor Fedil — Business Federation Luxembourg
Gilles SCHOLTUS Conseiller de direction Ministry of the Economy
Mario GROTZ Conseiller de Gouvernement 1re classe Ministry of the Economy
Nima AZARMGIN Advisor Fedil — Business Federation Luxembourg
Marc SERRES ESA policy and programmes National Space Programme Ministry of the Economy
SECRETARIAT Jean-Paul SCHULER Managing Director Luxinnovation
Josiane ENTRINGER Chargée de mission Ministry for Higher Education and Research Christel CHATELAIN Attachée économique Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce Charles BASSING Conseiller de direction Luxembourg Chambre des Métiers
Certain Luxinnovation activities benefit from a cofounding by the ERDF.
LUXINNOVATION GIE 7, rue Alcide de Gasperi L-1615 Luxembourg Tél. : (+352) 43 62 63 - 1 info@luxinnovation.lu www.luxinnovation.lu
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