Reform of the Cluster Initiative, with an even more client-oriented approach; launch of the Luxembourg Digital Innovation Hub at the service of Industry 4.0; presidency of the European association Taftie of national innovation agencies; development of the Fit 4 Start acceleration programme with an opening to companies in the space sector: the year 2019 has been very intense at Luxinnovation.
The national agency for the promotion of innovation, which celebrated its 35th anniversary, has multiplied its initiatives and support for national companies and start-ups, while actively investing in its mission of prospecting and promotion at the international level.
Here, in five key facts, is everything you need to know about the year 2019 without having to ask…
Public aid: +30% of applications approved
One of Luxinnovation’s historical missions is to accompany companies in the implementation of their R&D and innovation projects. This involves, among other things, helping to prepare the application files for public aid issued by the Ministry of the Economy.
145 aid applications (for R&D and innovation and for environmental protection) were thus approved in 2019, a 30% increase compared to 2018.
Innovative start-ups: 17% more creations
With more than 510 applications from over 60 different countries submitted in 2019 for the two sessions (spring and autumn), the Fit 4 Start Acceleration Programme has grown by 30% compared to 2018.
At the same time, the teams dedicated to start-ups have supported the creation of 75 new innovative start-ups, representing a 17% increase compared to 2018.
Twice as many individualised supports
By focusing more on the organisation of clusters on the needs of companies, and by favouring the organisation of inter-sectoral events, Luxinnovation has strengthened its presence among its historical “target audience”. This has enabled the various cluster managers to provide no less than 422 individualised and tailor-made support services to companies of all sizes and in all sectors. This is almost twice as much (+90%) as the 222 recorded the previous year.
European funding still intense
Supporting private and public actors in their search for European funding is also part of Luxinnovation’s missions, particularly in its capacity as national contact point for the Horizon 2020 framework programme.
The amount of financing obtained remained at a high level in 2019: 32.9 million euros, compared to 32.5 million euros in 2018. More than 100 participants were involved in new contracts signed for H2020 projects, mostly public research organisations and university researchers.
With a success rate of 17% for funding applications, Luxembourg performs much better than the European Union (12%).
International prospecting: 19 new companies attracted
Since the integration of the activities of the promotion agency Luxembourg for Business in October 2016, Luxinnovation has been very active in international promotion and prospecting, focusing more particularly on three sectors: automotive industry, digital economy and cleantech.
Nearly 300 companies showed a direct interest in setting up in Luxembourg, double the number recorded in 2018 (147). These expressions of interest led to 68 visits (compared with 42 the previous year) organised in partnership with the Ministry of the Economy and the Chamber of Commerce’s House of Entrepreneurship.
In the end, 19 foreign companies were established, 11 of them in the digital sector. There were 12 in 2018.
The 2019 annual report can be downloaded online from Luxinnovation’s website. You can also request a print copy (only available in English).
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