search

Charles-Albert Florentin, what are the main 2019 achievements you can attribute toyour cluster?

“First of all, I would like to mention the major national consultation that we have undertaken with all the public players as part of the project to measure the match between supply and demand in public circular building projects.

The aim was to identify their needs in relation to “circular” tenders. A feedback workshop, bringing together all the public stakeholders, was organised at the end of November. There we identified the main criteria to be retained in future circular public tenders. We have a good roadmap ahead of us for 2020.

Two other projects which can be highlighted: the strategic analysis of the Fit4Circularity programme and its possible evolution during the course of this year, and the cross-sectoral actions carried out with other clusters.

I am thinking for example of the identification and monitoring of plastic recycling projects, in connection with the Materials & Manufacturing Cluster; the positioning of the DIH and the Cleantech and Wood Clusters in relation to Smart Cities or the networking of the Greater Region of Cleantech companies and technologies through the Greater Green project.

What does the year 2020 look like?

The big event will of course be the Cleantech Forum Europe (18-20 May) in Luxembourg, an international event that will put the country in the spotlight and showcase all the achievements in clean technologies.

The Luxembourg CleanTech Cluster will be present, alongside members of Greater Green. We will focus our presence around the aspects of circular buildings and deconstruction.

The cluster will also be present at the beginning of December on the Chamber of Commerce stand at the Pollutec exhibition in Lyon, which is one of the reference events for environmental professionals.

In the meantime, we will have made progress on the project to match supply and demand and we will organise a workshop to report on the consultations we will continue to carry out, this time with private players.

Luxinnovation has just celebrated its 35th anniversary. In your opinion, what are the strong pillars of innovation in general for the years to come?

I’m not necessarily going to be original by citing the circular economy and sustainable development, with continued efforts to implement the national waste and resource management plan approved in June 2018 by the Government Council.

However, I will also mention the bioeconomy’ pillar, which the European Union considers to be one of the priority sectors of its strategy for the circular economy, and which is in full development.

In Luxembourg, several initiatives are interesting to follow in this area. For example, a study commissioned by the Environment Administration has shown that, each year, 31,500 tonnes of biomass could be produced in the Grand Duchy, which corresponds to more than 3 million litres of fuel oil that could heat several thousand ‘low energy’ houses.

According to this study, the recovery of green waste would make it possible to produce fuels that could replace fossil heating sources such as fuel oil or natural gas.

Nevertheless, the bio-economy is about much more than just fuel, as it is also about the creation of sustainable materials or the extraction of useful molecules for industry and pharmaceuticals.

Read more

Waste heat: Time to take action

28-03-2024

The workshop organised by Luxinnovation on 26 March highlighted the need to take appropriate measures to reuse "lost" heat in industrial processes. An EU directive also supports this approach.
Read more

Cross-border tours in support of digital transformation

20-03-2024

Luxembourg manufacturers will visit Hannover Fair and the Deloitte Smart Factory during the L-DIH Cross-Border Tour from 24 to 25 April 2024.
Read more

Launch of the second joint R&D call in the defence sector

19-03-2024

This call for projects specifically targets the deployment of dual-use capabilities that can be utilised for both civilian and military purposes, with a focus on themes like "smart mobility," "resilience," and "strategic foresight and climate change adaptation."
Read more

56 days until the 2024 European Digital HealthTech Conference

19-03-2024

Register for a unique conference exploring the challenges of bringing health technologies to the market and their solutions from 14 to 15 May 2024 in Luxembourg. A call for speakers is also open until 16 April.
Read more

Business Partnership Facility launches 11th edition

15-03-2024

A new call for projects has been launched by the Luxembourg Cooperation with a view to co-financing innovative business partnerships in developing countries up to €200,000. Submission deadline: 30 April 2024.
Read more

All news

Close