While the issue of mobility is now a hot-button topic both politically and at a grassroots level, the Luxembourg AutoMobility Cluster, managed by Luxinnovation reflects the will to develop this worthy cause economically.
With some 50 members, the Cluster brings together key manufacturers and service providers within the automotive sector.
The purpose of founding the Automotive Components Cluster in 2013 was to add real economic value to a sector of activity which represents over 10,000 jobs and generates a cumulative turnover of EUR 1.5 billion.
Three key priorities
The Cluster is focusing its efforts on three key priorities: connectivity, automation and green mobility. “Our main activity is to set up shared projects that develop synergies between our members and also companies from other sectors such as ICT,” explains Anthony Auert, manager of the Luxembourg AutoMobility Cluster. “One of our biggest projects is the implementation of a digital cross-border test bed. The aim is to benefit from the geographical advantage Luxembourg has in sharing its borders with other countries in order to test connected autonomous cars and measure the impact crossing a border has on the connectivity of these vehicles. (Read connected car article)
Other projects that the Cluster is working on include the development of an autonomous shuttle system for urban areas supported by “smart” infrastructure capable of detecting the movement of pedestrians, cyclists and even other vehicles and transmitting this information to the shuttle as well as the introduction of shared equipment such as driving simulation facilities on the future Automotive Campus. “Our aim is also to facilitate activities on this campus, which is intended to be an open-innovation-oriented site. We are working closely with our members on defining the areas of excellence we would like to see developed,” says Anthony Auert.
In full force in Frankfurt
The recent Frankfurt Motor Show proved a great way for the Luxembourg AutoMobility Cluster to extend its efforts across borders. Seven member companies attended sharing a 220 m2 “national’ stand which was sponsored by the Ministry for the Economy and a number of industry giants. The firms included IEE, Cebi International, Circuit Foil, the Post Luxembourg Group’s Teralink Solutions, Carlex Glass, auto parts supplier Autopass – a start-up that Luxinnovation has been monitoring for the past five years which employs 30 people as well as ICT cyber-security service provider Solutions.
By way of comparison, the 2015 edition attracted just four companies and a similar-sized stand was shared with the Saarland Automotive Cluster. “This year, we received excellent feedback from the companies which took part. We organised two events: one dedicated to cross-border cooperation between Grande Region clusters which came as part of a teaming up of key players from the region’s auto industry; and a second on the digitisation of mobility. ”
The programme was made even more attractive by the numerous networking opportunities it offered, not to mention the attendance of Luxembourg officials, among them the Minister for the Economy Étienne Schneider who was present at the signing of the Franco-German-Luxembourg treaty on the deployment of a shared digital experimental site for automated and connected driving. (Read connected car article)