Luxinnovation
Encyclopedia
Luxinnovation is the National Agency
for Innovation
and Research
of Luxembourg
. It offers a wide variety of services to Luxembourg-based bodies from both the private and the public sector (large companies, small and medium enterprises, educational foundations, research centres, scientific & technological institutes etc.) as well as individuals (scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, students). (See Activities, services & programmes below)
In addition, Luxinnovation is the national agency that manages Luxembourg's space programme (in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Research). (See Luxinnovation and ESA below)
(EIG) in 1998, comprising 6 private
and public-sector partners in Luxembourg:
(Managing Director, Secretary General and Senior Executive Advisors) and is called the "Secretariat". The current members of the Luxinnovation Team are:
of Luxinnovation is its "Management Council", which consists of representatives from the Secretariat and each of the 6 partners that comprise Luxinnovation EIG:
:
In short, Luxinnovation's missions are:
(R&D). It runs projects in the following fields:
Each of the above-mentioned services is offered by Luxinnovation's corresponding department. In addition, Luxinnovation's Communication Department devises, manages and animates its own programmes, such as "The Luxembourg Portal for Innovation and Research" and the "Luxembourg Cluster Initiative" (LCI); the Documentation & Studies Department is also involved in several studies projects (ERAWATCH, INNO-Policy TrendChart etc.).
, space activities are managed by the Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Research in cooperation with Luxinnovation. Luxembourg signed a Cooperation Agreement with the European Space Agency
(ESA) on 12 September 2000 and became a full member on 30 June 2005. During this 5-year period as a Cooperating State, Luxembourg collaborated with ESA via the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems
(ARTES) programmes 1, 3, 5 and 8. Luxinnovation facilitates Luxembourg's space programme and acts as the National Contact Point (NCP) for ESA; it manages the interface between industry
, the public research sector
and ESA. As such, Luxinnovation provides companies and research centres
and laboratories with information on how ESA operates and the various approaches that can be adopted to its programmes. Luxinnovation can also offer advice and support to entrepreneurs and researchers willing to work with ESA. Luxembourg being a member of ESA enables companies and research centres to take part in numerous European space projects in various fields such as:
Luxembourg is home to two of the leading satellite operators in the world (Intelsat
and SES). It manages a combined fleet of more than 100 satellites (as of February 2011, Intelsat operates a fleet of 58 satellites and SES has a fleet of 44). The space industry
is a key high-tech sector for Luxembourg. Luxembourg's budget in the space sector
was €14.2 million in 2009 and Luxembourg's contribution to the ESA budget was €11.5 million for 2011. Many highly advanced technology companies now operate in the space sector of Luxembourg, such as Euro-Composites (EC), Gradel, HITEC Luxembourg and LuxSpace. The space research
conducted by the University of Luxembourg
, as well as the Public Research Centre Gabriel Lippmann and the Public Research Centre Henri Tudor
, boost and foster space activities in Luxembourg and encourage technical and scientific cooperation as well as technology transfer
between the public and private sectors. As NCP, Luxinnovation is the mediator between ESA and the Luxembourg-based companies and institutes engaged in space activities and research. Luxinnovation is also a member of the Luxembourg Aeronautics and Space Industry group GLAE (Groupement Luxembourgeois de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace) along with several companies which operate in the space sector and other technology fields.
Access to satellite capacity will be made available on a time-share basis - including fixed steerable and transportable uplink stations certified for several operators. Indoor equipment will also be made available to support satellite access including DVB modulators
and demodulators
, MPEG encoders
and IP
/DVB gateway
/servers
for the encapsulation
of IP packets into TS
cells
and housekeeping. Time-shared access to 2 distribution platforms designed for multicast distribution across Europe will be possible as well as satellite terminal loans in combination with the previous equipment.
The NMSC aims at being the home for innovative ideas relating to satellite technologies and their elaboration. Concentrating know-how and technical facilities in one place to improve efficiency and quality, it will offer technical support in installations and operations. The NMSC will offer a test and development environment for services, applications and equipment which combine any of the traditional disciplines of telecommunications (multimedia, mobile or broadcast), navigation and Earth imaging, and employ satellite communications in some form. In practice, technologies for developing tele-medicine
, tele-education
, advanced satellite networks or satellite-based emergency management systems. It will also provide access to facilities in satellite capacity, satellite networks, terminals in a DemoLab with real-time or off-line demonstration of applications.
The DemoLab is a laboratory space which will be made available, including supporting informatics infrastructure compatible for installing and demonstrating off-line or in real-time several application platforms, which are compatible with typical applications such as tele-education, internet-via-satellite, tele-medicine etc. The DemoLab will serve:
It is intended to organise regular workshops and demonstrations for potential users of satellite applications, following pre-defined utilization patterns agreed with the application platforms developers. Initially, applications developed in Telecom would be the first to be included in the DemoLab. The configuration of the DemoLab will be flexible in order to be easily adaptable to the intended thematic workshop or training activity.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
for Innovation
Innovation
Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...
and Research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. It offers a wide variety of services to Luxembourg-based bodies from both the private and the public sector (large companies, small and medium enterprises, educational foundations, research centres, scientific & technological institutes etc.) as well as individuals (scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, students). (See Activities, services & programmes below)
In addition, Luxinnovation is the national agency that manages Luxembourg's space programme (in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Research). (See Luxinnovation and ESA below)
Organisation & structure
Luxinnovation was founded in 1984. It became an Economic Interest GroupingGroupement d'intérêt économique
A Groupement d'intérêt économique is a Francophone consortium of related businesses, companies, foundations, organisations or institutes which are formally pooling their efforts for competitive advantage...
(EIG) in 1998, comprising 6 private
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
and public-sector partners in Luxembourg:
- the Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Research (MoCHER) [formerly Ministry of Higher Education and Research]
- the Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade (MoEFT)
- the Ministry of the Middle Classes, Tourism and Housing (MoMCTH) [formerly Ministry of the Middle Classes and Tourism]
- the Fedil – Business Federation Luxembourg (FEDIL)
- the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (CoC)
- the Luxembourg Chamber of Skilled Crafts (CoSC)
Luxinnovation Team & Secretariat
The people employed in Luxinnovation are known as the "Luxinnovation Team". Luxinnovation's administrative body consists of the four top executive officersExecutive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
(Managing Director, Secretary General and Senior Executive Advisors) and is called the "Secretariat". The current members of the Luxinnovation Team are:
- - Managing Director: Mr Gilles Schlesser;
- - Secretary General: Ms Isabelle Schlesser;
- - Senior Executive Advisors: Mr Ian Cresswell and Ms Brigitte De Haeck;
- - 4 Senior Project Managers and 16 Project Managers;
- - 6 Project Officers, 1 Missions Officer and 4 Administrative Assistants.
Management Council
The supervisory bodySupervisory board
A supervisory board or supervisory committee, often called board of directors, is a group of individuals chosen by the stockholders of a company to promote their interests through the governance of the company and to hire and supervise the executive directors and CEO.Corporate governance varies...
of Luxinnovation is its "Management Council", which consists of representatives from the Secretariat and each of the 6 partners that comprise Luxinnovation EIG:
- - President: Mr Marco Walentiny (Conseiller de Direction 1ère classe, MoEFT);
- - Vice Presidents: Mr Léon Diederich (Conseiller de Gouvernement, MoCHER) and Mr Gérard Eischen (Membre du Comité de direction, CoC);
- - Members: Mr Emmanuel Baumann (Premier Conseiller de Gouvernement, MoMCTH), Mr Michel Brachmond (Directeur adjoint, CoSC) and Mr René Winkin (Secretary General, FEDIL);
- - Secretary: Mr Gilles Schlesser (Managing Director, Luxinnovation);
- - Assistant Secretary: Ms Brigitte De Haeck (Senior Executive Advisor, Luxinnovation);
- - 6 Alternate Members (one from each of the 6 partners).
Departments
Luxinnovation is composed of 6 departments:- National & international R&D (Research & Development) programmes
- Technology & cluster services
- SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) services
- Innovative start-up services
- Communication
- Documentation & studies
Funding
Luxinnovation works on an annual budget cycle and is financed by four types of funds:- annual contribution by each of the 6 partners for the core business of Luxinnovation;
- specific contracts with partners of Luxinnovation (e.g. agreement for the Clusters programme with the MoEFT; agreement for the National Contact Point (NCP) activities FP7 and ESA with the MoCHER etc.); (See Services & programmes below)
- EU financing through European projects (e.g. Innovation Relay Centre); (See Services & programmes below)
- other national financing (e.g. agreement with the University of LuxembourgUniversity of Luxembourgthumb|Campus LimpertsbergThe University of Luxembourg is the only university in Luxembourg, founded on 13 August 2003. Prior to that, there were several higher educational institutions such as the cour universitaire or the IST that offered one or two years of academic studies...
for specific services).
Mission statement
The missions of Luxinnovation are governed by its statutes. They can be identified in the following mission statementMission statement
A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making...
:
- "Luxinnovation, in its capacity as the National Agency for Innovation and Research, has the mission to educate, inform, encourage, advise and support companies as well as public and private research organisations and talents in order to stimulate their creativity, their Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) activities and the transfer of their RDI results. It thus contributes to increasing competitiveness and productivity, boosting the diversification and the creation of new activities and innovative companies, and enhancing the sustainable development of the economy and the well-being of people in Luxembourg".
- "By implementing the policies, programmes and initiatives of the government and responding to the needs of its target groups, Luxinnovation facilitates the access to knowledge, funding, technology, equipment, infrastructure, networks, markets and business opportunities through a portfolio of coherent services".
- "Luxinnovation intervenes at national, interregional and international level to strengthen collaboration and networking. Luxinnovation carries out awareness-raising activities in order to promote creativity and RDI and helps to improve the territorial attractiveness and the visibility of Luxembourgish economic actors and researchers, particularly abroad".
- "Managed by a strongly committed professional team, Luxinnovation advises national and European authorities and interacts with innovation agencies in Europe".
In short, Luxinnovation's missions are:
- - to provide strategic information on all aspects of RDI on national and European funding, technology transfer and business start-up;
- - to offer tailor-made advice and assistance on upcoming and ongoing RDI projects.
Fields of activities
Luxinnovation's activities encompass a wide range of faculties in Research and DevelopmentResearch and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
(R&D). It runs projects in the following fields:
- AeronauticalAeronauticsAeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
and Space TechnologiesSpace technologySpace technology is technology that is related to entering, and retrieving objects or life forms from space."Every day" technologies such as weather forecasting, remote sensing, GPS systems, satellite television, and some long distance communications systems critically rely on space infrastructure... - EcotechnologiesEcotechnologyEcotechnology is an applied science that seeks to fulfill human needs while causing minimal ecological disrupution, by harnessing and subtly manipulating natural forces to leverage their beneficial effects...
and Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable developmentSustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come... - Health Sciences and Technologies
- Human and Social SciencesSocial sciencesSocial science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
- Industrial TechnologiesIndustrial technologyIndustrial technology is the field concerned with the application of basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of industrial engineers and managers...
- Information and Communication TechnologiesInformation and communication technologiesInformation and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
(ICTs) - Surface Treatment and Materials Technologies
- Skilled CraftsCraftA craft is a branch of a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Medieval history and earlier, the term is usually applied towards people occupied in small-scale production of goods.-Development from the past until...
- LogisticsLogisticsLogistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
- Maritime ActivitiesSeaA sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
National and international R&D programmes
- National: information and assistance to companies and research centres on State aids for co-financing research and innovation activities; collaborations include the following institutes:
- - European Centre for Geodynamics and Seismology (ECGS)
- - International University Institute Luxembourg (IUIL)
- - Laboratory of Cancer-Related Molecular and Cellular Biology (LBMCC)
- - Luxembourg Institute for European and International Studies (IEIS)
- - National Health Laboratory (LNS)
- - Public Health Research Centre (CRP-Santé)
- - Public Research Centre Gabriel Lippmann (CPR Gabriel Lippmann)
- - Public Research Centre Henri TudorPublic Research Centre Henri TudorThe Public Research Centre Henri Tudor is a Luxembourg-based research institute. Created in late 1987, in the framework of the Luxembourgish law of 9 March 1987 about the public research, the CRP Henri Tudor took its name from Henri Owen Tudor, a famous Luxembourgish engineer.Since its creation,...
(CRP Henri Tudor) - - RESTENA Foundation (RESTENA)
- - Robert Schuman Centre for European Studies and Research (CERE)
- - University of LuxembourgUniversity of Luxembourgthumb|Campus LimpertsbergThe University of Luxembourg is the only university in Luxembourg, founded on 13 August 2003. Prior to that, there were several higher educational institutions such as the cour universitaire or the IST that offered one or two years of academic studies...
- International:
- - COST - European Cooperation in Science and Technology: COST is an intergovernmental framework and through this programme Luxinnovation enables European cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research, allowing the co-ordination of nationally funded research on a European level
- - Competitiveness and Innovation Framework ProgrammeCompetitiveness and Innovation Framework ProgrammeThe Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme of the European Commission is meant to improve the competitiveness of European companies facing the challenges of globalization. The programme is mainly aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises , which will receive support for innovation...
(CIP): supports innovation mainly within SMEs and fosters the competitiveness of European enterprises; CIP is composed of three specific programmes:- - Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP): supports all forms of innovation, helps SMEs in the EU, facilitates access to finance, encourages eco-innovationEco-innovationEco-innovation is a term used to describe products and processes that contribute to sustainable development. Eco-innovation is the commercial application of knowledge to elicit direct or indirect ecological improvements....
and promotes entrepreneurshipEntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response... - - ICT - Policy Support Programme (ICT-PSP): aims to develop pan-European, innovative ICT-based solutions and services, and helps overcome technical but also organisational hurdles
- - Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) Programme: facilitates training on new constructionConstructionIn the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
techniques in buildings that can lead to energy saving and improves the effectiveness of support schemes for electricity generationElectricity generationElectricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy.The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientist Michael Faraday...
from renewable energy sources
- - Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP): supports all forms of innovation, helps SMEs in the EU, facilitates access to finance, encourages eco-innovation
- - EUREKAEUREKAEUREKA, often abbreviated as "E!" or "Σ!", is a pan-European research and development funding and coordination organization. EUREKA aims to coordinate efforts of governments, research institutes and commercial companies concerning innovation...
(E!): EUREKA is an intergovernmental initiative supporting research and innovation in all fields of activity and Luxinnovation is the EUREKA's national Coordination Secretariat in Luxembourg; as such, it provides information and assistance to companies which want to participate in this programme - - European Regional Development FundEuropean Regional Development FundThe European Regional Development Fund is a fund allocated by the European Union.-History:During the 1960s, the European Commission occasionally tried to establish a regional fund. Only Italy ever supported this, however, and nothing came of it. Britain made it an issue for their accession in...
(ERDF): stimulates growth and employment by means of investment in infrastructure and promotes growth and jobs by stimulating knowledge and RDI activities - - European Space AgencyEuropean Space AgencyThe European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
(ESA): Luxinnovation is the National Contact Point (NCP) for ESA; as such, it provides assistance and information on how ESA operates (See Luxinnovation and ESA below) - - Joint Research Centre (JCR): Luxinnovation provides customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies, primarily within the framework of the European Research AreaEuropean Research AreaThe European Research Area is a system of scientific research programmes integrating the scientific resources of the European Union . Since its inception in 2000, the structure has been concentrated on multi-national co-operation in the fields of medical, environmental, industrial and...
(ERA) and therefore of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)- - Seventh Framework Programme (FP7): as NCP, Luxinnovation offers information and assistance to public and private organisations and partner searches through networks such as Ideal-ist and SECURE-FORCE:
- - Ideal-ist: this initiative is mainly dedicated to finding partners for SMEs, larger companies or research institutes willing to participate in an IST (Information Society Technologies) call; project ideas can be disseminated to over 55,000 international contacts
- - SECURE-FORCE: this is an ETI (Economic & Technological IntelligenceTechnology intelligenceTechnology Intelligence is an activity that enables companies to identify the technological opportunities and threats that could affect the future growth and survival of their business. It aims to capture and disseminate the technological information needed for strategic planning and decision making...
) project that aims at facilitating the participation in FP7 (European Framework Programme for Research and Development) of SMEs active in the security field
- - Seventh Framework Programme (FP7): as NCP, Luxinnovation offers information and assistance to public and private organisations and partner searches through networks such as Ideal-ist and SECURE-FORCE:
Technology & cluster services
- Clusters programme: Luxinnovation runs clusters aimed at encouraging partnership and collaboration between different technological sectors; 3 clusters have been created:
- the AeroSpace Cluster (in the field of Aeronautics and Space Technologies)
- the InfoCom Cluster (in the field of Information and Communication Technologies)
- the SurfMat Cluster (in the field of Surface Treatment and Materials Technologies)
- Innovation Relay Centre (IRC): Luxinnovation coordinates the LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
-TrierTrierTrier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
-SaarlandSaarlandSaarland is one of the sixteen states of Germany. The capital is Saarbrücken. It has an area of 2570 km² and 1,045,000 inhabitants. In both area and population, it is the smallest state in Germany other than the city-states...
transnational IRC; companies can search for the specific technologies they need to innovate or promote their own expertise and meet potential partners - Technology Transfer Networks:
- Innovation Relay Centre (IRC): Luxinnovation coordinates the Luxembourg
- - Enterprise Europe Network - Luxembourg (EEN): promotes innovation, and knowledge and technology transfer; encourages SMEs to participate in 7FP; services also provided by CoC and CoSC regarding assistance/advice, information provision, cooperation between businesses, and internationalisation
- - Technology Innovation International (TII): helps participants establish working relations with colleagues in other countries, access EU programmes, exchange best practice and know-how and transfer technology across frontiers
Innovative start-up services
- Setting up projects for starting innovative businesses: offers advice on financing, administrative formalities, accommodation and partner search
- Industrial zones and parks for economic activities: provides companies with land or buildings fitted out to suit their requirements in order to encourage and help them to locate their business in Luxembourg
- Networks for Entrepreneurship:
- - FirstTuesday Luxembourg: offers an informal meeting place free of charge on the first Tuesday of each month to investors, venture capitalists, service providers, the media, official representatives, innovators and entrepreneurs from the world of high-tech industry in order to stimulate their development; thematic events and workshops
- - Interregional business plan contest "1,2,3,GO": provides project promoters and innovative entrepreneurs with free assistance to produce their business plan; Luxinnovation supports the Chamber of Commerce in the animation of this network
- - Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg: develops new entrepreneurial education programmes and promote creativity among young people to introduce them to the professional world
- - Luxembourg Business Angel Network (LBAN): aims to match the skills of a capital-seeking entrepreneur with those of an experienced private investor (called a Business Angel) who has management skills, time and capital to invest
- - Microsoft BizSpark programme: helps accelerate the success of early stage start-ups with a fast and easy access to current full-featured MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
development tools and technologies, and production licenses and hosters - - Erasmus for Young EntrepreneursErasmus for Young EntrepreneursErasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is Europe’s new mobility scheme that aims at helping new entrepreneurs to acquire relevant skills for managing a small or medium-sized enterprise by spending time in a business in another EU country...
: initiated by the European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU), the programme offers practical and logistical support to new entrepreneurs throughout their stay in Luxembourg, assistance in matchmaking between host entrepreneurs and new entrepreneurs, follow-up of entrepreneurs' relationships, and enhances networking between business people and SMEs- Ecostart Enterprise and Innovation Centres: supports companies hosted at Ecostart, promotes and animates the Centres
- Hosingen Relay Centre "Op der Hei": provides accommodation to innovative businesses in the start-up phase - located in the north of Luxembourg (HosingenHosingenHosingen is a commune and small town in northern Luxembourg. Near Hosingen there is a transmitter for FM and TV of RTL., the town of Hosingen, which lies in the south of the commune, has a population of 761. Other towns within the commune include Bockholtz, Dorscheid, Neidhausen, Rodershausen,...
) - to help them limit their expenses during the first years of their existence; the relay centre principle was introduced by SICLER (Intercommunal Association for the Promotion of the Canton of Clervaux) together with the MoEFT - Intellectual propertyIntellectual propertyIntellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
: offers first advice and organisation of seminars on the following topics:
- CopyrightCopyrightCopyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
(applicable law, rights granted, financial rights, moral rights, criteria, duration of protection, related rights, register of copyrights) - Designs (general presentation, BeneluxBeneluxThe Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
design, EU design, international design) - Patents (general presentation, national patent, EU patent, Patent Cooperation TreatyPatent Cooperation TreatyThe Patent Cooperation Treaty is an international patent law treaty, concluded in 1970. It provides a unified procedure for filing patent applications to protect inventions in each of its contracting states...
(PCT) international registration) - Trademarks for productsProduct (business)In general, the product is defined as a "thing produced by labor or effort" or the "result of an act or a process", and stems from the verb produce, from the Latin prōdūce ' lead or bring forth'. Since 1575, the word "product" has referred to anything produced...
and services (general presentation, Benelux trademark, international protection, Marque Communautaire)
SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) services
- Encouraging innovation in skilled-craft companies: proactive visits, organisation of seminars, publications, technology transfer offers, promotion of the innovation incentive scheme
- Financial support and grants: Luxinnovation offers advice on financing
- Promotion of Innovation ManagementInnovation managementInnovation management is the discipline of managing processes in innovation. It can be used to develop both product and organizational innovation. Without proper processes, it is not possible for R&D to be efficient; innovation management includes a set of tools that allow managers and engineers to...
Techniques (IMT): organises seminars - InnoNet innovation diagnostic tool: a questionnaire evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of companies with regard to innovation
- ProInno DeLux: interregional project for fostering potential for innovation in skilled-craft companies in the metalworkingMetalworkingMetalworking is the process of working with metals to create individual parts, assemblies, or large scale structures. The term covers a wide range of work from large ships and bridges to precise engine parts and delicate jewelry. It therefore includes a correspondingly wide range of skills,...
and processing sector
Each of the above-mentioned services is offered by Luxinnovation's corresponding department. In addition, Luxinnovation's Communication Department devises, manages and animates its own programmes, such as "The Luxembourg Portal for Innovation and Research" and the "Luxembourg Cluster Initiative" (LCI); the Documentation & Studies Department is also involved in several studies projects (ERAWATCH, INNO-Policy TrendChart etc.).
Luxinnovation and ESA
In LuxembourgLuxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, space activities are managed by the Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Research in cooperation with Luxinnovation. Luxembourg signed a Cooperation Agreement with the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
(ESA) on 12 September 2000 and became a full member on 30 June 2005. During this 5-year period as a Cooperating State, Luxembourg collaborated with ESA via the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems
ARTES
ARTES is a long-running and large-scale European project intended to support the development of advanced satcom products and services...
(ARTES) programmes 1, 3, 5 and 8. Luxinnovation facilitates Luxembourg's space programme and acts as the National Contact Point (NCP) for ESA; it manages the interface between industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
, the public research sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
and ESA. As such, Luxinnovation provides companies and research centres
Research center
A research center is a facility or building dedicated to research, commonly with the focus on a specific area. There are over 14,000 research centers in the United States...
and laboratories with information on how ESA operates and the various approaches that can be adopted to its programmes. Luxinnovation can also offer advice and support to entrepreneurs and researchers willing to work with ESA. Luxembourg being a member of ESA enables companies and research centres to take part in numerous European space projects in various fields such as:
- Earth, Sun & Space observationObservational astronomyObservational astronomy is a division of the astronomical science that is concerned with getting data, in contrast with theoretical astrophysics which is mainly concerned with finding out the measurable implications of physical models...
; - Development of advanced electronicsElectronicsElectronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
and precisionAccuracy and precisionIn the fields of science, engineering, industry and statistics, the accuracy of a measurement system is the degree of closeness of measurements of a quantity to that quantity's actual value. The precision of a measurement system, also called reproducibility or repeatability, is the degree to which...
mechanicsMechanicsMechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of the bodies on their environment....
technologies; - Development of satellites and booster rockets;
- Implementation of telecommunicationTelecommunicationTelecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
and satellite navigation systems as well as platforms for broadcasting multimediaMultimediaMultimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
content via satellite.
Luxembourg is home to two of the leading satellite operators in the world (Intelsat
Intelsat
Intelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
and SES). It manages a combined fleet of more than 100 satellites (as of February 2011, Intelsat operates a fleet of 58 satellites and SES has a fleet of 44). The space industry
Space industry
Space industry refers to economic activities related to manufacturing components that go into Earth's orbit or beyond, delivering them to those regions, and related services. Owing to the prominence of the satellite-related activities, some sources use the term satellite industry interchangeably...
is a key high-tech sector for Luxembourg. Luxembourg's budget in the space sector
Space research
Space research is scientific studies carried out using scientific equipment in outer space. It includes the use of space technology for a broad spectrum of research disciplines, including Earth science, materials science, biology, medicine, and physics...
was €14.2 million in 2009 and Luxembourg's contribution to the ESA budget was €11.5 million for 2011. Many highly advanced technology companies now operate in the space sector of Luxembourg, such as Euro-Composites (EC), Gradel, HITEC Luxembourg and LuxSpace. The space research
Space research
Space research is scientific studies carried out using scientific equipment in outer space. It includes the use of space technology for a broad spectrum of research disciplines, including Earth science, materials science, biology, medicine, and physics...
conducted by the University of Luxembourg
University of Luxembourg
thumb|Campus LimpertsbergThe University of Luxembourg is the only university in Luxembourg, founded on 13 August 2003. Prior to that, there were several higher educational institutions such as the cour universitaire or the IST that offered one or two years of academic studies...
, as well as the Public Research Centre Gabriel Lippmann and the Public Research Centre Henri Tudor
Public Research Centre Henri Tudor
The Public Research Centre Henri Tudor is a Luxembourg-based research institute. Created in late 1987, in the framework of the Luxembourgish law of 9 March 1987 about the public research, the CRP Henri Tudor took its name from Henri Owen Tudor, a famous Luxembourgish engineer.Since its creation,...
, boost and foster space activities in Luxembourg and encourage technical and scientific cooperation as well as technology transfer
Technology transfer
Technology Transfer, also called Transfer of Technology and Technology Commercialisation, is the process of skill transferring, knowledge, technologies, methods of manufacturing, samples of manufacturing and facilities among governments or universities and other institutions to ensure that...
between the public and private sectors. As NCP, Luxinnovation is the mediator between ESA and the Luxembourg-based companies and institutes engaged in space activities and research. Luxinnovation is also a member of the Luxembourg Aeronautics and Space Industry group GLAE (Groupement Luxembourgeois de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace) along with several companies which operate in the space sector and other technology fields.
New Media Support Centre and DemoLab
An ESA project facilitated by Luxinnovation is the New Media Support Centre (NMSC). It is designed to support the satellite communication (satcom) sector and it reflects the changing needs of the satcom sector which ESA aims to support, covering space, ground and applications sectors development and promotion. It also offers a basis for innovation and cross-fertilisation of ideas in the satellite technology domain. Luxinnovation's objective is to help small, medium and large businesses and institutes manage the risk of exploring new and cross-discipline satellite technologies, providing them with all the technical and logistical support needed to make full use of the facilities offered. The NMSC beneficiaries include the satellite industry, research and development institutes, applications developers and equipment manufacturers.Access to satellite capacity will be made available on a time-share basis - including fixed steerable and transportable uplink stations certified for several operators. Indoor equipment will also be made available to support satellite access including DVB modulators
Modulation
In electronics and telecommunications, modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a high-frequency periodic waveform, called the carrier signal, with a modulating signal which typically contains information to be transmitted...
and demodulators
Demodulation
Demodulation is the act of extracting the original information-bearing signal from a modulated carrier wave.A demodulator is an electronic circuit that is used to recover the information content from the modulated carrier wave.These terms are traditionally used in connection with radio receivers,...
, MPEG encoders
MPEG encoding
MPEG encoding is the process of capturing or converting video and/or audio to one of several MPEG video and/or audio standards for distribution or for archiving to optical disc...
and IP
Internet Protocol
The Internet Protocol is the principal communications protocol used for relaying datagrams across an internetwork using the Internet Protocol Suite...
/DVB gateway
Gateway (telecommunications)
In telecommunications, the term gateway has the following meaning:*In a communications network, a network node equipped for interfacing with another network that uses different protocols....
/servers
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
for the encapsulation
Encapsulation (networking)
In computer networking, encapsulation is a method of designing modular communication protocols in which logically separate functions in the network are abstracted from their underlying structures by inclusion or information hiding within higher level objects....
of IP packets into TS
Transaction server
A transaction server is a software component that is used in implementing transactions.A transaction involves multiple steps which must be completed atomically, as though it is a single operation which can not be interrupted, even though it may require multiple steps...
cells
Cell relay
In computer networking, cell relay refers to a method of statistically multiplexing small fixed-length packets, called "cells", to transport data between computers or kinds of network equipment. It is an unreliable, connection-oriented packet switched data communications protocol.Cell relay...
and housekeeping. Time-shared access to 2 distribution platforms designed for multicast distribution across Europe will be possible as well as satellite terminal loans in combination with the previous equipment.
The NMSC aims at being the home for innovative ideas relating to satellite technologies and their elaboration. Concentrating know-how and technical facilities in one place to improve efficiency and quality, it will offer technical support in installations and operations. The NMSC will offer a test and development environment for services, applications and equipment which combine any of the traditional disciplines of telecommunications (multimedia, mobile or broadcast), navigation and Earth imaging, and employ satellite communications in some form. In practice, technologies for developing tele-medicine
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technologies in order to provide clinical health care at a distance. It helps eliminate distance barriers and can improve access to medical services that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities...
, tele-education
E-learning
E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
, advanced satellite networks or satellite-based emergency management systems. It will also provide access to facilities in satellite capacity, satellite networks, terminals in a DemoLab with real-time or off-line demonstration of applications.
The DemoLab is a laboratory space which will be made available, including supporting informatics infrastructure compatible for installing and demonstrating off-line or in real-time several application platforms, which are compatible with typical applications such as tele-education, internet-via-satellite, tele-medicine etc. The DemoLab will serve:
- for hands-on training and support for thematic workshops;
- as an "applications show room" for several applications;
- for testing/evaluation of new applications and services.
It is intended to organise regular workshops and demonstrations for potential users of satellite applications, following pre-defined utilization patterns agreed with the application platforms developers. Initially, applications developed in Telecom would be the first to be included in the DemoLab. The configuration of the DemoLab will be flexible in order to be easily adaptable to the intended thematic workshop or training activity.
See also
- LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
- European Space AgencyEuropean Space AgencyThe European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
(ESA) - History of European Space Agency enlargementHistory of European Space Agency enlargementThe European Space Agency in its current form was founded in 1975 when the European Space Research Organisation merged with the European Launcher Development Organisation . The ESA Convention was signed by the ESRO and ELDO members on 30 May 1975 and by Ireland on 31 December 1975. Canada signed...
- InnovationInnovationInnovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...
- Innovation managementInnovation managementInnovation management is the discipline of managing processes in innovation. It can be used to develop both product and organizational innovation. Without proper processes, it is not possible for R&D to be efficient; innovation management includes a set of tools that allow managers and engineers to...
- Research and DevelopmentResearch and developmentThe phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
- Science and technology in EuropeScience and technology in EuropeEurope's achievements in science and technology have been significant and research and development efforts form an integral part of the European economy. Europe has been the home of some of the most prominent researchers in various scientific disciplines, notably physics, mathematics, chemistry and...
- Space researchSpace researchSpace research is scientific studies carried out using scientific equipment in outer space. It includes the use of space technology for a broad spectrum of research disciplines, including Earth science, materials science, biology, medicine, and physics...
- List of space agencies
- ARTESARTESARTES is a long-running and large-scale European project intended to support the development of advanced satcom products and services...
- Competitiveness and Innovation Framework ProgrammeCompetitiveness and Innovation Framework ProgrammeThe Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme of the European Commission is meant to improve the competitiveness of European companies facing the challenges of globalization. The programme is mainly aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises , which will receive support for innovation...
(CIP) - COST - European Cooperation in Science and Technology
- Erasmus for Young EntrepreneursErasmus for Young EntrepreneursErasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is Europe’s new mobility scheme that aims at helping new entrepreneurs to acquire relevant skills for managing a small or medium-sized enterprise by spending time in a business in another EU country...
- ERAWATCH
- EUREKAEUREKAEUREKA, often abbreviated as "E!" or "Σ!", is a pan-European research and development funding and coordination organization. EUREKA aims to coordinate efforts of governments, research institutes and commercial companies concerning innovation...
- European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
- European Regional Development FundEuropean Regional Development FundThe European Regional Development Fund is a fund allocated by the European Union.-History:During the 1960s, the European Commission occasionally tried to establish a regional fund. Only Italy ever supported this, however, and nothing came of it. Britain made it an issue for their accession in...
(ERDF) - European Research AreaEuropean Research AreaThe European Research Area is a system of scientific research programmes integrating the scientific resources of the European Union . Since its inception in 2000, the structure has been concentrated on multi-national co-operation in the fields of medical, environmental, industrial and...
(ERA) - European Research CouncilEuropean Research CouncilThe European Research Council is the independent body that funds investigator-driven frontier research in the European Union . It is part of the Seventh Research Framework Programme ....
(ERC) - IDEAL-IST
- IntelsatIntelsatIntelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
- Joint Research Centre (JRC)
- Public Research Centre Henri TudorPublic Research Centre Henri TudorThe Public Research Centre Henri Tudor is a Luxembourg-based research institute. Created in late 1987, in the framework of the Luxembourgish law of 9 March 1987 about the public research, the CRP Henri Tudor took its name from Henri Owen Tudor, a famous Luxembourgish engineer.Since its creation,...
- SES S.A.
- Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)
- University of LuxembourgUniversity of Luxembourgthumb|Campus LimpertsbergThe University of Luxembourg is the only university in Luxembourg, founded on 13 August 2003. Prior to that, there were several higher educational institutions such as the cour universitaire or the IST that offered one or two years of academic studies...