Business Facilities - February 2009 - (Page 28)

INTERNATIONAL Luxembourg from the scientific, business and civic communities. Part of the idea also is that outsiders sometimes have insights that insiders miss; committee members, by taking a constructive look at research and innovation, might see unexplored opportunities and point R&D in Luxembourg in new directions. “Luxembourg can only endure if it is quick, flexible and innovative,” says Minister Krecké, who presides over the committee along with Minister Biltgen. THE BIOHEALTH BOOM Luxembourg’s Cluster of Health Sciences and Technologies was launched at the end of September 2008 with the aim to stimulate crossfertilization and technological cooperation in the field of health sciences and technologies. It is the latest addition to the Grand Duchy’s “Clusters” program, which was initiated in 2002 by the Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade and animated by Luxinnovation with the aim to support and reinforce synergies and collaboration between the public and private sectors. innovation are the motors that drive a country’s evolution, economy and society in its entirety. – Minister for Research François Biltgen “ Research and ” cluster allows companies and public research centers to address scientific and technological problems with the help of expert advice, identify potential scientific or technological partners, and generally remain informed of the scientific and technological skills available in the country. AUTOMOTIVE MOTIVATIONS The increased commitment of the Luxembourgish state to invest in public research institutes also benefits the automotive components sector. A new department for Research in Equipment for the Automobile industry (REA) has been established at the Public Research Centre Gabriel Lippmann. Formed in 2007, REA’s objectives are the development of new products and production processes, as well as the improvement of the quality of products and production processes for automobile equipment manufacturers. REA’s partners include Accumalux, ELTH, IEE and Luxbat, among others. “We concluded a framework agreement with the Public Research Centre Gabriel Lippmann three years ago to establish a unit to serve the automotive sector,” explains Paul Schockmel, president of the Association of Luxembourgish Automotive Suppliers. “The first projects have been completed and they are expanding their building to accommodate their work with us. We welcome this because it will bring know-how and specialized people to Luxembourg. It also is important for potential investors to know there is this wider research infrastructure in place.” Luxembourg’s national agency for innovation and research, Luxinnovation, can be accessed online at www.luxinnovation.lu. The BioHealth Cluster will contribute to improving scientific knowledge in the field of health sciences and technologies, boosting R&D and innovation and developing transnational and international collaboration, notably with other RDI centers of competence. The cluster encompasses national expertise in health technologies in the fields of biodevices, bioinformatics, biomaterials, imaging and platforms. Research efforts in Luxembourg focus on fields such as allergology and toxicology, cardiovascular diseases, microbiology, neurodegenerative diseases and oncology. Participation in the BioHealth Q: What is your vision of Luxembourg in 2015? A: I believe that the financial sector will be even stronger, with manufacturing staying at the same levels or decreasing. The growth of activity in services and R&D is likely, but dependent upon the attractiveness of Luxembourg as a place to live, and the government is working on that. – Volker Neuber, Vice President, EMEA Husky Injection Molding Systems S.A. A: My vision is quite optimistic, provided we can avoid the trap of becoming too bureaucratic and slow. After all, in the fastchanging world in which we live, it is no longer “the big ones that eat the small ones,” but “the fast ones that eat the slow ones.” Luxembourg can be small and fast. – Jacques Lanners, Chairman of the Executive Board of Ceratizit 28 FEBRUARY 2009 PHOTO CREDITS: FOCUS ON INNOVATION AND RESEARCH IN LUXEMBOURG, 2008 http://www.luxinnovation.lu

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Business Facilities - February 2009

Business Facilities - February 2009 Contents First Word Snapshots Corporate Moves: Ohio Governor's Report Growth Magnets Industry Focus: Automotive International Report: Luxembourg Corporate Moves: Tennessee Cream of the Crop in North Carolina Advertiser Index Ask the Expert

Business Facilities - February 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.