Green Tech and Industry 4.0 are two major emerging technology trends. Luxembourg is at the forefront of innovation in both fields, as can be seen by a number of initiatives being implemented throughout the country. It is therefore no surprise that the Mind & Market Forum at the University of Luxembourg chose Green Tech and Industry 4.0 as main topics for its 2018 edition. The forum offers pitching contests, conferences and networking opportunities for start-ups. The participants will have a chance to get experts’ feedback on their project and determine its market-readiness. In addition, Luxembourg has a lot to offer in terms of incubation, funding and support. This is why Green Tech and Industry 4.0 start-ups can plant their seeds in particularly fertile ground and grow in Luxembourg.
Green Tech start-up welcomed at Innovation Hub Dudelange
Located in the future Neischmelz district, the start-up incubator “Innovation Hub Diddeleng” looks specifically for ecoinnovation and clean tech projects to help build the solutions for its future eco-district, and revive the former industrial town of Dudelange. The focus on ecoinnovation start-ups is in line with the town’s ambition to develop Neischmelz into a carbon free area. Together, the City of Dudelange, Luxinnovation and Technoport select start-ups for the Innovation Hub that are a good fit for the municipality and can successfully address the challenges of transforming the district. This means that start-ups in these fields will develop quickly and find strong partners and will be able to take advantage of a testing bed to develop their green tech projects.
A similar objective drives the City of Wiltz in the north of Luxembourg. They also have a vision of becoming a town based on a circular economy accompanied by zero waste principles.
Industry 4.0 as a key enabler for a data-driven economy
Industry 4.0 is considered one of the key technologies to secure the future competitiveness of industrial companies in the western world and build the ‘smart factories’ of tomorrow. For a country like Luxembourg with relatively high salaries and production costs, Industry 4.0 is a critical success driver. This is why the country is investing time and energy into supporting manufacturing companies and start-ups specialized in Industry 4.0 services in the next stage of their development.
Corporations and start-ups are very much affected by the fourth industrial revolution and can combine forces and leverage synergies going forward. Start-ups with solutions in the fields of the internet of things (IoT), big data and artificial intelligence can offer established companies their expertise to improve processes and retain a competitive edge. Public-private partnerships and cooperation with start-ups are key for Luxembourg and its industry to be able to play a leading technological role.
A hub for digital innovation
Digitalization is at the very center of Industry 4.0. Smart factories are based on interconnectivity via the IoT, information transparency using big data and decentralized decision making enabling cyber physical systems to perform autonomously, with escalation only in exceptional cases. A new initiative aiming to stimulating the digitalization of industry, the Luxembourg Digital Innovation Hub, (DIH) is currently being created. The hub will be a first regional point of contact for industrial companies aiming to implement digital transformation projects to enhance their competitiveness.
The DIH will provide a platform for exchange on digital technologies between research organizations, institutional partners and private digital service providers. Jointly set up by the Ministry of the Economy, FEDIL – The Voice of Luxembourg’s Industry and Luxinnovation with support from the European Commission, the it testifies to Luxembourg’s determination to ensure that all industrial companies in Luxembourg – small or large, high-tech or not, mature or still start-ups – can embrace the digital opportunities of the future.
In the ever-evolving and rapidly growing business environment of Luxembourg, Luxinnovation is proud to be part of the Mind & Market initiative, bringing together creative minds and experienced market players where innovative ideas can be turned into business realities.