The List is well placed to enter a new strategic phase

delano.lu, 03/07/25:  

The 2024 annual report of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (List), published on Thursday, highlights that the institute is entering a new phase, marked by a strengthening of its governance and internal organisation.

Source : delano.lu
Publication date : 07/03/2025

Three months behind schedule, professor Olivier Guillon on 1 September will take over the reins of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (List) as director general, following Dirk Fransaer’s two-year interim period at the head of the institute. He will be surrounded by a renewed management team: Jurgen Joossens (deputy general manager in charge of valorisation, appointed in March 2025), Lucien Hoffmann (scientific director since June 2024), Sylvain Ravera (administrative and financial director since July 2024) and Sylvie Weyland (human resources director since December 2024).

At the same time, in 2024 the List rolled out a major internal reorganisation under the name of the Unity initiative, which has caused some gnashing of teeth and continues to do so. Launched in June 2023, this initiative aims to prepare the institute for the next decade. A new organisational chart divides research, development and innovation (RDI) activities into 12 interdisciplinary units. The aim is to strengthen collaboration between the different scientific and technological areas, by optimising governance and internal processes. In addition, Unity is incorporating a new RDI strategy currently being developed to support the institute's future 2026-2029 multi-year plan. An internal project called “Nexys” also aims to deploy a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to align administrative functions with these strategic objectives.

These organisational changes are part of the definition of the next 2026-2029 strategic plan. The report states that three strategic areas will guide the List’s research over the next decade: natural environment and resources, built environment and industrial environment. These will be complemented by other key sectors such as the space domain and an initiative dedicated to artificial intelligence. Unity thus aims to make the List more resilient and agile: by strengthening industrial partnerships, simplifying internal structures and cultivating entrepreneurship (spin-offs and exploiting intellectual property).

The year 2024 confirmed its financial solidity. The List’s net revenue amounted to €110.46m, an increase of €6.92m compared with 2023. This increase came from both public subsidies and diversified contractual sources, illustrating the List’s ability to attract competitive funding in a highly competitive international environment. The 2024 financial year closed with a positive result of €1.84m, reflecting long-term strategic management.

“We are entering a new decade with a clear vision: to continue to make research a strategic lever at the heart of technological, industrial and environmental transitions,” writes Étienne Jacqué, chairman of the List board since December. Jacqué succeeded Eva Kremer last year.

177 leading publications, 25 patents, 16 commercial licences

In 2024, List researchers had published 177 articles in leading international journals (top 10%) and filed 25 patents, assigning 16 commercial licences for their technologies. Nine startups from the laboratories have been in business for at least three years, testifying to the vitality of technology transfer. The report also highlights the diversity of its teams (756 employees of 61 nationalities, 78% of whom are researchers or innovation experts), which nurtures its capacity for innovation and societal impact.

The List leverages its expertise through long-term industrial partnerships. For example, a renewed six-year agreement with Goodyear supports more than 30 joint projects focused on sustainable mobility and digital innovation. New partnerships have been signed with international technology players such as Intel, Cure Intelligence and Raith, strengthening the research centre's position in sustainable technologies, digital and advanced materials. On the humanitarian front, the institute has co-developed with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) a global early warning system based on artificial intelligence and spatial data, designed to improve the response to humanitarian crises.

On the European scene, the List is piloting the Regen project (funded by Horizon Europe, €7.5m), dedicated to sustainable, low-carbon urban regeneration. This four-year project deploys tools such as digital twins, participatory approaches and “living laboratories” in pilot cities to rethink infrastructure and reduce energy emissions. The List is also coordinating Amusens (Horizon Europe, €8m), which aims to develop low-cost, portable gas sensors to monitor air pollution in various environments (industry, transport, health).

This participation in large-scale European projects is accompanied by prestigious competitive funding: In 2024, the List was awarded a EIC Pathfinder grant (for an innovative cooling technology) and two ERC grants (consolidator and advanced) for projects in quantum communication and energy optimisation, totalling more than €7m.

In addition, the institute plays a central role in the Luxembourg AI Factory, particularly in the “green economy” cluster, where it supports companies in the development of environmentally-friendly artificial intelligence solutions in the energy, mobility, cleantech and circular economy sectors. The List has also launched several national AI-related components: a National AI Observatory to monitor and analyse the impact of AI on society, a training programme designed to strengthen local AI skills, as well as the extension of a national AI Sandbox dedicated to the validation of reliable AI systems.

Thierry Labro

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