Environment

Our mission is to carry out responsible impact-driven research and technological innovation & policy support for a sustainable resources management and the reduction of environmental impact of human activities, in order to enable and accelerate the transition towards a sustainable, resilient and digital economy and society in Luxembourg and abroad. LIST comprises more than 200 life, environmental and IT scientists and engineers across four research units which bring together the necessary interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to tackle the major environmental challenges our society is facing today, including climate change mitigation, ecosystem resilience, sustainable energy systems, efficient use of renewable resources, and environmental pollution prevention and control.

research units

Priority areas

Natural resources and agrosystems under change
Circular bioeconomy
Environment and health
Renewable energy systems
Sustainable cities and territories
Safe and sustainable by design production and consumption

Equipment and facilities

Across its laboratory and field infrastructure, the department offers a wide range of standardised and made-to-measure services in the fields of testing, measurement, analysis, innovation management and methods. Its Biotechnologies and Environmental Analytics platform hosts laboratory facilities for chemical, biological analyses, as well as bioprocessing, whereas the Observatory for Climate, Environment and Biodiversity manages cutting-edge technological infrastructures and monitoring networks to produce science-based evidence for supporting policy-making processes towards sustainable and informed management of natural resources.

INNOVATION CENTRE

Central to LIST’s “smart green” vision is increasing its collaboration with industry. The establishment of the Sustainable Biotech Innovation Centre, linking the public and private sectors has the goal of contributing to the realisation of the national circular economy strategy as well as the environmental health action plan. Sectors identified include construction and industry, renewable energy, organic waste, agriculture and food, health, soil remediation and use, and water.

SPIN-OFFS

One of the important LIST missions is to create economic impact. The ERIN department contributed to the creation of the 4 spin-offs RTC4Water, Agroptimize, Wasdi and Invitrolize.

Current projects

ADAPT

Agricultural management to reduce soil greenhouse gas emissions, enhance soil carbon and increase crop drought resilience.

AgriROS

Towards increasing precision and efficiency in modern agriculture with Cooperative Aerial and Ground Robots.

APTAVIR

Design of an innovative diagnostic test for the in-situ detection and quantification of food- and waterborne viruses based on the aptamer technology.

CAMPHIBIAN

Automating the observation of amphibians by the use of an underwater camera trap, and assess its value for the biodiversity monitoring.

CarbonNerd

Understanding and reducing our carbon footprint in Luxembourg.

CCI-LANDCOVER

Validation of the SAR-based CCI water bodies product

CHAPEL

Regional climate change projection based on the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 emissions scenarios for the Greater Region.

CHIASMUS

Quantifying, from a lifecycle perspective, the impact generated by the energy use of buildings, and adapting the calculation methodology to the data available in each geographical [...]

CIRCUSTAIN

Advanced sustainability assessment of the circular economy applied to construction PVC, focusing on integrated labour effects

CITIPOL

Promote and coordinate a citizen science system integrated into the Luxembourg Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (LUPoMS) by setting up a series of training activities, support for [...]

COMMECT

Bridging the digital divide and addressing the need of Rural Communities with Cost-effective and Environmental-Friendly Connectivity Solutions

DESPOT

Assessment of honeybee viruses in wild pollinators in Luxembourg

DORMOUSE

Estimating distribution changes and the conservation status of the dormouse in Luxembourg

ECHT

Establishing chemical traceability for a circular economy by enabling the digital product passport.

ExtraBark

Develop and validate innovative, industrializable solutions based on the use of bark for the extraction of high-value molecules.

FOREST MAMMALS

Using camera traps to monitor the presence of non-flying mammals in Luxembourg forest landscapes.

FORFUS

Doctoral training unit on the effects of multiple stressors on forest function

FORFUS-RT1.1

Postdoc project on root-soil interactions, part of the "Forest function under stress" doctoral training unit (FORFUS)

FORFUS-RT1.2

PhD project on the drought response of forest soil microbes and roots, part of the "Forest function under stress" doctoral training unit (FORFUS)

FORFUS-RT1.3

PhD project on the exchange of water, trace elements and nutrients in the regolith-tree-atmosphere continuum of forest ecosystems, part of the "Forest function under stress" [...]

FORFUS-RT1.4

PhD project on stream carbon export from forested catchments, part of the "Forest function under stress" doctoral training unit (FORFUS)

FORFUS-RT2.1

PhD project on drought and heat damage to trees, part of the "Forest function under stress" doctoral training unit (FORFUS)

FORFUS-RT2.2

PhD project on the relationship between drought and the atmospheric deposition of pollutants to forests, part of the "Forest function under stress" doctoral training unit (FORFUS)

FORFUS-RT3.4

PhD project on satellite monitoring of forest traits under disturbance, part of the "Forest function under stress" doctoral training unit (FORFUS)

FORLUX

Health, adaptation and resilience of forests in the context of climate change: impact of drought intensification on the sustainability of the city of Luxembourg forest ecosystems.

HIVER

Science meets professional practice in agriculture

InnCoCells

Towards innovative plant-based production processes for the commercial exploitation of scientifically validated cosmetic ingredients.

LIFE

Developing climate-resilient, water-efficient and self-sustainable agri-food systems.

LUPoMS

Detecting changes in the population of essential pollinating insects across Luxembourg using standardized methods and engaging citizens.

MonteVitis

Climate change mitigation and adaptation in the viticulture of Montenegro.

NANOGAM

Understanding the mechanisms of nanomaterial toxicity on freshwater invertebrates.

OneHealthWatch

Enabling future implementation of One Health Surveillance systems through enhanced training program for urban wastewater watch

PollTrail

Influence of anthropogenic emissions and meteorology on health-relevant air pollutants in rural and urban areas of Luxembourg.

PREUSE

Supporting local and regional public authorities to improve the management of their material resources and implement systemic solutions to reclaim and reuse building materials.

REGEN

REGEN will pave innovative pathways for the regeneration of European neighborhoods and cities, tackling urgent socioeconomic, climate and built environment challenges.

STAR-track

Expanding the Built4People Innovation Clusters network and strengthen and support B4PICs and their members to enable them to deliver sustainable and people-centric innovation while [...]

SUPERVIR

Establish the active surveillance of viral pathogens of interest in Luxembourg's wastewater and present the analyzed data on a digital platform for effective and reliable [...]

VinoManAOP2

Protecting and strengthening the economic sustainability of the viticultural sector in the AOP - Moselle Luxembourgeoise“ under changing climatic conditions.