LIST celebrates a decade of innovation and impact

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) commemorated its 10th anniversary with a ceremony held on 19 December at the Maison du Savoir in Belval. The event was attended by HRH the Grand Duke, the Minister of the Economy, Lex Delles, the scientific community and other key players.

Reflecting on a decade of excellence

In her address, Eva Kremer, the outgoing Chair of LIST’s Board of Directors, highlighted the institute’s journey from its ambitious beginnings in 2015 to becoming a driving force in Luxembourg’s research and innovation landscape. Born from the merger of the Gabriel Lippmann and Henri Tudor Public Research Centres, LIST inherited over 25 years of expertise and has established itself as a key player in areas such as environmental sustainability, advanced materials, digital innovation and space resources.

“The vision for LIST was driven by a clear desire: to bridge the gap between fundamental research and the practical needs of businesses, institutions, and society,” said Eva Kremer. “This mission has been made possible by strong support from public authorities, private partners, and academic collaborators who believed in our purpose from the outset.”

Key achievements

Over the last ten years, LIST has positioned itself as a hub of scientific excellence and innovative problem-solving and has achieved remarkable milestones:

• Collaborations for global impact: LIST recently partnered with the United Nations Refugee Agency to develop an early warning system for natural disaster management, leveraging its expertise in climate research and emergency response
• Advancing space innovation: The European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), a joint initiative with the Luxembourg Space Agency and the European Space Agency, has become an internationally recognized centre of expertise in space resource utilization
• Sustainable materials advancement: The innovation centre dedicated to sustainable composite processes and materials has been a strong signal from LIST to meet the future needs of the transport market, which is undergoing its biggest transformation in history
• Biotechnology innovation: LIST has led efforts in wastewater monitoring. The institute has provided critical data on respiratory viruses like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV to inform public health decisions
• AI leadership: As a key member of the Luxembourg AI Factory, LIST contributes to fostering AI innovation by providing expertise, infrastructure, and support to startups and SMEs

By the numbers

LIST’s growth and accomplishments are also evident in its key statistics:

• Over 750 staff representing 60+ nationalities, including 100 PhD students
• Completion of 1665 research projects
• Filing of nearly 200 patents and publication of 2,000 high-impact scientific articles
• Awarding of 3 prestigious ERC research grants and 5 FNR-funded PEARL projects since 2015

Although unable to attend the event in person, the Minister for Research and Higher Education, Stéphanie Obertin shared her thoughts in a video address, stating: "LIST has excelled in strengthening Luxembourg as a hub for research and innovation while fostering vital knowledge and technology transfer across both the public and private sectors."
In his address, the Minister of the Economy, Lex Delles said: “I am consistently impressed by the excellence of LIST’s research and expertise. It is essential to better publicize these achievements so that the people of Luxembourg can also appreciate and take pride in them.”

Looking to the future

2025 promises to be a year to remember for LIST, as the institute celebrates a decade of existence and continues to tackle pressing global challenges such as the ecological transition, digital acceleration, and the need for sustainable economic transformation. Investments in cutting-edge infrastructure, talent retention, and industry partnerships will continue to drive its mission of translating research into impactful solutions for society and the economy.

“Together, we have built an institute capable of addressing the major challenges of our time. As we look ahead, LIST will strengthen its role as a catalyst for innovation. It will work hand in hand with businesses, public institutions, and organizations to shape a sustainable future. I would like to pay tribute today to our extraordinary collaborators, irrespective of their role within LIST, for their passion, their commitment and their creativity,” Eva Kremer concluded.