22 luxembourg LCGB
double standards
R&D
innovative framework! The law of 5 June 2009 to promote research, development and innovation is not just about technology. “This law has clear advantages for the future.” Jeannot Krecké
Photo: Etienne Delorme (archives)
Robert Weber has been re-elected as president of the LCGB which, with over 39,000 members, is among Luxembourg’s weightiest trade unions. He has already presided over the Christian union for 14 years, and this mandate will see him remain in situ for another five. Although a career-long union member, it could be considered surprising Weber was re-elected, and with 77% of the votes, given that he entered the Chambre des Députés in 2009. Some could argue that this has the potential to create a conflict of interests, and with other government members returning to the “backbenches” within the LCGB, Weber has caused a bit of controversy, but insists that his presence in both roles can help give “a union slant” to national politics.
Is the number of Michelin-starred restaurants in Luxembourg in the 2010 edition of the Michelin Guide to Belgium-Luxembourg, up from eleven in 2009. The new stars were awarded to Influence des Saveurs, in Eschsur-Alzette, Le Sud in Clausen and Ma langue sourit in Oetrange, while the formerly two-starred La Table des Guilloux dropped out of the list at the request of the owner due to his impending retirement. This leaves Mosconi, in the Grund, as the Grand Duchy’s only multiple star restaurant. The number of “Bib Gourmand” restaurants, for those which provide a top-drawer three-course meal for 35 euros or less, has also increased, with Parmentier in Junglinster, Brasserie Côté Cour in Bourglinster and Caves Gourmandes in Luxembourg City the latest to join the ranks, while two others were removed from the list.
Brian Power
The legal framework specifically created by the government to support research, development and innovation in Luxembourg was officially presented by Minister for the Economy and Foreign Trade, Jeannot Krecké, in front of a diverse audience numbering some 300 on 30 November. The idea behind the law is to stimulate the capacity for innovation in this country, both for private companies and public research centres and facilities, as well as boosting competitiveness. The timing is canny: “this is an essential strategy to develop advantages over the competition for when we are nearing the close of the crisis,” says Krecké, while Serge Allegrezza, director of the Observatoire de la Compétitivité, highlighted the advantages innovation has already been statistically proven to have. This law certainly isn’t just for the benefit of big business: as Krecké points out, “the enlarged legal framework especially provides financial incentives to small and medium enterprises which have either not fully realised their potential for innovation, or have not even started yet.” He continues, “but it goes beyond technology and traditional R&D,
and will benefit the way companies are structured as well as the services they provide. We want to support innovation in a wide range of fields. That is what we are committing ourselves to.” As well as boosting cooperation between the public and private sectors, the law is also designed to improve international cooperation in the field of research, and help bring genuine expertise into this country. Investment in the establishment and running of centres of research will be made more practical and advantageous. Moreover, the framework takes into account several aspects of innovation, and can troubleshoot potential obstacles: feasibility studies will be supported, intellectual property rights will be both protected and made clear, and help will be provided to new, innovative and dynamic companies, whose potential may previously have gone unnoticed. Without awareness, however, the law will not allow innovation to be maximised, and Luxinnovation can play a concrete role in this regard. They have already organised a series of workshops which will shed light on how things can work for specific individuals and companies, and have also made public a brochure detailing exactly who can profit from the law of 5 June 2009, and how they can go about it.
paperjam | Janvier 2010 | Économie & Finance