EU Cohesion Policy in Luxembourg Luxembourg –

Country SheetEU Cohesion Policy in LuxembourgENLuxembourg –the EU invests EUR 65 millionin the regionsLuxembourg(G-D)© EuroGeographics Association for the administrative boundaries.For 2007-2013, Luxembourg has been allocatedEUR 65 million in EU structural funds. The main focusis on research and development (R&D) and innovation.Cohesion Policy 2007-13■ Competitiveness and employment objectiveThe funding wave 2000-2006 went towards the R&D sector, but also towards improving living conditions in the cities,with new water treatment systems, and to encourage rail travel by cross-border workers.2007-2013 priorities> Some EUR 19 million – representing 38 % of total funding – is going towards promoting R&D and innovation.The aim is for R&D investment to reach 3 % of GDP by 2010, notably by increasing public investment.> EUR 2.2 million is aimed at combating climate change.> Investment on increasing access to the labour market and promoting social inclusion among young peopleand marginalised groups.EU Regional Policy on the groundFoetz, Luxembourg (EU contribution: EUR 1.5 million)Luxembourg’s hilly hiking country is having a hard time attracting investment. Ecostart, a project launched in2002 by the ministry for economic affairs, is a step towards changing that. A production facility with offices, it isspecifically aimed at start-ups.Cohesion Policy

After converting the former Thomas & Betts site in the small town of Foetz, Ecostart has launched 16 start-ups andhelped create 132 jobs. Since the end of the restoration work in 2007, young graduates, researchers and managershave been setting up innovative new companies here, alongside small hi-tech firms from abroad wanting to moveinto Luxembourg.A business incubator with tailor-made services provided by Luxinnovation, the country’s agency for innovationand research, Ecostart is also a relay centre for companies moving out of the early development phase. Guido Becker,co-founder of Lion Systems that has invented a 3D foot scanner for medical applications, says that Ecostart helped hiscompany produce a first working prototype that is now ready to be put on the market.More informationEU Regional Policyhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/EU Regional Policy in Luxembourghttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/luxembourg/index_en.htmEuropean Social Fundhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/Contact PersonTon Van Lierop, Spokesperson for Regional PolicyEuropean CommissionPhone: +(32) 2 2966565E-mail: ton.van-lierop@ec.europa.eu