Year in Review 2020 - Université de Luxembourg
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2020 Year in Review
University of Luxembourg 2, avenue de l’Université L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette www.uni.lu Communications Department: T+ 352 / 46 66 44-6525 Project coordination: Jean-Paul Hoffmann, Anastasia Mouzard-Teickner, Julia Thome Design: Diana Amaral Photos: Henri Goergen (3), Sophie Margue (4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 24, 32, 34), Boshua (12), Michel Brumat (13,18,28,37), Natalie Stacker (13), The University of Luxembourg (7,11,16, 21, 22, 24, 29, 31), Tim van der Heijden (19), Wili (20), istockphoto (22, 25, 33), Mara van Dyck (26), Erika Gonzáles Gutiérrez (26), Saroj Neupane (26), Nicola Theis (26), Pedro Rocha (26) Front cover photograph: © Sophie Margue Join us on: socialmedia.uni.lu
Table of Contents
» » Rector’s Message 5
» » The University at a Glance 6
» » United Against COVID-19 8
» » Research at the University 12
» Studying at the University 24
» » Student Life 26
» » The University, a Partner to Society 30
» » Benefactors 32
» » About the University 34
» Governance Bodies 36
» » Facts and Figures 38
University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020 3
The University at a Glance
4 University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020
Rector‘s Message
A University
for the Future
2020 was an exceptional year, in all
respects. It was the year in which the
COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the
way we fulfil our missions. Yet, we did
more than fulfil all of our missions. The
University was not closed for a single day
during this phenomenal crisis on a global
scale. On 13 March, 2020, we had to go
“remote” with remote teaching, remote
work, and by the end of the weekend we
had managed this successfully.
Continuing to fulfil our missions of Prof. Stéphane Pallage, rector
teaching, research and serving society of the University of Luxembourg
meant the need for quick adaptation
to new tools, new schedules, new
environments, the reprioritisation of In 2020, in spite of the pandemic, we endowment as in the past. Preferring a
some of our projects, the difficult launched a very important process of cautious approach, the University has
rebalancing of work and private life, and strategic reflection, building consensus therefore built a financial buffer in 2020
more. Many of our staff and students around our values, missions and vision for and 2021, which we plan to re-inject to
experienced health problems, directly the next two decades. This work aims to sustain growth over the next four-year
or indirectly linked to COVID-19. Some unite our community behind a common period in case the level of public funding
have suffered the unbearable loss of vision: to be a University for Luxembourg were to stagnate.
family members and friends. It is in and the world, to be a driving force,
these moments that we have all seen generating knowledge and human In the upcoming four-year plan, our goals
the fragility of our lives. We have also capital based on research and education will be to reinforce our international
discovered the fragility of our freedom, to the highest international standards. profile as an excellent research university,
which many of us had not seen The strategic reflection process was to strengthen teaching and establish new
challenged in the recent past. 2020 took conducted mostly virtually, and it forms of learning, to add value to society
its toll on all of us. involved many representatives of our and meet emerging societal challenges,
community. It led to the adoption by our and to reinforce and encourage
But we did a lot more than just cope with Board of Governors in February 2021 of a interdisciplinarity. Digital transformation,
the challenges. Our researchers obtained long-term strategy framework, providing medicine and health, as well as
a record level of funding in 2020 from sustainable and societal development will
guidance to our future orientation, vision
national and international sources. They
and goals. Its implementation is now all become key research areas. Further
published their results in leading journals
in our hands. It will be successful if developments of medical education will
at an even stronger rate than before.
the current generation of researchers, take place. The University will enter a
Teaching was certainly a challenge,
students and staff make it their own and new important phase of its history.
but thanks to the dedication of our
transmit it to the next generation.
staff and our students it was delivered Of course, while writing these lines in
continuously in remote mode, in-person 2020 was also the year in which the the spring of 2021, I know that a priority
and via hybrid formats. Service to society University deliberately took the path for us all remains to stay healthy and
has taken on a new meaning during towards medical education. The new to be able to return to a better quality
the pandemic. Many of our researchers Bachelor in Medicine was launched in life than the one we have experienced
provided expert advice to decision September 2020, opening perspectives since March 2020. A year has passed
makers through the national COVID-19
for new developments in health and since COVID-19 shook our lives, and
Task Force set up by the University and
medical research and education. 2020 the pandemic is unfortunately still with
the other public research institutions.
was the third year of our four-year us. But there is hope on the horizon.
The pandemic has also strengthened plan, and saw additional funding from Vaccination is underway. It is a fact that
us regarding our sense of community. the Ministry of Higher Education and life will become better.
The University has grown stronger and Research to support the University’s
more confident in its identity. We have Digital Strategy, the development of our This anniversary is probably not one to
developed a true sense of belonging. We Institute for Advanced Studies, a future celebrate. Yet, this crisis has helped
are here for others, as others are here centre for digital ethics, and many more create heroes in all of us, and I want to
for us. projects. celebrate this in this review, and look
with pride at the year just gone.
Among the lessons learned is the The COVID-19 pandemic affects public
realisation that our University is in fact finances worldwide. The years ahead Have a look for yourself. Bonne lecture!
very agile. We learn and adapt quickly. may be financially more difficult than
We do so in a creative and innovative those behind us. The University may not Stéphane Pallage,
way. see the same level of growth of its public Rector
University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020 5
The University at a Glance
Highlights 2020
Among the many achievements of 2020, the following
stand out:the following stand out:
» University takes a core role in Luxembourg’s COVID-19 Task Force
» Launch of the University’s Institute for Advanced Studies
» New ERC grants awarded to:
• Prof. Björn Ottersten for a radar system design
• Prof. Tegawendé Bissyandé for software repair research
• Prof. Alexandre Tkatchenko for a novel chemical discovery platform
» New chairs created at the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance:
• Chair in Digital Procurement
• Chair in Sustainable Finance
» University announces bilateral cooperation agreements with the Luxembourg
Institute of Health and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
» Expansion of study offer with new programmes: Bachelor in Mathematics,
Bachelor in Physics, Bachelor in Engineering, Bachelor in Medicine, Master in
Technopreneurship, Master in Software Development and Validation, Master in
Legislative Studies
» University celebrates 1000th doctoral graduate
» More than 1,600 diplomas awarded for the academic year 2019/2020
» Launch of UNIVERSEH – The European Space University for Earth
and Humanity with Université Fédérale de Toulouse (France), Université du
Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf (Germany),
Luleå tekniska universitet (Sweden) and Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza im.
Stanisława Staszica w Krakowie (Poland)
» Formulation of a long-term strategic framework for the University
» Elaboration of a gender equality policy
» First student and staff satisfaction surveys
» Establishment of the Office for Partnership, Knowledge and Technology Transfer
» Inauguration of the Europe Direct Information Centre University of Luxembourg
6 University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020
The
University
The University offers
17 Bachelor’s and 46
Master’s programmes,
4 doctoral schools and
15 vocational training
and lifelong learning
training courses
The University of Luxembourg is a research university with
a distinctly international, multilingual and interdisciplinary
character.
The University’s ambition is to provide the highest (FHSE); the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security,
quality research and teaching in its chosen fields and Reliability and Trust (SnT); the Luxembourg
to generate a positive scientific, educational, social, Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) and the
cultural and societal impact in Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital
Greater Region. History (C2DH).
6,700 Student Registrations Research Areas
With more than 6,700 student registrations (of Research at the University focuses on six priority
which 923 are doctoral candidates) from 130
areas and two interdisciplinary themes: Materials
countries and about 1,600 academic staff from all
Science, Computer Science & ICT Security,
over the globe, the University is an inspiring melting
European and International Law, Finance and
pot. It offers a unique mix of international excellence
and national relevance, delivering knowledge to Financial Innovation, Education and Contemporary
society and businesses. and Digital History, as well as Health and Systems
Biomedicine and Data Modelling and Simulation.
Three Faculties and Three Research
Centres Prominent Rankings
The University comprises three faculties and three Times Higher Education ranks the University of
interdisciplinary centres: the Faculty of Science, Luxembourg #3 worldwide for its “international
Technology and Medicine (FSTM); the Faculty of outlook”, #12 in the Young University Ranking 2020
Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF); the Faculty and among the top 250 universities in the World
of the Humanities, Education and Social Sciences University Rankings 2021.
Faculty of Humanities,
Education and C2DH
Social Sciences
LUXEMBOURG CENTRE FOR
CONTEMPORARY AND DIGITAL HISTORY
University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020 7
United Against
COVID-19
In 2020, the coronavirus impacted the world on every level and changed
how the University functioned. COVID-19 has also shown how exceptional
crises bring out the best in us. The University found ways to cope with the
crisis, ensure continuity, limit the negative fallout for research, teaching and
mental health and to support students in need.
How the University Adapted The measures included:
to the Pandemic • COVID-safe spaces created in lecture halls, classrooms, shared areas, the
Faced with a highly contagious library, labs and offices
virus and the need to preserve the • Distribution of 20,000 masks
health system’s operational capacity,
unprecedented steps were taken to • Installation of hand sanitiser stations in University buildings
limit social contacts and put parts
of the economy into lockdown. The • Installation of live streaming equipment in the lecture halls for remote/hybrid
University made its campuses as teaching
COVID-safe as possible and switched
• Development of a dedicated platform with tutorials, guidelines and support for
to remote teaching and working.
remote studying, remote exams and remote work
Despite the highly disruptive effects
of the COVID mitigation measures, • Provision of computer equipment for remote work
the continuity of the University’s
teaching and research activities could • Consistent communication campaigns aimed at students and staff
be preserved. And a large part of that
• Free COVID-19 testing for staff and students
research activity was re-refocused to
support the fight against the pandemic.
Read more about the COVID-related
research on page 10-11.
8 University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020
New students attended the
University's Welcome Day 2020
organised in compliance with
health and saftey regulations.
Beyond making the Hardship Fund and “Good one semester or longer, depending on
the need. This project has been made
Food” Vouchers Support
University COVID- possible thanks to the generosity of
Students in Need
safe and facilitating With the COVID-19 crisis, many
André Losch Fondation and Fondation
du Grand-Duc et de la Grande-
remote teaching and students were suddenly confronted Duchesse.
with a loss of income which
work, the University sometimes made it hard for them to
helped staff and support themselves. The Hardship
Campus Life Went Virtual
Fund aims to support students in Since the summer semester, all
students cope with urgent financial need and relieve Campus Life classes (sport, art &
psychological and them of a part of this burden. Since well-being) switched online, to reach
staff and students in their homes.
financial burdens. the beginning of the project in
February 2020, the Hardship Fund
has supported over 80 students. Build Your Own Internship
The “Good Food” vouchers provide Build Your Own Internship is a 10-
students in urgent need with a food week online programme designed
voucher of €40/week to buy basic when most summer internships
The University Launches food items. Thanks to the generosity
were cancelled due to the COVID-19
UMatter of the André Losch Fondation and the
pandemic. The Entrepreneurship
Œuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-
UMatter was launched at the Programme’s remote initiative brought
Duchesse Charlotte, the University
beginning of the confinement period together Master’s and Bachelor’s
was able to support 100 students.
to help students and staff manage students from the three faculties of
the rapid and unforeseen changes the University of Luxembourg. During
in their professional, academic and Filling Technological Gaps this course, participants acquired
personal lives. UMatter is an online for Remote Studying entrepreneurial skills and developed
hub for information, resources, The Tech Scheme provides laptops to their own ventures. Student teams
support and guidance. Students and students who do not have access to worked on education, community,
staff can find tips on how to take care suitable equipment to study remotely. financial, health tech and civil
of themselves, what to do if a person This allows them to follow their online engineering ideas aimed at bringing
is concerned about someone else’s classes, hand in their assignments sustainable positive change to our
well-being and much more. and participate in assessments for society.
University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020 9
United Against COVID-19
The University’s Research Contribution
to the Fight Against COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 “In the spring 2020, very little was including asymptomatic carriers,
pandemic, the University of known about the virus and the illness thereby pre-emptively breaking
Luxembourg reoriented a significant it causes,” says Prof. Paul Wilmes, infection chains. At the same time, LST
part of its research activities. In March Chargé de Mission of the University contributed to the close monitoring
2020, the University became part of and co-speaker of the Task Force. of the spread of the virus among the
the national Research Luxembourg “How many people in the Grand Luxembourg population.
COVID-19 Task Force, to support the Duchy are likely to become infected • Prevalence study: The CON-VINCE
joint expertise that the University with the coronavirus? How do we study, led by Prof. Rejko Krüger
and other research institutions in recognise severe COVID-19 cases from the LIH and LCSB, aims to
Luxembourg can offer in the fight from the early stages? What role do evaluate the dynamics of the spread
against COVID-19. Around 200 those people play who have only mild of the COVID-19 disease within
University researchers put their symptoms, or no symptoms at all? Luxembourg’s population.
careers and other non-COVID-related None of this was known. Science-
based answers to these and similar • Statistical pandemic projections: Prof.
projects on hold to join the cause and
questions were absolutely essential Rudi Balling, Prof. Alexander Skupin
to contribute to all 14 work packages
and Prof. Jorge Gonçalves from the
of the Task Force which focused on: if we were to be able to take the right
LCSB, developed a workflow for daily
measures to prevent an uncontrolled
• Evaluating the infection prevalence simulations on evolution, impact and
escalation of the pandemic,” says
in Luxembourg, spread of the COVID-19 outbreak to
Prof.Paul Wilmes.
• Identifying predictive markers of forecast the burden on the healthcare
disease severity, system and to understand for how long
The Task Force cooperates closely
social distancing and other measures
• Coordinating interventional clinical with the government institutions,
need to be in place before people
trials with existing and novel drugs, health authorities and hospitals on
could safely resume their everyday
projects, projections and strategies.
• Providing diagnostic capacity and lives outside their homes.
It supplies factual information on the
large-scale testing strategies for spread of the virus and monitors the • Mobilising volunteers to support
Luxembourg, situation with the aim of continuously hospital emergency services: Under
• Identifying eHealth solutions for containing the spread of the novel the leadership of Prof. Gilbert
hospitalised and ambulatory patients, coronavirus. Significant initiatives Massard from the Faculty of Science,
include: Technology and Medicine, this initiative
• Making statistical pandemic
was particularly important during the
projections, • Large-Scale Testing: As part of its
first phase of the pandemic to secure
lockdown exit strategy, Luxembourg
• Gauging the economic impact of the patient care in Luxembourg.
implemented an extensive and unique
pandemic,
nation-wide testing campaign, co- • Supply chains and logistics: Led
• Assessing supply chains and led by Prof. Ulf Nehrbass, CEO of by Prof. Benny Mantin from the
logistics, the Luxembourg Institute of Health Luxembourg Centre for Logistics and
• Mobilising volunteers to support and Professor at the University Supply Chain Management (LCL),
hospital emergency services, of Luxembourg, and Prof. Paul the initiative to study supply chains
Wilmes, principal investigator at the and logistics remains instrumental in
• Mobilising and coordinating private- assessing the impact of the pandemic
Luxembourg Centre for Systems
public partnerships, on the different logistics providers,
Biomedicine (LCSB), inviting its
• Developing COVID-19 centered residents and cross-border workers analysing supply chains that support
communication, to voluntarily get tested for SARS- various sectors of the economy and
CoV-2. The aim of this Large-Scale supporting the planning process of the
• Compiling evidence-based review in
Testing (LST) initiative was to limit Large-Scale Testing initiative.
the outbreak context, and
the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus
• Creating new research initiatives. by identifying positive cases early, While science has already meaningfully
contributed towards the management
of the pandemic in Luxembourg
over the last year, much remains to
be discovered in the months ahead.
The University “We have much to learn about the
distributed 20,000
next phase of the pandemic, in which
masks.
new vaccines are available but also
newly circulating strains appeared.
Whether vaccines will also protect
against infection and transmission,
and not only disease symptoms, is
just one aspect that has to be clarified
urgently,” says Prof. Paul Wilmes.
10 University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020United Against COVID-19
Outside of the Task Force, A survey, conducted by Profs.
approximately 50 University projects Conchita D’Ambrosio and Claus
are dedicated to COVID-19 research. Vögele, aimed to better understand
While these projects were conducted the impact of confinement on the
outside of the Task Force, many of populations of Luxembourg, Italy,
them inform the work and research Spain, Sweden, France and Germany.
within the work packages of the
Signs on campuses remind
Task Force, and contribute to a
Analysing the Impact of Exit students, staff and visitors to
broad-based network of expertise. respect health and safety rules.
A number of these projects focus Strategies
on the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and A team at the University of
the infection it causes, COVID-19. Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary
Yet others look at the economic and Centre for Security, Reliability and
social effects of the pandemic. 26 Trust (SnT), led by Prof. Yves Le
projects received funding from the Traon, has developed an online tool
Luxembourg National Research Fund to simulate COVID-19 exit strategy
(FNR). More than 20 pandemic-related planning for close to 100 countries.
research activities were funded by the The tool uses machine learning
University internally. techniques to analyse public data and
deliver hypothetical projections of
The following are only a few of the how different isolation measures will
many significant projects dedicated impact the spread of COVID-19.
to COVID-19 research outside of the
Task Force: Survival Prediction in
Patients With Severe
Towards Pharmacological COVID-19 Infection
Treatments for COVID-19 Building on a long-standing
The project CovScreen, led by collaboration with the Wuhan
Prof. Enrico Glaab, provides a fast University of Science and Technology,
experimental validation of drug researchers from the Luxembourg
repurposing candidates for COVID-19 Centre for Systems Biomedicine
from a computational pre-selection at the University of Luxembourg
of antivirals, drugs and natural conducted a study based on blood
compounds that are inexpensive, have samples from Chinese COVID-19
known safety properties and high patients. They developed machine
predicted bioavailability in the lung.
learning tools to identify crucial
biomarkers of disease severity. Their
Legally Fighting COVID-19 results highlight three parameters that Hand sanitiser stations
The project “Legally Fighting were installed across
can be used to predict the survival
the campuses.
COVID-19”, led by Prof. Elise Poillot, of individual patients with more than
proposes a strategic assessment of 90% accuracy.
the existing legal framework to be
respected at the EU and domestic Covidmemory – Memories
level (compliance with the GDPR)
of a Pandemic
to fight the spreading of the virus
through tracking applications. The COVID-19 pandemic is an
event whose historic dimension
is immediately obvious.
Understanding
The crowdsourced memory
Psychological Effects of bank covidmemory.lu, launched in
Social Distancing April 2020 by the Luxembourg Centre
COVID-19 has profoundly changed our for Contemporary and Digital History,
daily habits. Between “home-office", offers all people living or working in
“home-schooling” and only leaving Luxembourg the opportunity to share
our homes for basic necessities, their experiences and preserve them
social interactions have been for future generations. The project, led
drastically reduced. Stress factors by Dr Stefan Krebs, aims to document
such as the loss of income must be the impact the pandemic has had on
added to this social isolation. people’s lives and social relationships.
University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020 11Our Research
in 2020
The University of Luxembourg is a strongly
research-oriented university. Its ambition is to
produce top-class research output, addressing
society’s challenges through interdisciplinary
approaches.
In 2020, more than 1,100 academic staff were involved in about 1,000 University
research projects.
The University strongly supported the national COVID-19 Task Force, and many
University researchers suspended their ongoing projects to join the fight against
the global pandemic. Detailed information about COVID-related research is
published on pages 10-11.
The University focuses on six research priorities and two interdisciplinary
themes. These are defined as areas in which excellence and critical mass, as
well as a high potential for international leadership, already exists or can be
achieved. In 2020, the University counted
1,137 academic staff.
Research priorities:
» Materials Science
» Computer Science & ICT Security
» European and International Law
» Finance and Financial Innovation
» Education
» Contemporary and Digital History
Interdisciplinary themes:
» Health and Systems Biomedicine
» Data Modelling and Simulation
In 2020, the University received a total of 61.7 million euros in third party
funding. A remarkable success was achieved in terms of international
competitive funding (H2020). 27 new projects were accepted by the European
Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme, attracting funding of 8.2 million euros.
Another 145 new projects received grants by the Luxembourg National Research
Fund (FNR). This represented 48.4 million euros of funding.
12 University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020Research at the University
Research Highlights
Launch of the Institute for Advanced Studies
The University launched an and society; and to attract and retain INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES (IAS)
Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) international talent in Luxembourg.
with the aim of strengthening its
interdisciplinary research. The In the context of the Audacity
IAS reinforces the University’s instrument (which features ten
international profile as an excellent collaborative projects at the forefront
research university and acts as a of interdisciplinary science, all with a
promoter to overcome boundaries distinctly exploratory and audacious
character), have been retained for
between different scientific disciplines
funding in 2020.
and sectors.
“The major challenges we face
Building on its strong disciplinary today, whether they are economical,
roots, the University uses industrial, societal, health-related or
interdisciplinary research as a catalyst environmental, are so complex and
to generate new understanding and over-arching that interdisciplinary
innovations to improve the quality of efforts are required to assess,
life and society of tomorrow. understand and solve them”, explains
Prof Jens Kreisel, Vice-Rector for
The IAS has four missions: to leverage Research at the University, who leads
bold interdisciplinary research at the the University’s IAS during the first
very forefront of science; to project year as its founding director. “The IAS
the University’s values of excellence, acts as a magnet for the international
interdisciplinarity and internationality; Prof. Jens Kreisel, Vice-Rector for
research community and opens
to build bridges within the University Research and founding director of the IAS
additional channels of exchange with
community, with external visitors civil society.”
New ERA SanDAL Chair Funding for Humanities,
The University was awarded a prestigious ERA (European
Research Area) Chair grant. With a budget of 2.5 million
Education and Social Sciences
euros for five years. The ERA Chair in Mathematical Statistics Seven projects – funded by the Luxembourg Research Fund’s
and Data Science (SanDAL) aims to complement current CORE programme for strengthening the scientific quality of
research activities to position Luxembourg as a key player Luxembourg’s public research – were launched at the Faculty
in mathematics and data science. Prof. Yannick Baraud was of Humanities, Education and Social Science in 2020. This
inaugurated as the chairholder. exemplified the relevance of the humanities and the social
sciences for advancing Luxembourg’s research priorities.
The projects address topics like multilingualism and the
New Chair in Digital acquisition of number concepts; childhood and multiliteracy;
Procurement the effects of socio-economic factors in the ageing process;
regional economic development and sustainable finances;
The University of Luxembourg and the Ministry of the test development in mathematics; and European banking
Economy announced the creation of a Chair in Digital supervision.
Procurement. The Chair, held by associate professor Nils
Löhndorf, is hosted at the University’s Centre for Logistics
and Supply Chain Management of the Faculty of Law,
Economics and Finance and trains Master’s students in
the use of new technologies and computer science in
procurement.
ERC Grant for Radar Project
Prof. Björn Ottersten, Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre
for Security, Reliability and Trust, received a Proof-of-
Concept grant from the European Research Council (ERC).
The grant will be used to develop a product based on a novel
radar system, working together with research associate Dr
Christian Hammes and research scientist Dr Bhavani Shankar.
The radar system design allows exceptionally accurate
movement tracking – down to a few centimetres – for use
in high-performance sports coaching and the manufacturing
industry. Prof. Yannik Baraud
University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020 13Research at the University
Stem Cell research Develops New
Treatment Strategy for Parkinson’s
Disease
In a seven-year research effort, an international team of scientists led by Prof.
Rejko Krüger of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine clarified the
cause of certain genetic forms of Parkinson’s disease, and identified potential
pharmacological treatments. The interdisciplinary research team experimented
on patient-based cell cultures in the lab and gained new insight into the role of a
protein called DJ-1. Their results offer novel possibilities to treat a malfunction in
this protein’s synthesis.
FNR ATTRACT Fellow Thomas Cauvin
Joins University
Associate professor Thomas Cauvin joined the Luxembourg Centre for
Contemporary and Digital History with an FNR ATTRACT fellowship endowed with
2 million euros. Inspired by the evolution of digital participatory sciences, Cauvin’s
project facilitates interactions between academics, cultural institutions, and the
general public to contribute to a democratisation of access to and the production of
Prof. Thomas Cauvin
history.
Tackling the Notorious Oncogene RAS in Cancer
Prof. Daniel Abankwa from the can attack flat and large protein-
Department of Life Sciences and protein interfaces. “Together with
Medicine at the Faculty of Science, our collaborator Prof. Tom Grossman
Technology and Medicine conducted
four cancer related projects in 2020
(VU Amsterdam), we will design so
called peptidomimetics as inhibitors,”
I am optimistic
on, which is the most frequently
mutated human oncogene (the
explains Prof. Abankwa. that the next years
mutated genes that can significantly
drive tumour formation).The projects
Finally, a FNR Proof-of-Concept grant
supports the development of a novel
will show some
were conducted in collaboration with
partners in Germany, the Netherlands
anti-cancer drug. The project aims
to create a virtual biotech company
breakthroughs in
and the UK.
to develop a drug, which indirectly
inhibits RAS. “RAS drug development
understanding and
drug-targeting RAS
Most research on RAS deals with its
role in driving cell growth, but recent is a very hot topic at the moment.
data suggest that its dysfunction in The National Cancer Institute in the
cancer goes well beyond that. This is
addressed in the project PolaRAS2.
US has even dedicated a special
programme to support this, called
in cancer.
This applies sophisticated microscopy the RAS-Initiative. However, drug
Prof. Daniel Abankwa
methods to understand how RAS development is a very expensive
proteins drive cancer stem cells process, typically taking more than
defining cellular processes, which 10-years. Yet, several examples in
could be at the origin of every tumor. recent years have demonstrated
that academic labs are important
The second project, RAS-NANOME, innovators,” says Prof. Abankwa.
focuses on finding novel regulators
of RAS, specifically those that would With this in mind, Prof. Abankwa
regulate the organisation of RAS into
is optimistic that the next years
signaling packages in the cellular
will show some breakthroughs in
membrane. Importantly, some
understanding and drug-targeting RAS
of these regulators may have the
potential to become important drug in cancer. It will be exciting to see
targets in cancer. progress in this area at the University
of Luxembourg.
Most drugs on the market are small
molecules that fit into a drug-target The Luxembourg National Research
like a key into a ‘deep’ keyhole. The Fund (FNR) supports these projects
third project, HRAS-PPI, aims to with a total of more than 1.6 million
develop challenging inhibitors, which euros.
14 University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020Research at the University
Doctoral Education at the University
The University is one of the main legal systems and prepares them doctoral candidates will focus on
pillars of Luxembourg’s dynamic for competitive academic and non- developing their ability to cope with
research landscape, driving the academic future careers. Courses new, original research questions
national ecosystem of innovation and on general skills and methods are and address them with up-to-date
research. Doctoral education plays combined with specific training quantitative tools and methods.
a very important role in this, and in legal topics, including themes The School collaborates with
doctoral candidates contribute heavily attached to externally funded research private partners as well as local and
to research and to the University’s programmes on doctoral education. international public institutions.
positioning as a research university.
They also represent an important • The Doctoral School in Humanities
• The Doctoral School in Economics
talent pool for the country. and Social Sciences (DSHSS) offers
and Finance (DSEF) aims at providing
doctoral candidates with a high-calibre its training within four different
In 2020, more than 923 doctoral
research environment meeting the doctoral programmes: Humanities,
candidates were registered at the
standards of the best universities Education, Social Sciences and
University, compared to the first nine
in Europe and North America. The Psychology.
doctoral graduates in 2006/2007.
In total, 129 candidates obtained
their doctor’s degree in 2020.
The University also celebrated an
important milestone in 2020 – its
1000th doctoral graduate Dr Carmine
Gabriele, who completed his thesis
on financial stability at the Faculty of
Law, Economics and Finance.
In 2020, the University for the first
time honoured 15 doctoral graduates
with the “Excellent Thesis Award”
which recognises the outstanding
quality of their doctoral theses. “The
‘Excellent Thesis Award’ celebrates
cutting-edge research and is awarded
to the top 10% of the University’s
doctorates. We are proud of our
outstanding young researchers, who
will be ambassadors of our University
and for the research and innovation
potential of Luxembourg,” says Prof.
Jens Kreisel, Vice-Rector for Research
of the University.
The University of Luxembourg has
four Doctoral Schools:
• The Doctoral School in Science and
Engineering (DSSE) currently offers
seven doctoral programmes in civil
engineering, computational sciences,
computer science and computer
engineering, mathematics and
applications, mechanical/electro and
communications engineering, physics
and materials science, and systems
and molecular biomedicine. More
than 570 doctoral candidates from
more than 60 countries are currently
pursuing their studies in the DSSE.
In 2020, the University for the first time honoured 15
• The Doctoral School of Law
responds to the needs of PhD doctoral graduates with the “Excellent Thesis Award”
candidates educated in different
University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020 15Research at the University
Luxembourg in Transition - Addressing the
Challenges of the 21st Century
Reducing the ecological footprint is towards a zero-carbon society Luxembourg’s ecological transition
one of the major concerns that society by 2050. Rather than putting the focuses on five closely intertwined
is currently facing. New creative tools participating teams into competition, topics: agro-ecology, regenerative
and solutions are required at all levels “Luxembourg in Transition” is energy systems, alternative
to reduce the human impact on our designed as an exchange of ideas, economies, and governance/
planet. which should guide future political participation-processes, in addition
decision-making and transform ways to regional planning, urban planning
The Luxembourg Government wishes of living. and design, and architecture. The
to play a key role in decarbonising the researchers argue that technological
economy and implementing a green Researchers from the Department progress is not the only solution
transition. It launched the initiative of Geography and Spatial Planning towards a sustainable society.
“Luxembourg in Transition: Spatial and the Department of Engineering Changes of society’s economic,
Visions for the Zero-Carbon and teamed up with the Luxembourg social, political, and anthropological
Resilient Future of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology orientations are required to achieve
Functional Region” in June 2020. (LIST), the Centre for Ecological this shift.
The Ministry for Energy and Learning (CELL), the Institute of
Spatial Planning called for teams of Organic Agriculture (IBLA) and the 10 projects were selected out of
regional developers, urban planners, Office for Landscape Morphology 30 proposals. Among the final
architects, and scientists from the (OLM) to bring their expertise to participants are the University of
humanities and the social sciences to the project. The team drew on the Luxembourg consortium led by
submit their visions for an ecological experiences acquired by some of their Prof. Florian Hertweck as well as
transition of Luxembourg and the fellow team members who worked on internationally renowned offices such
Greater Region. The “Luxembourg the “Prospective visions for Greater as MVRDV, Kees Christianse and
in Transition” initiative aspires to Geneva competition”, a consultation Arup. The three-stage competition
find new, creative planning and project that largely inspired the ends in December 2021 when the
development solutions, while “Luxembourg in Transition” initiative. three remaining teams will present
protecting biodiversity and moving Their scenario for facilitating their detailed visions.
Collage by students
Daniel Domine,
Christos Floros and
Simona Popova of the
accompanying design
studio led by Dr. Nikos
Katsikis and Prof.
Florian Hertweck.
16 University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020Research at the University
Cutting-
Edge
Research for
Novel Satellite-
Terrestrial Networks
A six-year research partnership “The partnership with SES over the
between the Interdisciplinary Centre years has been a driving force for
for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) some of the most exciting research
and SES, a leader in global content outcomes of SnT,” says Prof. Björn
connectivity solutions, explores Ottersten, Director, SnT. “We are
next-generation integrated satellite- proud to have our work validated
terrestrial networks, leveraging by the FNR and are confident the
what has already been achieved research will create substantial
in the 5G area. Titled INSTRUCT opportunities for the space sector in
(INtegrated Satellite-TeRrestrial Luxembourg.”
Systems for Ubiquitous Beyond 5G
CommunicaTions), the project builds The project is funded by the
on a successful 10-year relationship Luxembourg National Research
between SnT and SES that has Fund’s (FNR) Industrial Partnership
resulted in a number of advanced Block Grant (IPBG) programme,
technology solutions. the FNR’s most extensive funding
mechanism for collaborative industrial
The integration of satellite and research in Luxembourg. The IPBG
terrestrial systems is crucial, as truly award funds 17 SnT research projects.
global next-generation networks
require an ecosystem of multiple
communication infrastructures to be
inclusive, ubiquitous and affordable.
A satellite is an ideal enabler of the
next-generation networks thanks
to its wide coverage, ability to
deliver to moving platforms and
simultaneity. It allows a broad range
of next-generation connectivity
scenarios, even in remote areas,
for crucial applications in mobile
backhauling, aero and maritime
connectivity, emergency response,
telemedicine, and much more. As
an industry leader, SES has a solid
track record in delivering to the
existing data markets, and spearheads
major technological innovation and
standardisation initiatives, including
for 5G.
“The integration of satellite and
terrestrial networks is a complex
research challenge as we enter the
beyond 5G era,” says Prof. Symeon
Chatzinotas, Project Principal
Investigator at SnT. “This FNR grant
gives us the support to build a Centre
of Excellence in Luxembourg, as well
as advance research and technology
transfer in this area.”
University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020 17Research at the University
(...) despite the
difficulties, the
perspectives are
tremendous.
Prof. Emma Schymanski
The Exposome: When Our Environment Drives
Health and Disease
Prof. Emma Schymanski, Luxembourg high-resolution mass spectrometry, also mentioned the importance of
National Research Fund (FNR) a technology that can detect tens non-targeted analyses to identify
ATTRACT fellow and head of the of thousands of compounds in unknown contaminants and showed
Environmental Cheminformatics biological and environmental samples. the potential of in-vitro bioassays
research group at the Luxembourg Associated with growing databases to assess the toxicity of complex
Centre for Systems Biomedicine on all known chemicals and powerful mixtures, even if chemical identities
(LCSB), and collaborators have computational tools to analyse large remain unknown.”
conducted fundamental research amounts of data, these technological
to better map the complexity of advances could revolutionise “Both papers are a call for a research
the exposome. Their contributions environmental monitoring. effort at a scale comparable to
were published in two papers in the what was done for the human
prestigious scientific journal Science. This first paper also highlights that a genome, to get in-depth knowledge
network approach is needed to take of the cocktail of substances we
The exposome is the sum of all the into account the large number of are exposed to and their intricate
environmental drivers of health and chemical exposures in our daily lives interactions with living organisms,”
disease: a combination of external and the complex way they interact Prof. Schymanski points out. There
factors such as chemicals contained with our cells. The second review 2 are still many challenges ahead:
in the air, water or food, and of describes ways to characterise groups databases have to be harmonised
internal components produced by of chemicals in diverse samples, and made fully accessible, statistical
our organism in response to various from water and soil to biological tools need refining in order to
stress factors. This very complex set tissues, and to identify mixtures that account for the constellation of
of elements is continually evolving. pose a combined risk. “Innovative chemicals coming from related
To map it fully is a challenging sampling techniques such as hand sources, and methodologies should
undertaking. A first paper1 describes wipes or silicon bracelets can be be standardised. But despite the
progress that will help with this used to measure personal exposure,” difficulties, the perspectives are
task, such as the development of Prof. Schymanski explains. “We tremendous.
1
The exposome and health: where chemistry meets biology
Roel Vermeulen, Emma L. Schymanski, Albert-Laszlo Barabási and Gary W. Miller, Science, January 2020
2
Tracking Complex Mixtures of Chemicals in our Changing Environment
Beate I. Escher, Heather M. Stapleton, and Emma L. Schymanski, Science, January 2020
Supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR).
18 University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020Research at the University
Experimental Media Archaeology
The goal of the project “Doing The Kinora viewer and reel: original
Experimental Media Archaeology” and replica.
(DEMA) of the Centre for
Contemporary and Digital History
(C2DH) is to explore the hands-on
potential of historical re-enactments
and experiments to study past media
technologies and how they were
used in the past. The C2DH has
joined forces with the Department of
Engineering (DoE) of the Faculty of
Science, Technology and Medicine on
several interdisciplinary projects.
One such interdisciplinary project
was the replication of a Kinora, one of
the first motion picture technologies
designed for home use, developed in
1896 and used until 1914. This device
of the history of (early) cinema applies
a flipbook mechanism, in which a DEMA co-researcher Aleks Kolkowski Stentorphone (1913-20). Based on a
series of paper-based unperforated embarked on another historical close examination of these objects,
photographs are attached to a wheel. replication project in collaboration with Bachelor’s students David Schmit
By turning the wheel and looking the DoE, involving the amplification and Thomas Theisen and Master’s
through the viewer, one could watch student Sunil Kumar created replica
of sound using compressed air. This
a series of photographs in motion. models using 3D printing in polymers
pioneering technology from the early
DEMA researcher Tim van der Heijden and metal, laser-cutting and more
20th century, a precursor to electrical
worked on this project with senior traditional milling techniques.
public address systems, enabled
lecturer Claude Wolf and student
assistant Morgane Piet from the recorded music and announcements The year 2021 will see the culmination
DoE. By means of 3D modelling and to be played to large audiences. The of this fruitful interdisciplinary
desktop manufacturing engineering goal was to recreate a compressed collaboration, with live public
techniques, they were able to produce air gramophone using two types demonstrations and performances
a working replica of the original Kinora of valved sound boxes, namely centred on these replicated
viewer from c. 1907. the Auxetophone (c. 1905) and the technologies and their usage.
At the Intersection of Law and Digitalisation
With DTU DILLAN
DILLAN is a Doctoral Training Unit decision-making for various areas of of these research priorities will ensure
(DTU) covering topics of shaping regulation and law, while protecting enhanced digital literacy among law
the evolution of Europe’s multi-level democratic decision-making, doctoral candidates and knowledge
legal systems to the digital evolution transparency and individual rights. of legal context among computer
and digitalisation. It is based on an Researchers study possibilities of science doctoral candidates. The
interdisciplinary cooperation between several key enabling technologies project DILLAN received funding from
lawyers (in the Department of Law on values, principles and rights, the Luxembourg National Research
at the Faculty of Law, Economics accountability and develop responses Fund’s (FNR) PRIDE programme.
and Finance) and computer scientists for the legal system. The projects
(at the Interdisciplinary Centre for focus on six clusters addressing PRIDE is the FNR’s main programme
Security, Reliability and Trust and the matters in constitutional and for funding doctoral research
Department of Computer Science at regulatory fields, taxation, currencies in Luxembourg. It supports the
the Faculty of Science, Technology and Fin-Tech, crime and criminal law, development of critical mass in key
and Medicine). DILLAN was initiated dispute settlement and machine research areas by attracting excellent
and is coordinated by Profs Herwig learning. doctoral candidates to Luxembourg
Hofmann, Katerina Pantazatou and and offering high quality research
Mark Cole, bringing together an The University of Luxembourg is training. Under this programme,
academic community of 17 doctoral uniquely positioned to undertake this doctoral candidate grants are
students, one post-doc and 17 interdisciplinary research. European awarded to researchers cooperating
associated supervisors. on a coherent research and training
and International Law as well as
programme.
Computer Science and ICT Security
The research focuses on enhancing are amongst the University’s central
digitalised problem-solving and research priorities. The combination
University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020 19Research at the University
Excellence
Excellence in research is not only a matter of strategies, programmes and
projects. It is, above all, a matter of aligning dedicated bright minds. In
2020, many members of the University research community have been
honoured with awards of excellence.
Prof. Tonie Fatima Chaouche receives the Rolf
van Dam Prof. Stéphane Bordas Prof. Alexandre Tkatchenko Tarrach Prize from Rolf Tarrach.
Prof. Tonie van Dam 2020” list released by Clarivate. Their expectations. The prize rewards
Inducted as AGU Fellow publications rank in the top 1% by excellence in the field of research and
citations for field and publication year promotes the international reputation
Prof. Tonie van Dam was inducted as in the Web of Science citation index, of the University.
a Fellow of the American Geophysical demonstrating significant influence
Union (AGU). AGU Fellows are a among their peers.
select group of scientists who have Pierre Werner Scholarship
made exceptional contributions to The Pierre Werner Scholarship,
Rolf Tarrach Prize for Fatima
Earth and space sciences. awarded by the Fondation Pierre
Chaouche
Werner under the aegis of the
Two Professors Among The association Les Amis de
Fondation de Luxembourg, is given
l’Université has awarded the
the World’s Highly Cited to outstanding doctoral students in
Rolf Tarrach Prize 2020 to Fatima
Researchers Chaouche for her doctoral thesis. the fields of either law, economics,
Professors Stéphane Bordas and She explores the legal value and finance, or political sciences. The
Alexandre Tkatchenko rank among the enforceability of tax circulars and tax 2020 laureates are Rana Cömertpay,
world’s most influential academics rulings in Luxembourg domestic law Bastian Krieger, Roila Mavrouli and
on the “Highly Cited Researchers in light of the principle of legitimate Igor Tkalec.
FNR Awards
2020 University researchers win FNR
Awards
The Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) Awards
celebrate science and research in Luxembourg. In 2020,
researchers of the University received awards in four
categories:
• Outstanding PhD Thesis: Maciej Chrzanowski, Thierry
Titcheu Chekam
• Outstanding Promotion of Science to the Public: Sophie
Wagner, Sabine Katharina Schmitz, Ruxandra Soare
Lelubre, Lucie Debroux, Lisa Smits, Philippe Lamesch
• Outstanding Research-Driven Innovation: Prof. Claudine
Kirsch and Simone Mortini
• Outstanding Scientific Publication: Dr Carole Linster,
Nicole Paczia, Julia Becker-Kettern, Jean-François
Conrotte and Daniel Kay.
20Research at the University
Focus on Sustainability
The University also conducts outreach activities to engage with a broad
general audience. These include the “October Days of Sustainable
Development,” the lecture series “Inequality and...”, as well as the
“Inclusive and Sustainable Finance Research Conference,” organised
virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The world is changing at an
exceptionally fast pace. Climate
change is one of the most important With Double Power: Tandem Solar Cells
challenges of the time. Sustainability
Solar cell technology has seen significant progress over the last decades,
is arguably the most visible and broad
putting solar cells among the lowest cost sources of electricity in central
current international topic, attracting
Europe. Thin film solar cells are particularly interesting because of their low
significant interest from policy makers
energy consumption during production, which makes them the electricity
and the wider public, particularly the
source with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions, together with onshore
younger generation. With its mission
wind power. The laboratory for photovoltaics (LPV) at the Faculty of Science,
of research and stimulating innovation,
Technology and Medicine, led by Prof. Susanne Siebentritt, contributes to
and with its broad expertise across
understanding, developing and improving thin film solar technologies.
disciplines and sectors, the University
is uniquely positioned to help address
Solar cells have fundamental physical limitations, and they can never be 100%
societal challenges and sustainability.
efficient. Materials for solar cells are always a compromise between losing less
It has identified sustainable and
light and losing less of the energy. This balance can be improved considerably
societal development as one of its
by using two different materials and making a tandem solar cell. The LPV works
future strategic focus areas.
on materials that can be used for the bottom and top cell. In 2020, the LPV
identified and quantified several major loss mechanisms for the bottom cells
Numerous research projects at
and improved the efficiency of these stable top cells to nearly the current world
the University already focus on
record efficiency of 29.15%. Evidence suggests that efficiency can be improved
areas such as water management,
even further.
sustainable finance, natural resources
management, social inequality,
sustainable urban planning and
renewable energy.
Study Programmes in Research work on
solar cells: chasing
Sustainability efficiency gains
The University offers one Master’s
programme, a specialisation track
and two certificates related to
sustainability: The Master en
développement durable (Master
in sustainable development), the
sustainable finance track in the
Master in Finance and Economics, the
Certificate in Law and Regulation of
Inclusive Finance, and the Certificate
in Sustainable Development and
Social Innovation.
University of Luxembourg Year in Review 2020 21Research at the University
New Chair in Sustainable
Finance
The University of Luxembourg, change to Luxembourg's financial very latest
together with the Luxembourg landscape through developing knowledge
Ministry of Finance and the high-quality research and teaching on climate-
Luxembourg Ministry of the programmes, attracting talents, and related financial risks, as well as
Environment, Climate and Sustainable by promoting Luxembourg as an the expertise, networks and skills
Development, have launched a Chair attractive destination for providers of to design and implement practical
and research project in Sustainable sustainable finance services. solutions for measuring and managing
Finance. Research and teaching these risks. The first cohort of 20
activities of the Chair contribute to a The Chair includes the establishment students began their studies in
sustainable and inclusive economic of a Master Track in Sustainable September 2021.
system in Luxembourg and beyond. Finance in the second year of the
The Chair, hosted at the Department Master in Finance and Economics.
of Finance, aims to help bring Students are equipped with the
Towards a Sustainable Food System
for Luxembourg
Food systems in developed countries to transition to a more sustainable national foodscape to developing
have proven to be unsustainable: food system, by contributing to a sustainable shopping app. They
apart from providing food security current debates on food sovereignty, also collaborate on a cross-border
and food safety, they entail negative biodiversity degradation, limits to project to promote the supply of
environmental and health effects and growth, inequity, the search for more local food to out-of-home catering.
foster power imbalances and social sustainable ways of production, Project members are also actively
injustice. consumption and governance. Project involved in the creation of the first
members have initiated different Food Policy Council for Luxembourg,
The research project Sustainable Food projects ranging from producing an which advocates more coherent food
Practices aims at helping Luxembourg interactive infographic to analyse the policies and food democracy.
Only a holistic focus on
food systems will lead to
truly sustainable transitions
for communities to curb the
effects of climate change.
Dr Rachel Reckinger, principal investigator of Sustainable
Food Practices.
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