SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND COOPERATION

In this context, Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation systematically supports the development of capacities and expertise both in Luxembourg and in the developing countries, and works both to strengthen existing institutional ties and to build new partnerships with the academic and scientific world.

For example, the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs and the National Research Fund (FNR) set up a joint instrument called LuxAid BRIDGES in 2023, which finances innovative research projects between Luxembourg researchers and partners in developing countries through annual calls for projects. The total financial envelope is EUR 5.5 million over a period of five years, with a first call launched in September 2023, which will finance up to four research projects.

In line with its “Road to 2030” strategy, the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs has also pursued its aim of extending its support to the academic world and supporting the development of research capacities and expertise in the field of international development cooperation. The aim is to contribute to the creation of expertise in Luxembourg that can provide analyses of Luxembourg Development Cooperation’s policies, with the specific aim of supporting the effective design and implementation of its programmes. It is with this in mind that the impact assessment unit for development cooperation policies, created in 2022 with funding from Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation and housed at the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), continued its work in 2023.

In addition, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on 19 April 2023 with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), in order to establish a framework for the development of Luxembourg’s expertise in the fields of research on the issues and objectives of Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation. Initial avenues of collaboration have been identified in the field of earth observation technologies in humanitarian and development contexts.

Finally, in 2023, together with the NGO Appui au développement autonome (ADA), the Ministry continued its financial support to the ADA Chair at the University of Luxembourg’s Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance. The Chair works on research in European and financial law with a particular emphasis on all aspects of inclusive and innovative finance and fintech. The Chair organises the annual certification of professionals in the sector through the Certificate in Law and Regulation of Inclusive Finance, organises conferences on relevant topics relating to financial law and inclusive finance, publishes high-quality research in the field of financial law and inclusive finance and participates in national, European and international conferences.