The document provides an overview of the Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster. It discusses Luxembourg's investment in the biohealth sector to diversify its economy and become the healthiest country. The strategy includes launching a government initiative in 2008 to develop molecular diagnostics. It outlines the cluster's vision, members, both public and private players, and upcoming events to promote innovation and internationalization in the biohealth field.

1. Overview of the Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster
Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster
Dr. Thomas Dentzer
Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster Manager
Luxembourg – June 2013

2. Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster| June 2013
Area 2,586 km2
Population ~ 500,000
(42 % foreigners)
Languages Luxembourgish, German,
French, English
Political System Constitutional Monarchy
Parliamentary Democracy
Founding member of the European Union,
United Nations, Benelux
2
Luxembourg – the country

3. Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster| June 2013
Luxembourg invests in Biohealth
Why Biohealth?
• Economic diversification
• Becoming the healthiest country, one person at a time

4. Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster| June 2013
Strategy – political commitment
Launch of Governmental Initiative in 2008 (140 M€ in 5 years) to develop in
Luxembourg a Centre of excellence in molecular diagnostics, cornerstone of
personalised medicine.
Vision
• Active role in future healthcare challenges
• Invest in a knowledge-based, sustainable sector
• Sustainable healthcare services for Luxembourg
Key mission of the Grand Duchy
• Boost and foster R&D activities
• Encourage technical and scientific cooperation as well as technology transfer between the
public and private sector
• Focus on molecular medicine and molecular diagnosis for the purpose of transforming the
healthcare systems for people of Luxembourg and for promoting economic growth in
biotechnology

5. Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster| June 2013
Recent evolution of life science centers
20002000
New governmental strategy
directed to develop biomedical
sciences
Numerous private life sciences companies in various fields have
chosen Luxembourg as base for their activities or as
European headquarters.
Ongoing investments contribute to a flourishing life science environment in constant evolution an
expansion in both the public and private sector.
Since 2000, Luxembourg has multiplied its public expenditure
on public research by ten with an ultimate goal of 1% of
GDP, added to the nearly 1.4% of GDP invested in R&D by
private companies.

6. Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster| June 2013
Private
Public R&D
Public - Institutionals
Hospitals
Luxembourg map of key actors

7. Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster| June 2013
The Luxembourg Cluster Initiative

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Luxinnovation
Information &
guidance on
suitable
funding
mechanisms
Assistance
with the
preparation of
applications &
endorsement
towards public
decision-
makers
ACCES TO
NATIONAL &
EUROPEAN
FUNDING
SUPPORT FOR
THE CREATION
OF
INNOVATIVE
BUSINESSES
INNOVATION
MANAGE-
MENT, DESIGN,
CREATIVITY
TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFER &
PARTNER
SEARCH
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY &
VALORISATION
OF RESEARCH
RESULTS
LUXEMBOURG
CLUSTER
INITIATIVE
PROMOTION
OF RESEARCH
& INNOVATION
“MADE IN
LUXEMBOURG”
Analysis of the
underlying idea
and business
plan, access to
national
business
incubators
Identification
of prospective
partners,
sourcing of
financial
support
Comprehensiv
e training
programmes
Luxembourg
Innovation
Master Class
Promotion of
design &
creativity in
support of
innovation
Access to the
Technology
Market of the
Enterprise
Europe
Network
Identification
of potential
partners &
contract
initiation
Awareness-
raising
activities and
guidance on
intellectual
property
Coaching for
the socio-
economic
valorisation of
research
results
Animation of
the BioHealth,
EcoInnovation,
ICT, Materials
and Space
clusters
Support for
project
construction in
view of PPP
Events
Communica-
tion tools
Luxembourg
Portal for
Innovation and
Research
Focus on
Research and
Innovation in
Luxembourg

9. Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster| June 2013
The Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster
Vision
Luxembourg, a well recognised location to develop Healthcare Biotech RDI activities
with a sustainable healthcare system
Mission
Contribute to building in Luxembourg a successful ecosystem that will attract and
retain biotech companies and laboratories

10. Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster| June 2013
13 New Members since July 2012
10
• Office Freylinger
• Novartis Pharma (CH)
• go4labs (DE)
• Association pharmaceutique luxembourgeoise / APL
• WaferGen Biosystems Europe s.àr.l.
• Biotech-Industry
• Fédération des Hôpitaux luxembourgeois
• Huggard Consulting Group
• BIL
• Intelligentsia Consultants
• T&E Gefahrgutlogistik S.A.
• House of Biohealth
• Montrium Europe s.àr.l.
49 total members
o 27 companies
o 11 service providers
o 7 public research
organisations
o 4 strategic partners
The Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster –
Recent Developments

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Objective 1: Accelerate innovation
Key factors behind success:
• Strong scientific base
• Availability of venture and seed capital
• Strong supporting Infrastructures: House of BioHealth
• Industrial base and Interaction between research and industry
Main objectives
House of BioHealth

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Main objectives
Objective 2: Creating a Luxembourg Biohealth brand
Key actions:
• Development of the brand in collaboration with other actors
• Promotion and representation (conferences, fairs, trade shows)
• Organisation of events (networking events, conferences, fairs, trade shows)

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Objective 3: Support national and international relationships
Provide added-value services/support actions to members:
• Information on technological and market context of their activities; events;
funding opportunities at national and international level
• Specific support from idea to project: identification of funding resources, partners,
…
Main objectives

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Examples of public players
 Founded in 2009, Director Prof. Rudi Balling
 Centre of excellence in systems biology: Genomics, Metabolomics,
Bioinformactics
 Focus on neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson’s
disease and on diabetes type II and life-style related diseases
 Opened in Febuary 2010, CEO Dr Catherine Larue
 Activities in Biospecimen collection and Biorepository, Sample
analysis (molecular biology, genomic, immunological and cellular
assays), Data storage and pseudonomisation by thrusted third
party
 Thriving to become an international centre of excellence for
biobanking, a leader in biospecimen research and a partner in the
introduction of personalized medical care in Luxembourg
 Founded in 1989, CEO Dr Jean-Claude Schmit
 Active in basic, pre-clinical and clinical research in life sciences
 5 Research Departments, 3 competence centers and several
platforms

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Examples of private players
 WaferGen Biosystems is a provider of a SmartChip Real-Time PCR
System platform for biomarker identification and validation
 It has a partnership with IBBL which has purchased a machine and
offers support to perform Fee For Service for Wafergen’s EU
clients
 Founded in 1987, new production site opened in 2011
 Cellon is a manufacturer of cell culture systems :3D cell culture,
vaccine production systems, rotary systems
 Founded in 2006, as a spin off of a medical diagnostics lab
 Fast-track diagnostics develops multiplex RT-PCR kits for infectious
diseases with a syndromic approach

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Personalized Medicine Consortium
(PMC)
• Cancer (Breast, colon and lung)
• Neurodegenrative diseases, especially Parkinson
• Diabetes and life-style related diseases
• Normal population cohort

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Future orientations
Main Focus in 2013
• Internationalisation of the Cluster
• Increased promotion of cluster members
• National biomedical sector branding
• Development and management of Life Sciences and
Healthcare projects

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Selected upcoming Events
•2nd International Systems Biomedicine Symposium 2013
21-22 October 2013
•Clinical Research Day - Fifth Edition
23 October 2013
•2nd annual Health Economics and Personalised Medicine Symposium
28-29 October 2013
•Hospital management in times of crisis
28-30 November 2013
•Medica Duesseldorf
20-23 November 2013

19. Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster| June 2013
Jean-Paul Scheuren
Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster President
Thomas Dentzer, PhD
Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster Manager
thomas.dentzer@Luxinnovation.lu
Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster
7, rue Alcide de Gasperi
L-1615 Luxembourg
Tel: +352 43 62 63 - 1
www.biohealthcluster.lu
Groups / Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster
Twitter: @LuxBioHealth
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