A crowd of more than 380 attendees at the Business Meets Research 2012 event at the Chamber of Commerce today heard Minister François Biltgen, Minister of Higher Education and Research launch the “Foreign Researcher’s guide to Luxembourg”.

This event is organised by Luxinnovation, the National Agency for Innovation and Research, in collaboration with the Luxembourg public research organisations. It is a meeting point for companies and public research organisations from Luxembourg, the Greater Region and beyond, to showcases results, capabilities and innovative solutions stemming from public and private research.

The “Foreign researcher’s guide to Luxembourg” is a new brochure tool which will guide researchers and their families from all over the world through the mobility process of relocating to Luxembourg. It presents an overview of the legal framework in matters such as employment, entry conditions, visa procedures, taxation, social security, health care, as well as information on accommodation and daily life. The guide does not only promote research in Luxembourg but it is also a practical working tool for HR departments of public and private institutions who intend to hire foreign researchers.

Luxembourg is known for its strong financial sector but is working to increase its research reputation worldwide. A well-developed research system can have tremendous potential and impact the economic development of a country. The recent law on funding for PhD and post-doctoral candidates gives a clear political signal for the importance of research promotion in Luxembourg. It rates among the most attractive schemes in place in Europe, by offering proper employment contracts, including full social security and pension, to the beneficiaries. Those as well as further concrete actions such as described in the “Galgo-Biltgen paper” are making Luxembourg an attractive country to international researchers.

This project was the joint effort of the main research actors in Luxembourg, members of the EURAXESS LUXEMBOURG network, Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Ministry of Foreign affairs and Immigration, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure - Department of Transport, CNS, ADEM, CNAP, CNPF, SNCT, as well as several town halls and communes.

EURAXESS Luxembourg is a network of 10 main research actors in Luxembourg: Ministry of Higher Education and Research, FNR, LUXINNOVATION, CRP Gabriel Lippmann, CRP Henri Tudor, CRP Santé, CEPS/INSTEAD, IBBL, Laboratoire National de Santé, University of Luxembourg.

The EURAXESS Services Centre Luxembourg founded in 2008, acts as the main entry point for foreign researchers and provides on-line information and practical assistance for researchers moving to Luxembourg. More than 1945 researchers have benefited from this service since 2008.

The guide was edited by EURAXESS and co-funded by the European Commission. To request a copy please email: euraxess@uni.lu, by phone: 466644-6681 or download it from the website: www.euraxess.lu.

Published by the University of Luxembourg on behalf of Euraxess. Photo Minister François Biltgen showing the “Foreign Researcher’s guide to Luxembourg” to the crowd.