Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity: new support measures for SMEs in Luxembourg

At the opening of the Future Ready Days event, Minister for the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism Lex Delles announced the launch of two new SME Packages - aimed at bringing artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity to SMEs.

These packages complement the already existing government programme to support digitalisation, launched in 2019 together with the House of Entrepreneurship of the Chamber of Commerce and Luxinnovation. From 2022, it has been extended with a package centred on energy transition.

Businesses now have access to a wider range of support:

• SME Package - AI helps companies take the first steps in using AI and tailor simple solutions to their own processes.
• SME Package - Cybersecurity provides tools and procedures to enhance defence against digital threats and strengthen IT infrastructure.

Special attention is paid to the financial conditions. From 2025, subsidies cover up to 70 per cent of the costs, within a framework of €3,000 to €25,000. Companies can also participate sequentially in several packages, completing one and moving on to another.

Pre-qualification is required to participate - by contacting the Chamber of Commerce's House of Entrepreneurship or the Chamber of Crafts' eHandwierk service. Further information will be presented in webinars at the end of March/beginning of April.

The Future Ready Days event, organised by the Ministry of Economy, the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Crafts, gathered about 300 participants at Luxexpo. The programme included presentations by experts, stories of entrepreneurs who have implemented AI or faced cyberattacks, and experience sharing sessions.

Lex Delles emphasised that new challenges require new solutions: digital transformation and threat protection are key to competitiveness. SME Packages provide businesses with real tools for both ambitious projects and step-by-step innovation.

Lucas Leguina Aranda, Customer Success Manager at EasyBiz noted that companies need digitalisation at basic levels, particularly in accounting. In his opinion, the competitiveness and sustainability of a business also depends on the simplicity and clarity of the processes that take place inside. Digitalisation of accounting not only makes it easier to keep track of business income and expenses, but also lays the foundation for more complex innovations such as AI and multi-layered cybersecurity.

Right now, Luxembourg still gravitates towards paper-based accounting, which places significant constraints on businesses, especially SMEs, which spend a lot of effort on record keeping without taking the risk of outsourcing it, as they could easily do with digitalisation. "This is a niche we aim to close to enable businesses to grow and open up prospects for strategic planning without the distraction of routine," Aranda added. 

Stéphanie Damgé, director of entrepreneurship at the Chamber of Commerce, said that digital resilience for businesses is both their security and their ability to grow in an ever-changing world.

Tom Wirion, Director of the Chamber of Crafts, emphasised that AI is not the enemy of tradition, but an opportunity to unlock the potential of the crafts sector, provided it is sensible and supported. Without investment and support, the transition to digitalisation will not happen.