Unmanned taxis, lunar regolith and cyber shields: how Luxembourg is preparing for the future

Luxembourg's Minister of Economy Lex Delles has outlined in a wide-ranging interview the development vectors that should turn the country into the European epicentre of technological breakthroughs. The focus is on autonomous transport, healthcare technology, defence and space.

Since the beginning of June, the company Pony.ai has received official approval to test autonomous cars in the municipality of Lenningen. The cars are already travelling with an observer driver behind the wheel. The ambition is to become the first country in Europe with real unmanned taxis on the streets by 2028. The start has been made - the legislation, especially in the area of liability and insurance, is still to be adjusted.

The project is being realised in cooperation with Emile Weber and, according to Delles, logistics drones are the next step. "We want to be the hub of autonomous solutions for Europe," the minister emphasises.

Medicine remains the second priority sector. Although medical technology is not as prominent as autonomous cars, its importance is growing. As of 2020, there were 136 active companies, half of which are under ten years old. Around the House of BioHealth and the future Südspidol in Esch, the authorities dream of creating a "health valley" - a cluster where laboratories, start-ups and research institutes will be centred. However, the timeline depends on the completion of the hospital, which is not expected until 2032-2033.

The national defence budget will already exceed €1.18 billion this year, and Luxembourg does not want to be just a donor. The aim is to involve local companies, especially those with dual use products.

According to Luxinnovation, 120 companies in the country produce goods potentially applicable in defence. Consideration is being given to locating defence production in Luxembourg, including potential armaments, an issue that is being studied from a legal perspective. "We want to be part of the European supply chain," Delles emphasises.

The Grand Duchy's space strategy, launched 40 years ago, is entering a new phase. In 2024, there were 81 space companies operating in Luxembourg and the sector's total turnover grew by 35% to €109 million, with employment growth of 29%.

The first Luxembourg lunar rover is expected to land this week, tasked with collecting regolith - dust from the moon's surface. It will be sold to NASA, which begs the question: who is its rightful owner? This is where a unique 2017 law comes into play, giving Luxembourg-registered companies ownership of resources extracted off-Earth.

"For some people, this is still science fiction. But you have to start somewhere," the minister summarises philosophically.

Autonomous transport, digital health, defence, space - these are all parts of one big strategy, with digitalisation and sustainability at its heart. Luxembourg is building not just an economy of the future, but a platform where technologies can be tested before they become a global standard. These are not ambitions on paper, but steps that are already being taken on the streets and in the country's laboratories.