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The CRP - Gabriel Lippmann can be proud of its results and confirm its place as a major actor in research in Luxembourg. The amounts related to contract research and competitive research have indeed increased by more than 10% over the last year. And these are not the only indicators to rise! 125 projects (+19%) were carried out simultaneously by researchers from the four departments of the centre. The scientists have also achieved excellent results in the second call for CORE projects funded by the National Research Fund (FNR), with 11 of the 25 projects presented as coordinator being selected. Teams of the CRP - Gabriel Lippmann exceeded by far most of the targets set in the 2008-2010 performance contract signed with the Ministry. For example, nearly 100 high-level publications have been published in internationally renowned journals, including the prestigious journal Science.
Good research is not possible without good researchers
To maintain this level of excellence, the CRP - Gabriel Lippmann has pursued the international recruitments of PhD students and experienced researchers. This strategy was eased by the recent administrative simplifications introduced by the Direction of Immigration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The size of the CRP - Gabriel Lippmann has thus increased accordingly to the objectives set by the Ministry, and now exceeds 200 employees. These recruitments were mostly in favour of researchers hired under permanent contracts. "The centre needs to adapt its procedures and working methods to cope with the rapid growth of its teams that have more than doubled in five years and increased administrative burdens imposed by some funding institutions”, has said Hubert Jacobs van Merlen, the Chairman of the CRP - Gabriel Lippmann who also acknowledged the work carried out by the entire staff of the centre.
Reinforcement of public-private cooperation
The year 2009 also gave the CRP - Gabriel Lippmann the opportunity to strengthen its cooperation with industrial partners. The first cluster for multi-institutional research in materials was introduced with the link between the Department of Materials Science and Analysis (SAM) of the centre, "Foil Innovation Centre of Novelis and the team" TDK Europe-professor of the University of Luxembourg. Discussions are also underway with the CRP - Henri Tudor, in order to integrate the skills of its Advanced Materials & Structures department (AMS) to the cluster. The CRP - Gabriel Lippmann also had the opportunity to develop new skills in the field of sensors, in partnership with a company from the automotive sector established in Luxembourg.
These different initiatives have been taken despite the world finance crisis and thanks to the strategic choices of the CRP - Gabriel Lippmann. The centre has indeed worked to keep a balance between technology transfer activities and research projects presenting a real potential for businesses and institutions in the country. This strategy fits perfectly with the conversion of the Grand Duchy to a modern economy of innovation and knowledge.
Read the press release in French