Pictured: Secretary of state for economy Francine Closener with Dudelange mayor Dan Biancalana on 29 September Luxembourg Government

Pictured: Secretary of state for economy Francine Closener with Dudelange mayor Dan Biancalana on 29 September Luxembourg Government

The centre is Dudelange’s first incubator for innovative companies who will benefit from rents of €15/m² (for startups less than two years old when they join the hub) and €20m² (over two years old).

For the former, the hub will be offered for up to five years providing a base camp for them to get started.

The start-up and innovation centre will be located at 100 route de Volmerange, in the future Nei Schmelz district of Dudelange. The 500m² site was previously an administrative headquarters for steel giant ArcelorMittal. It will be completely renovated and divided into 14 offices and meeting rooms.

It will be co-financed by the Ministry of the Economy. The companies will be supervised by Luxinnovation and the Technoport, which are involved in the design of the future economic center. Startups interested in renting office space must undergo a selection procedure involving Luxinnovation, the Technoport and the City of Dudelange.

Speaking at the launch of the site on 29 September, secretary of state for economy Francine Closener said there were now more than ten public and private reception facilities or hubs for startups in Luxembourg. “The Innovation Hub Dudelange project is part of these efforts and further demonstrates Luxembourg's ambition to gradually transform itself into a start-up nation,” Closener said.

Meanwhile, in early 2018, an incubator project will open in the Dôme building, in the Gare district of Luxembourg City. Part of the House of Start-Ups, it will host between 150 and 200 innovative start-ups from several sectors over 4,200 m². Nyuko will move to the building where it will be in charge of accelerator and management services. The Luxembourg House of Financial Technology will also relocate there from Kirchberg where it will accompany FinTech startups.