How Luxembourg is rewriting the state's digital architecture

In an interview with Échos des entreprises, Minister of Digitalisation Stéphanie Obertin reveals Luxembourg's ambitious plans to create a new digital model for business and government interaction. At the centre of this transformation is Bill 8395, which formalises the Once Only principle - where companies provide the state with information only once, rather than every time it is requested.

At the same time, a certified professional space is being created on the MyGuichet.lu platform, which will be the basis for digital identification of businesses within the framework of the EU-wide eIDAS regulation. This will allow companies to use the EUDI Wallet, an electronic wallet that provides access to public services across the EU on a level playing field. However, it requires a reliable data storage facility, which is currently being built by CTIE (Centre for State Information Technology).

AI as an accelerator, but not a replacement

Obertin emphasises that artificial intelligence is not just desirable, but essential for the next stage of digitalisation. Its application will start with intelligent information retrieval, especially useful for entrepreneurs facing bureaucratic mazes. AI will then help automate document processing, from classification to data extraction, such as in tax returns.

At a more mature stage, the technology will be able to support decision-making, for example in the selection of subsidy applications, without replacing humans, but offering informed recommendations. All of this requires clear ethical controls, transparency of algorithms and protection of personal data - principles from which Luxembourg will not back down.

The second pillar of Law 8395 is the re-use of public sector data by private companies, especially small and medium-sized companies. This is related to the implementation of the Data Governance Act and aims to accelerate the development of the data economy.

A centralised data authorisation system will be set up for the control and authorisation of access, which is the responsibility of the Data Protection Commissioner of the State. Its task will be to deal with requests and to protect the rights of citizens. To build trust, the CTIE will be able to involve external trusted parties. The platform also relies on the Luxembourg National Data Service, which will technically support the processes.

Innovation is seen here as the result of collaboration between government agencies and private companies, where data is the fuel for solutions in AI, logistics, urbanisation and healthcare.

Three national strategies: data, AI, quantum

At the March meeting of the High Committee on Digital Transformation, three national strategies were presented - on AI, quantum technologies and data. Their implementation is coordinated by four structures at once: from the Ministry of Economy to the Department of Digitalisation. All documents are at the final stage and will be presented to the Council of Government by mid-2025.

The discussion involves not only officials, but also representatives of science, business and society, which is important to create a cross-sectional, non-isolated policy.

Martine Reicherts, President of the Foundation for National Research (FNR), has previously stressed that without overcoming the organisational barriers between science, government and business, the country will not be able to move forward. Stéphanie Obertin agrees: coordination is necessary for research to become an innovation.

The Tech Transfer Strategy Group (TTSG), a working group that brings together the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Education, Luxinnovation and public research institutes, has been set up in this direction. The group develops measures to improve technology transfer and create scientific spin-offs.

There are already real cases: in 2022, a joint competition in the defence sector was launched - out of 13 projects, most of them are implemented in cooperation between business and government researchers. In 2024, the format is expanded: support is now focused on smart mobility and climate resilience.

The state is reforming the mechanisms of research support, strengthening the system of grants and joint projects. The emphasis is on multilateral consortia, where a university, a startup and a government agency can participate in the same application. The key player here remains the Foundation for National Research (FNR), whose priorities will be updated depending on technological trends.

Public research institutions need to adapt their strategies to meet the policy of economic diversification. This includes regularly reviewing directions, especially in areas where Luxembourg can become a leader - from quantum computing to sovereign data management.

One of the main barriers remains disparate intellectual property (IP) rules. To make the process understandable for businesses and researchers, the government plans to unify approaches - both on copyright and on the distribution of profits from licences and patents. This will make it clear who owns the result and how it can be disposed of.

TTSG is also responsible for removing these barriers. The key is not just to increase the number of patents, but to transform ideas into functioning businesses, including through the support of venture capital funding. As Obertin notes, "the inventor is not always the best entrepreneur" - sometimes commercialisation requires a team outside, not just inside the lab.