10 selected Research Luxembourg results – July 2026

13 August 2026

This article was originally in French and German on science.lu 

Université du Luxembourg (SnT), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Techonology (LIST)

Investing in cleaner technologies could help reduce companies’ costs. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by SnT, LIST and Creos (Luxembourg’s electricity and natural gas network operator). The researchers show that industrial companies could reduce their energy bills by up to 6% by combining their existing equipment with electric solutions and adapting their consumption to the needs of the grid.

When electricity generated from renewable sources is abundant, companies can make greater use of their electric equipment. They can also be financially rewarded if they agree to temporarily adjust their consumption in response to the needs of the electricity grid. By contrast, companies that simply consume electricity when prices are low would save only around 0.3%. The researchers, who tested the approach on industrial boilers, believe it could be applied to many other types of equipment.

This strategy could help companies improve their competitiveness while also strengthening the stability of the electricity grid.
Press Release

Literacy in French or German: no difference in school performance

Université du Luxembourg (FHSE, LUCET)

Does learning to read and write in French rather than German influence academic success? To answer this question, researchers at LUCET followed 83 children for two years as part of the pilot project ALPHA – zesumme wuessen. Their results were compared with those of 429 pupils with similar profiles (“statistical twins”).

The children were assessed several times to measure the development of their reading, writing, mathematics and oral comprehension skills. Researchers also collected information from parents and teachers about pupils’ motivation and learning environments. The first results show that overall academic performance is similar regardless of the language chosen for literacy instruction. However, pupils who learned to read and write in French appear to be more motivated to learn in that language, and their parents feel better able to support them.

The researchers emphasize that the study is continuing in order to determine whether differences emerge later in the educational pathway.
Press Release

Université du Luxembourg (LCSB)

Could a simple blood test soon make it possible to detect Parkinson’s disease before the first symptoms appear? Researchers at LCSB have identified a promising new biomarker: alterations in mitochondrial DNA that can be detected in the blood. This discovery could facilitate earlier diagnosis and help better distinguish between different forms of the disease.

The study shows that these alterations in mitochondrial DNA are more common in people with Parkinson’s disease. Mitochondria are the “powerhouses” of cells and play an essential role in certain diseases. The researchers also found that these abnormalities are already present in people at high risk, even before the disease has been diagnosed. They could therefore make it possible to identify Parkinson’s disease at a preclinical stage through a simple blood test.

Finally, the team shows that this biomarker performs even better when combined with other indicators, particularly genetic ones.
Press Release

Leukemia: the immune system helps identify patients who can stop treatment without risking relapse

Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH),  Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL)

Why do some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) remain in remission after stopping treatment, while others relapse? A large European study involving researchers from LIH and CHL shows that patients who remain in remission maintain close cooperation between their immune cells.

The researchers analyzed the activity of thousands of genes in blood samples from 240 patients with CML. They were able to identify immune signatures (a set of measurable characteristics of the immune system) associated with sustained remission after stopping standard treatment. By contrast, this communication is disrupted in patients who relapse. The researchers also identified a biomarker (the FLT3 gene) capable of distinguishing groups of patients according to their risk of relapse after stopping treatment.

In the longer term, these findings could help better identify patients who can safely discontinue their treatment.
Press Release

Nearly one in two young people experience stress from social media

STATEC

According to STATEC, 32% of internet users in Luxembourg report experiencing stress related to social media. This phenomenon particularly affects young people (45% of 16–24-year-olds and 49% of 25–34-year-olds), before declining significantly with age. Men and women are affected at similar rates.

Exposure to hostile content is also widespread. Nearly one in two users say they have encountered degrading or aggressive content online. Here again, young people are the most exposed, with rates reaching 60% among 16–34-year-olds. The attacks mainly target political or social views, but also racial or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, sex, or gender identity.

These findings show that hostile content on social media affects a wide range of users. It represents a significant challenge for digital well-being.
Press release

Inclusion: which actions really improve the lives of people with disabilities?

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

Are we succeeding in building a more inclusive society? And which actions actually work? A systematic review to which LISER contributed reaches the following conclusion: the most effective interventions are those that foster social relationships (support groups, mentoring), develop communication skills, or support families. By contrast, initiatives promoting participation in community life, such as inclusive leisure activities, produce more mixed results.

The researchers analyzed 50 studies conducted in high-income countries, involving more than 10,900 participants. Overall, 40% of the studies reported positive effects, while the others found mixed results. The study also highlights a lack of research on initiatives that address structural barriers, such as accessibility and discrimination.

According to the authors, promoting inclusion cannot rely solely on individual abilities: action is also needed to improve the environment, institutions, and social relationships.
Press release

Luxembourg entrepreneurship remains resilient despite a more uncertain economic climate

STATEC

Despite a global context marked by economic and geopolitical tensions, entrepreneurship remains strong in Luxembourg. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026 report, intentions to start a business remain among the highest in Europe, even though the share of residents involved in entrepreneurial activity has declined slightly, from 9.9% to 9.4%. Fear of failure also remains relatively low.

Entrepreneurs continue to embrace AI. They also remain more committed than the European average to sustainable development, although their performance in this area has declined slightly. By contrast, access to finance has now become one of the main barriers to starting a business. More than one in two entrepreneurs (52%) report difficulties obtaining financing, on a par with the cost of business premises and the shortage of skilled workers.

Finally, entrepreneurs are concerned about rising production costs and more difficult access to international markets.

Residential construction prices rise sharply again

STATEC

After several half-years of moderate increases, residential construction prices in Luxembourg are rising sharply again. This trend is mainly driven by roofing work (+3.3%) and building enclosure work (+3.0%).

Structural work confirms this trend, notably due to a strong increase in earthworks (+3.3%). Among finishing works, linoleum and plastic floor coverings recorded the largest increase (+4.7%), followed by cupboards (+3.6%) and interior doors (+3.0%). By contrast, technical installations showed the most moderate increase (+1.3%), although photovoltaic panels, inverters and storage batteries, which were included in the index for the first time, increased by 1.7%.

STATEC has notably incorporated photovoltaic equipment into the calculation of the index to better reflect the current structure of construction costs.
Press Release

Author: Diane Bertel
Editor: Lucie Zeches (FNR) ; Nicolas Stamets (Research Luxembourg)

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