10 selected Research Luxembourg results – June 2026

23 July 2026

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

University of Luxembourg (FSTM)

How can we keep building as the natural resources needed to produce concrete become increasingly scarce? As supplies of aggregates and the raw materials used to make cement continue to decline, researchers at the University of Luxembourg have developed a new approach based on urban mining—recovering valuable materials from demolished buildings.

Their study examines how construction and demolition waste can be recycled. When properly sorted and processed, these materials can serve as a reliable source of raw materials. The researchers developed a method that combines geology and engineering to classify materials according to their origin, mineral composition, and mechanical properties. This makes it possible to identify the treatments needed to prepare them for reuse.

The approach supports more sustainable resource management in the construction sector.
Press Release

Keeping the Greater Region Moving: A Look at Cross-Border Mobility to 2040

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

How can growing numbers of cross-border workers be transported without overwhelming the road network? This is the central question of a LISER study conducted as part of the European MMUST project, which models how travel patterns across the Greater Region could evolve by 2040. According to the researchers, planned investments in roads, rail, tramways, and park-and-ride facilities will not be enough to accommodate rising mobility demand.

The projections indicate that Luxembourg’s strong economic attractiveness will continue to draw increasing numbers of cross-border workers, particularly from France. The model forecasts an 18% increase in travel demand, with the private car remaining the dominant mode of transport. As a result, traffic congestion is expected to spread gradually to secondary roads and residential areas.

The study concludes that the solution goes beyond building new infrastructure. The authors advocate an integrated approach that combines land-use planning, expanded public transport, and housing policies to ensure that mobility does not become the main obstacle to the Greater Region’s future development.
Press Release

Université du Luxembourg (FHSE)

Why do some people remain deeply attached to the places they live, while others seek opportunities elsewhere? This question lies at the heart of a study conducted in the France–Luxembourg border region. The researchers found that a strong emotional connection to a place can become a powerful driver of action, encouraging people to stay and contribute to their communities.

The team conducted 60 interviews with residents of the Alzette–Belval area, a region shaped by deindustrialisation and significant territorial inequalities. They found that emotional attachment helps people better recognize local resources, seize nearby opportunities, and actively shape their region through civic engagement. By contrast, those with weaker ties to their surroundings are more likely to invest their time and resources elsewhere.

The study highlights that attachment to place is an important resource for strengthening residents’ capacity to act and supporting the long-term development of post-industrial regions.
Press Release

Luxembourg Launches Open-Source Tool to Assess Trustworthy AI

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

How can organizations ensure that an artificial intelligence system is trustworthy, fair, and compliant with European regulations before it is deployed? To address this challenge, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and the University of Luxembourg have developed the AI Assessment Sandbox Configurator, an open-source tool that enables organizations to create customized environments for testing AI systems.

Users can select the tests, validation procedures, and datasets that best suit their needs, then generate dashboards and reports to help demonstrate compliance with the European Union’s AI Act.

By making AI evaluation more accessible and transparent, the tool could support the responsible and secure deployment of artificial intelligence.
Press Release

Brain Cancer: Why Do Some Tumors Return Despite Treatment?

Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH)

Why do some brain tumors return even after surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy? A large international study involving the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) provides new insights into this question: an accumulation of so-called “immature” cells appears to play a key role in tumor recurrence.

The researchers tracked the evolution of a specific type of brain tumor (gliomas carrying a particular mutation) and analyzed tumor samples collected at different stages of the disease. Using advanced genomic technologies and single-cell analysis, they found that recurrent tumors become more aggressive by accumulating rapidly dividing immature cells that help them resist treatment. The study identified both genetic changes within tumor cells and key interactions with the surrounding tumor environment.

These findings pave the way for more personalized treatment strategies and suggest that the timing and sequencing of different therapies could be crucial for improving patient care.
Press Release

Social Media Use Continues to Grow in Luxembourg

STATEC

Social media is playing an increasingly important role in everyday life. According to the latest figures from STATEC, social media use in Luxembourg reached a record high in 2025: 68% of internet users now use social platforms, up from 62% in 2021.

The increase is mainly driven by passive activities such as browsing and viewing content, while posting messages and photos has declined slightly. Facebook remains the country’s most widely used platform, with 72% of users, but its lead is narrowing as Instagram reaches 68% and TikTok grows rapidly from 19% to 31% of users over the past four years. This shift is especially pronounced among people under 35, who increasingly favor Instagram and TikTok, while older generations continue to rely primarily on Facebook.

The report also highlights the intensity of social media use: 89% of users access social platforms every day, and 64% spend more than an hour per day on them.
Press Release

Road Fatalities Rise in Luxembourg Despite Stable Number of Accidents

STATEC

Despite increasingly heavy traffic, the number of road accidents in Luxembourg has remained relatively stable over the past four years. According to the latest figures from STATEC, 1,126 road accidents were recorded in 2025. However, road fatalities rose sharply, with 29 deaths compared with 18 in 2024—an increase of more than 60% in just one year.

Accidents involving motorcycles, bicycles, and electric scooters have increased, reflecting the growing popularity of these modes of transport. Pedestrians were also particularly affected in 2025. The report identifies speeding as the leading risk factor, contributing to nearly one in four accidents, ahead of alcohol, which was involved in 19% of cases. More than half of all accidents occurred in urban areas, with the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette recording the highest number of incidents.

The findings highlight the need to strengthen road safety measures, particularly those targeting speeding, drink-driving, and the protection of vulnerable road users.
Press Release

AI Tool Helps Make the Labour Market More Transparent and Fair

Luxembourg Institute of Science and Techonology (LIST)

How can people navigate a labour market where jobs are evolving faster than training programmes? Researchers at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) have developed an AI-powered tool that automatically analyzes CVs, job advertisements, and training programmes to extract skills and translate them into a common European framework.

The tool converts diverse documents into standardized, comparable skills profiles while keeping users in control of the final results. Using generative AI, it identifies skills, maps them to the European skills taxonomy, and highlights gaps between candidates’ profiles and labour market needs.

Designed for employment advisers, training providers, and employers, the tool supports career guidance and skills matching. By making skills more visible and comparable, it could help create a labour market that is more transparent, more equitable, and better prepared for the changes brought about by AI.
Press Release

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

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