The Future is Here

The Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) Annual Report 2022

Entering 2022, we started adjusting to the new normal after the pandemic. And then Russia invaded Ukraine. Like many other research institutions, we wanted to help wherever possible. We took action to launch a research fellowship for Ukrainian researchers and welcomed two to our centre.

Ten new partners joined us this year in our research endeavors, our Finnovation Hub kicked off its activities, and we were awarded an FNR National Centre of Excellence in Research (NCER) in Financial Technologies together with colleagues in the departments of Law and Finance. SnT achieved a record-breaking year, acquiring competitive funding of €38.2m, an increase of 51% from 2021, which translates into 89 new projects funded by private and public institutions.

We’ve mentioned that The Future is Here, and quantum communications and post-quantum security are definitely part of that. This year, we took the first steps to set up a national quantum communications infrastructure. Together with the Ministry of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy (SMC) and SES, SnT will build a national testbed to provide post-quantum security, with links to a European network as part of the LUQCIA project.

While we strive for the highest standards of security and reliability in tech, people are still the heart of SnT. We wouldn’t have come this far without a solid team of researchers and support personnel, and 2022 welcomed over 100 new employees and two new research groups focused on entrepreneurship, and radar communication.

We have a highly diverse team with over 65 nationalities, however the gender discrepancy in our line of work requires us to be more active in bridging the gap. We have increased our ambition and are actively working to create a more gender-balanced reality at all levels of SnT.

I hope you enjoy reading our highlights of 2022, and we look forward to powering the future with you.

Björn Ottersten, Director of SnT Prof. Björn Ottersten, Director of SnT

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Our Research Areas

FinTech

 

We conduct research in cybersecurity, infrastructures, blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and many other domains in FinTech, to develop the financial tools of tomorrow.

Cybersecurity

 

We develop interdisciplinary solutions in multiple domains, including critical information infrastructures, software testing, quantum cryptography, to cloud security, and much more.

Space Systems

 

Our expertise in developing key space technologies, from satellite communications to autonomous systems, is supporting Luxembourg’s commitment to space exploration.

Autonomous Vehicles & IoT

 

We build secure and safe solutions for connected systems within highly complex and dynamic sectors. The limitless possibilities for these technologies stand to revolutionise industries.

They Joined Us in 2022

We have a partnership model that enables truly collaborative exchanges, allowing us to have access to relevant challenges, real-world data, and systems to test our research results. 

 

We are guided by the principle that excellent scientific research can address the most pressing challenges society faces, and support industry in developing solutions.

 

Our Partnership Programme continued to expand in 2022, now featuring over 65 members. We work with both public and private organisations in Luxembourg and around the world. 

We Foster Entrepreneurship

Our researchers regularly develop exciting new solutions for real-world challenges. That is why we launched the research Acceleration Programme in 2019, which delivers a structured process to support our aspiring entrepreneurs. Its mission is to encourage scientists to pursue the commercialisation of their innovative ideas.

 

SnT currently has five spin-offs: 

Working Towards Gender Balance

Gender balance

The Equality Working Group (EWG) of SnT was established in 2021, with the aim of improving the gender balance of our research centre. As volunteers, their work includes organising initiatives and workshops to improve gender balance and workplace culture at SnT. They also work to support and contribute to actions within the Gender Equality Committee of the University of Luxembourg, as well as the FNR’s Gender Working Group.

In 2022, the EWG aims to work together with Women in Digital Empowerment on workshops for our staff, and seek to recruit ambassadors within research groups of SnT to have a closer understanding of the challenges female researchers face.