The Ministry of the Economy and Luxinnovation launch the 12th edition of Fit 4 Start, Luxembourg's acceleration programme. Start-ups active in ICT, Healthtech and Space are invited to apply until 4 October 2021. In addition, a special track focused on HPC and data analytics will allow up to five of the selected start-ups to benefit from a tailored program involving the Luxembourg national HPC MeluXina.

Initiated in 2015 by the Ministry of the Economy, and managed by Luxinnovation with the support of Technoport and the Luxembourg-City Incubator, Fit 4 Start has, in a few years, become the leading programme for launching and accelerating startups in Luxembourg. It provides entrepreneurs with intense coaching, attractive pre-seed funding and access to key networks.

This 12th edition will last six months, from January to June 2022. It builds on the past success in the ICT, Healthtech and Space verticals and adds an HPC and data analytics track that is open for start-ups active in all sectors. Innovation-oriented start-ups, younger than five years and with a team of two people minimum are eligible to apply. Among the selected 20 start-ups, up to five start-ups will be selected for the HPC and data analytics track. The announcement of the pre-selected startups will be held on 22 October 2021.

High performance computing and data analytics are at the heart of the emerging data economy. Start-ups and SMEs can hugely benefit from these technologies and Luxembourg's newly inaugurated national HPC center offers access to both the digital infrastructure and to processes tailored to support them. The national HPC center in Luxembourg tailors its "use & support” service model to the individual needs of companies of all sizes and, will offer a special program for this edition of Fit 4 Start, including access to computing and data analytics capacities.

The digital ecosystem in Luxembourg is recognized for the high quality of its infrastructure, its connectivity, its expertise in cybersecurity, its secure data storage capacities and the recent launch of its business-oriented national supercomputer MeluXina. Luxembourg is in parallel growing a strong digital community culture where start-ups as well as small to large companies benefit from mechanisms of collaboration, fast access to competences and exchanges of best practices. In a fast-moving and connected world, complementing a strong digital and computing infrastructure with a collaborative culture plays an increasingly important role.

"Granting access to Meluxina via Fit 4 Start is a strong competitive advantage to the selected high potential start-ups in the acceleration programme across industries”, says Stefan Berend, Head of Start-up Acceleration at Luxinnovation. "We believe this is an outstanding opportunity for ambitious tech entrepreneurs to deliver cutting edge products and solutions to European markets.”

Interested start-ups can apply for participation in the next edition of Fit 4 Start until 4 October 2021.

More info : www.fit4start.com

Press release by the Ministry of the Economy