Make Luxembourg a pioneer of smart cities
The development of so-called smart and sustainable cities is becoming a priority for governments around the world as the pace of urbanization accelerates. This “smartness” is not only about the use of digital technologies, but it involves integrated and efficient transport networks, energy-efficient buildings, efficient recycling and waste treatment processes, as well as accessible and pleasant public spaces.
At List, we focus our research on three breakthrough innovations which, I am sure, make Luxembourg a pioneer in this field:
1. Clean hydrogen
Hydrogen will play a key role in plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and in achieving decarbonisation targets in all economic sectors: from heavy industry such as steel, to mobility such as logistics. . But to achieve this, hydrogen must be produced in an environmentally friendly way at acceptable production costs in a rapidly changing market. At List, we are working on the solar electrolysis of water and in particular on the creation of photocatalytic polymers assembled from chlorophyll derivatives (porphyrins). The field is still relatively unexplored but, if this breakthrough is achieved,
this project
could support a new economy built not on fossil fuels but on hydrogen.
In terms of mobility, I am convinced that hydrogen will be the solution when the weight and the recharging time of the batteries make it an impractical choice, for example for trucks, boats and planes.
In terms of mobility, I am convinced that hydrogen will be the solution when the weight and the recharging time of the batteries make it an impractical choice, for example for trucks, boats and planes.
2. Connected, autonomous and electric vehicles
Three trends are emerging around the mobility of the future: connected and autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles and mobility as a service (MaaS). We believe that driverless electric vehicles, custom-designed for shared transportation services, could reduce the cost and time spent traveling by conventional automobile, while providing safer and more convenient mobility.
However, shared connected and autonomous electric vehicles also have drawbacks, such as increased congestion, increased cyber threats, increased limitations on privacy and freedom of movement, or a lack of security related to the transition between the current state and a fully autonomous future. This requires good planning and redesign of the infrastructure around the new services.
The List teams have worked on most of these subjects for years: our research projects led to logistics optimization (for example with the projects
Hit
and
swam
), the design of safer and socially acceptable autonomous vehicles (
Pascal
), helping drivers to reduce their pollution (
Modals
), the exploitation of new communication protocols to improve mobility (
5G mobile
), or discount them from the impact of different policies on pollution (
Climmobil
,
Hermes
etc.).
Three trends are emerging around the mobility of the future: connected and autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles and mobility as a service (MaaS).
3. The digital twin
Governments, including ours, are navigating in uncharted waters. It is essential to help them predict what could happen, in particular the impact of the various political choices on health, society, the economy, etc. Thanks to the digital twin, we can support policy makers in informed, evidence-based decision making. Indeed, a digital twin is a virtual representation of physical systems (traffic, water, air, etc.) and physical assets (buildings, resources, etc.) that allows simulations, tests and action discounting. forced almost in real time.
At List, we are working on a digital twin of Luxembourg which, unlike what is done in the rest of the world, will be respectful of privacy. We started by working with Nomoko, a Swiss and Luxembourg technology start-up that integrated a 3D model of Belval for us in which each object (building, road, traffic sign, bench) can be recognized. We then integrated their 3D model with our own models (for example to measure emissions from 5G antennas) to develop a complex simulation that allows us to understand the effects of political decisions on this environment.
But beware, to create the city of the future, I am convinced that technology alone is not enough: above all, behavior must be changed, by raising public awareness and supporting local authorities in their energy transition. A societal mission to which the List responds.
Want to know more ?
Do not hesitate to take a look at
Tech Day list
the List’s annual technology presentation event on June 15.