As scientists unlock the human genome and map perturbation networks, there is the prospect of personalised medicine which will have huge human and commercial implications. As well as being able to provide individuals with a more targeted care, this branch of the health industry also holds vast business opportunities, particularly in Europe with its ageing population.

Luxembourg has staked its claim in 2008 by teaming up with world-renowned American research institutes, which are co-operating with local experts on three projects: an international bio-banking infrastructure, a centre for systems biomedicine and a research cooperation to validate markers for lung cancer. Backed with substantial public funding, this initiative aims at helping the country raise its profile in the global research community and augment local expertise, more particularly in the field of molecular diagnostics.

In the meantime the actors involved in these three projects have elaborated a strategic plan towards the creation of a Luxembourg Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC), coordinated by the Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg.

An incubation facility to be completed by the end of 2012 as well as the recent cornerstone investment into a London-based biotech fund aim at increasing the country’s attractiveness for companies active in the biomedical sector.