Ten years ago, that was precisely the challenge facing many organisations in Luxembourg. While the willingness to collaborate existed, there were few opportunities to exchange experiences, build knowledge, develop practical methodologies, and gain the confidence to get started.
This is what led to the creation of the Open Innovation Club in 2016 by four actors working with the innovation ecosystem in Luxembourg: Luxinnovation, Lux Future Lab, Technoport, and nyuko. What began as a conversation around a single table with six pioneering companies, Foyer, Baloise, ING, Siemens, Paul Wurth, and BIL, was built on a simple ambition: to create a trusted community where innovation leaders could share experiences, learn from one another, and strengthen collaboration between startups, research centres and corporates.
Everything had to be built from scratch around one simple idea: companies struggled with open innovation, while startups struggled to enter large organisations. The club became the bridge between the two.
A new chapter began in 2017, when the Open Innovation Club joined the House of Startups powered by the Chamber of Commerce. This gave the initiative a new home at the heart of Luxembourg’s innovation ecosystem and created further opportunities to connect.
The Open Innovation Club has grown with its members
Over the following ten years, the Open Innovation Club grew and evolved. More companies joined, many economic sectors were represented, new voices brought new ideas and visions, and the monthly meetings became a regular breath of fresh air for innovation leaders.
The format has always remained simple. Members come together in a safe space to learn from expert talks or workshops, exchange experiences with peers, discover new players in the ecosystem through company visits and introductions, and build meaningful connections with fellow innovation leaders. Most importantly, they openly discuss failures, creating a culture of trust and continuous learning.
Over time, those discussions have translated into action. They have strengthened relationships across the community, while members have explored new ways of collaborating through hackathons, startup partnerships, and pilot projects.
Corporates have significantly matured their approach to innovation. Many organisations now have clearer processes, a better understanding of what it takes to make open innovation happen, and sometimes even a dedicated team.
The House of Startups is now building on this experience
Although open innovation has become more established, collaborating beyond organisational boundaries remains challenging. To help companies take the next step, the House of Startups is expanding its services beyond the club by developing tailored programs designed to help organisations put open innovation into practice. As the innovation ecosystem evolves, the House of Startups continues to evolve alongside it.
The club will remain the first step for companies exploring open innovation, a place to understand the ecosystem, learn from peers, and build valuable connections. As organisations gain confidence and experience, many are ready to move beyond discussions and put open innovation into practice.
Designed to support medium and large organisations across Luxembourg in this next step, these new ready-to-innovate services will include startups matchmakings, open innovation days, reverse pitches, student challenges, and new collective intelligence formats.
We are transitioning from a club to a catalyst for open innovation services. You tell us your challenge, and we take care of the rest.
The offer is changing, but the spirit of the club stays: a community built by companies, for companies. A place where people can learn from one another, create new connections, and find better ways to innovate together.
Innovation changes society, so let’s do it together
The club's tenth anniversary was not only a moment to celebrate how far it has come, but also an opportunity to look ahead. During a roundtable discussion, Peter Raeke (Encevo), Emilie Béchet (Le Village by CA), Jonathan Kalfa (Baloise), and Yann Depoorter (House of Startups) reflected on a decade of activities and explored the future of the club in Luxembourg.
The evening concluded with the Open Innovation Club Awards, celebrating the members whose commitment, vision, and collaborative spirit have helped shape one of the country's most dynamic innovation communities.
Ten years on, the Open Innovation Club now brings together more than 60 members. That number reflects more than the growth of a community. It shows that in Luxembourg, corporates are willing to open their doors, share what they have learned, and move forward together. In a country where people and ideas connect easily, open innovation has found the right conditions to grow, thanks to a community that genuinely believes in its value.