Proactive and transversal support to scientific activities was put into practice at the LNS in 2021. The LNS not only visibly strengthened its role as an essential part of the backbone of the Luxembourg health system, but also expanded its innovation activities.
Leading health player with a scientific mandate
“The LNS has a clear ambition with regard to research-based innovation, and moreover we have a mandate to do so”, says LNS Director Prof. Dr. Friedrich Mühlschlegel. “As a leading health player in the country, our task is also of a scientific nature, but always in connection with our mission to provide patients with the best possible medical services. In this respect, the former necessitates the latter, and this is all the more true as we consistently use synergies in Luxembourg and at the same time operate across scientific disciplines. This is how we maximise our pursuit of excellence.”
Analysis, exchange, creation of an infrastructure
In doing so, the LNS relies on its “Together LNS ” strategy that is based on five key objectives and was introduced gradually but consistently in 2021. Friedrich Mühlschlegel: “At first, our main aim was to gather background information. Numerous interviews were conducted internally to understand the needs and ambitions of the different teams with regard to research. In parallel, we also conducted interviews with external stakeholders and partners.”
Concurrently to this human aspect, the LNS also kicked-off the creation of an efficient infrastructure as well as corresponding processes, continues Friedrich Mühlschlegel: “This has mainly been about a user-friendly folder system for research and funding-relevant projects as well as the creation of numerous templates project budget and statistical calculation tools. This may sound almost banal, but in the end, this is the basis of a result-oriented innovation activity. In this respect, the LNS is not different from an industrial company. Here, as there, success is built on a clearly structured approach and not the least a practised value system.”
Focus on funding, in cooperation with the departments
Since scientific excellence does not come for free, another focus was on funding: “Innovation cannot be plucked out of thin air, and this is also true in industrial environments as well as in our laboratory. There is no return without investment. Therefore, we initiated efforts for core funding, with activities ranging from the preparation of an LNS’ technological value proposition document and the review of the LNS law text to the preparation of strategy documents, e.g. regarding the Medical School Partnership.”
In order to implement ongoing and new innovation initiatives on an ad hoc basis and to ensure maximum involvement within the LNS, another focus was to support the Director and the heads of department in their concrete research projects, explains Friedrich Mühlschlegel: “Here, too, the focus was on creating efficient structures and processes and supporting project proposals across all departments.”
The beginning of a sustainable joint research journey
All in all, the LNS has succeeded in laying some key foundations for a sustainable research-based innovation, as Friedrich Mühlschlegel emphasises: “We have already continuously intensified our innovation activities in the past years. With the work in 2021, however, this strategic initiative has gained momentum and taken shape. In this respect, 2021 can be seen as the year in which the research journey of the LNS has formally begun, and we will continue this journey with passion and patience. Expanding existing and opening up new areas of transdisciplinary innovation for the LNS is an almost limitless challenge. What counts is that everyone is part of the journey. That is why internal scientific communication is also a central element of our action plan. Being informed about ongoing and upcoming projects stimulates new ideas and supports our team spirit. We are convinced that transparency and respect are paving the way to scientific excellence.”
