2024 European Innovation Scorecard: Luxembourg’s ‘Attractive Research Systems’ takes top spot for third consecutive year

09 April 2025

Home » Research News » 2024 European Innovation Scorecard: Luxembourg’s ‘Attractive Research Systems’ takes top spot for third consecutive year

Luxembourg, home to Europe’s most attractive research system.

Ranked 11th overall in the 2024 European Innovation Scoreboard, Luxembourg’s ‘attractive research system’ took 1st place. Within its research system, Luxembourg’s strengths lie in its foreign doctorate students, international scientific co-publications and highly cited publications.

In the 2024 European Innovation Scoreboard, which assesses the performance of countries in the field of innovation, Luxembourg stood out as a strong innovator for its attractive research system (ranked #1), human resources (ranked #2) and environmental sustainability (ranked #3).

Luxembourg scores high in all three indicator metrics

For the third straight year, Luxembourg is ranked first in most ‘attractive research system’, with a score of 221.1. Within this indicator, there are 3 metrics where Luxembourg scores very high, namely:

International scientific co-publications: Luxembourg outperformed the EU average of 133.8 with a score of 283.8.
This indicator measures how frequently researchers from different countries collaborate and publish together.
Foreign doctorate students as a % of all doctorate students: Luxembourg outperformed the EU average of 134.5 with a score of 264.4.
This indicator measures how many students from other countries are pursuing doctoral degrees within the country’s universities.
Scientific publications among the top 10% of the most cited: Luxembourg outperformed the EU average of 96.1 with a score of 115.6.
This indicator measures the percentage of publications that are among the most cited in their respective fields.

Luxembourg scores particularly high on foreign doctorate students, employment in knowledge-intensive activities, population with tertiary education (Luxembourg has the highest level of people with a diploma from a university or higher education institution), trademark applications, lifelong learning, and international scientific co-publications.

Luxembourg ranks second in ‘Human Resources’

Receiving an overall score of 168.7, Luxembourg ranks second in this key dimension, which measures the availability of a high-skilled and educated workforce. Within this indicator, there are 3 indicators where Luxembourg scored very high, namely:

New doctoral graduates in STEM: Luxembourg outperformed the EU average of 88.4 with a score of 157.9.
This indicator measures how many people graduate each year with a doctorate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Population aged 25-34 with completed tertiary education: Luxembourg outperformed the EU average of 110.2 with a score of 212.6
This indicator measures the percentage of the population aged 25-34 that has completed tertiary education.
Population aged 25-64 involved in lifelong learning activities: Luxembourg outperformed the EU average of 120.4 with a score of 155.
This indicator measures the percentage of the population aged 25-64 participating in lifelong learning to update their skills and knowledge.