SciLux podcast – Stefano Pozzi Mucelli, European RDI support & Alberto Noronha, CEO of NIUM

28 March 2023

Former PhD student and research associate at the University of Luxembourg, Alberto Noronha is the co-funder and CEO of NIUM company. NIUM is one of the many example of Research Luxembourg startups that have been created over the last past years. Spin-off of the Luxembourg Center for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), the company develops personalised nutrition solutions to enable a better understanding of metabolism and health.

Like most of the companies on the rise, NIUM has been able to develop thanks to various financial support obtained through calls at national or European level. This is the case with Horizon Europe, a European programme whose national delegate is Stefano Pozzi Mucelli, from Luxinnovation, Luxembourg national innovation agency.

Supporting researchers for European funding

Research and innovation projects are often collaborations between researchers and companies that cross national borders. Innovative companies and research laboratories can participate in various European programmes, depending on their profile and development strategy. Funding is available for collaborative projects, but also for single small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Getting access to all this information is complicated. Therefore, it is important to have a main contact point providing guidance, practical information and assistance.

Building on our decade-long experience of EU funding programmes, Luxinnovation is able to respond to questions on where to get up-to-date information on programmes and calls for project proposals, what programmes are the most suitable for researchers, startups and companies or where and how to find European partners.

Transforming research into technologies: NIUM spin-off company

From a research project to a spin-off over the years, NIUM is a company that focuses on developing technologies that will allow to better understand how nutrition impacts metabolism. Their ultimate goal is to understand how different foods and products affect each person individually.

These technologies are based on data analysis, with bioinformatics computational models, to create better instruments for laboratories. For now, NIUM has a focus on gut health but is already planning to expand its activities to other domains.

NIUM is mainly working with food companies. It has developed the Nutrida platform, a highly innovative digital platform that creates an ecosystem where testing laboratories, online supermarkets, and users are all connected with the aim of boosting health and expanding economic areas, all through balanced nutrition.

Research Luxembourg and industry

R&D collaborations are at the heart of Luxembourg’s research and innovation strategy.  Such collaborations are a win-win for both sides: businesses gain access to creative minds, while researchers get the chance to take their research to the next level and see it make an impact.

This support can take various forms:

• public-private partnerships in which research players seek to support existing and future industries
• joint R&D collaborations, to broaden the scope of R&D
• knowledge and technology transfer to start collaborative and innovative projects
• spin-off companies to leverage and give life to research projects ideas

In order to encourage the emergence of innovative projects, the country offers many public and private grants to finance R&D activities. The main public institutions that offer these innovation programmes are:

More information about Luxembourg and its innovation strategy

A podcast to highlight research made in Luxembourg

Research Luxembourg, RTL Today and SciLux have teamed up to launch a new series of podcasts showcasing science in Luxembourg and beyond.

With a new episode every 2 weeks published on RTL Play, ‘SciLux powered by Research Luxembourg’ will showcase research activities and scientific cooperation in the Grand Duchy.

Learn more on the SciLux X Research Luxembourg podcast