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Education for the future: start-ups taking up the challenge 

  • 24 January 2025
  • Category
    Education

The 2025 International Day of Education focuses on “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,” encouraging reflection on how education and transversal skills empower individuals and communities to navigate technological progress. 

The University of Luxembourg’s entrepreneurial ecosystem includes several start-ups and spin-offs dedicated to interweaving education and digitalisation. In modernising and personalising education, their efforts give people better chances to fulfill their potential and simply to take joy in learning.

“It’s a long way from a good idea to a successful venture and then to a viable organisation”, explains Prof. Marie Hélène Jobin, Vice Rector for Partnerships and International Relations. “To support aspiring entrepreneurs, the University’s Entrepreneurship Programme and its Incubator offer training and networking opportunities, while the Partnership and Tech Transfer office supports researchers with the intricacies of intellectual property and research-based ventures”. 

We are proud of the Uni.lu ventures dedicated to education, not only for steering through the challenging path but also for finding innovative ways to contribute to a more inclusive and fair society.”
Marie-Hélène Jobin

Prof. Marie Hélène Jobin

Vice Rector for Partnerships and International Relations

LetzMath and the application Magrid

The woman behind Letzmath is Dr Tahereh Pazouki, who developed the idea for a language free math learning app during her PhD (for which she earned an “Excellent Thesis Award”) at Uni.lu.  

Embedded at the University’s Incubator, the spin-off quickly took off, earning awards internationally and growing a loyal customer base. The language free math app for preschool and children with special needs is used by schools and tutors in several countries.  

Today, Magrid improves the development of early mathematical, visual-spatial, and cognitive abilities in 3- to 9-year-olds, and for children with special education needs up to age 12.

Golden Me

GoldenMe was founded by Mara Kroth and Johannes Heuschkel during their studies and subsequently incubated at the University. The non-profit organisation promotes social inclusion and fights social isolation and loneliness of seniors, by equipping them with digital literacy skills. 

“We are proud of the progress we’ve made since GoldenMe was founded during the Ideation Camp in 2018”, the founders write. “Last year, we launched a new corporate identity, introduced our updated logo, and in January 2025, we launched our new volunteer programme for Digital Mentors. Digital Mentors are seniors that support other seniors in digital matters. 

“Our vision is a digital society where people of all ages can participate equally. Looking ahead, we are focused on expanding our activities to the northern part of the country, aiming to reach even more seniors. We are grateful to be part of a larger ecosystem dedicated to social inclusion and digital education, working alongside with other organizations and partners.”

Tech Academy

Unleash your inner innovator with robotics courses! TechAcademy aims to advance education in robotics and applied AI. The start-up provides interactive and hands-on technical workshops that enable students, professionals, and organisations to thrive in these rapidly evolving fields.  
 
“Since our inception roughly a year and a half ago, TechAcademy has collaborated with numerous educational and government institutions in Luxembourg, such as the Digital Learning Hub and Luxinnovation, to raise awareness about robotics and AI,” explains founder Adam Abdoellah. “We have designed several learning tracks to address the skills gap in these areas and partnered with local schools to inspire young adults to pursue careers in robotics, manufacturing, education, and AI.” 

“The support from the University of Luxembourg’s Incubator and Entrepreneurship Programme has been instrumental in our journey, providing invaluable workshops, resources, and connections that have propelled us forward.“ 

LUMI

LUMI SIS, the University’s pioneering spin-off with social impact, offers an early literacy programme, rigorously tested and recognised for innovation. Created in 2019 by Pascale Engel de Abreu, Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology, Lumi is an actor for change in education and child development, by applying scientific knowledge to benefit vulnerable children.  

“We identified a clear need for evidence-based interventions, including here in Luxembourg. Our goal was to bridge this science-to-practice gap to have a real impact on childrens’ lives.” Recently, de Abreu and her team developed an educational app and launched a mindfulness diary, directly spun out of her Uni.lu research on children’s mental health.  

Reflecting on her journey, she encourages women scientists: “Entrepreneurship knows no bounds of gender, age, or discipline. Creating a spin-off as an academic isn’t just about innovation; it’s about transforming scientific ideas into practical solutions for society.” 

Grew IA

Founded by mathematics professors Christophe Ley and Ivan Nourdin, GrewIA offers research-driven solutions in artificial intelligence and big data. Its educational branch, GrewAcademy, provides comprehensive training programs, ranging from introductory courses to advanced modules in statistics, machine learning, AI, and big data. GrewIA also supports companies in their AI projects through consulting services, while leveraging a strong laboratory component dedicated to innovation and research. 

“Regardless of existing knowledge levels or specific needs, GrewIA’s training equips participants to effectively master and apply cutting-edge technologies and data-driven insights within their field, with the option of tailored support for their concrete projects,” explain the two co-founders.