“In 15 years of your mandate as director, Björn, you have built up a critical mass of IT experts. You have been able to combine scientific excellence and applied research among SnT’s staff. You have created trustful partnerships with many partners. You have created a talent factory in IT. You have made SnT, but also the University of Luxembourg, a strategic instrument of the country.” With these words, the University of Luxembourg’s rector Prof. Jens Kreisel honoured Prof. Björn Ottersten’s achievements.
The University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre of Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) celebrated the stewardship of its founding director Prof. Ottersten in Neumünster Abbey on 30 January 2024. He ended his mandate as director at the end of 2023 and, over the course of his 15 years, shaped SnT into the vibrant research centre it is today. Now, SnT is a team with more than 500 members, all focused on one vision: research with impact.
SnT’s community gathered this week to celebrate this moment, and to commemorate the legacy that Björn Ottersten has built. Luxembourg’s University rector Prof. Kreisel opened the proceedings with a tribute summarising the many colours of Prof. Ottersten: his colours as a researcher, as a manager, and as a person. “I admire your perservance and your internal compass. (…) All that has created security among your students, staff, colleagues, and partners,” rector Prof. Kreisel emphasised.
Gerard Hoffmann and Anne-Catherine Ries followed suit, sharing their memories of Prof. Ottersten as he built his career and then SnT. “I think of Björn as an enabler. When we think back, when I was at the time in the ministry, we all had one conviction, one mission that was that information technology is something that makes Luxembourg broader than it is. (…) The key driver when you don’t know exactly what is needed are the right people. With Björn, we were able to step by step always bring research and excellence in line with the assets that Luxembourg had,” shared Anne-Catherine Ries.
Prof. Bart De Moor illuminated the audience as our keynote speaker, giving insight into the common aspects of research he shares with Prof. Ottersten.
Closing the event, Yves Elsen offered his words of gratitude for Prof. Ottersten’s commitment to the University and Luxembourg, followed by our incoming director Prof. Yves Le Traon wrapping up with the presentation of gifts.
Do you want to get more insights? Have a look at our photo gallery of the event.