Credit: Ievgenii Karanov, Chronicle.lu
On Tuesday 1 September 2026, LuxDefence, an association bringing together Luxembourg companies active in the defence, security, technology and dual-use sectors, held a press lunch at restaurant Le Fin Gourmand in Luxembourg-Hollerich to present its activities, recent progress and priorities for the sector.
LuxDefence was formally incorporated on 2 June 2025, following work initiated by the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce to identify the need for a national defence industry association. President André Wilmes and Association Manager Clémence Bouvier explained that the organisation has since grown to more than 140 member organisations, over 70% of which are SMEs. Its members operate across a broad range of fields, including space, cyber and IT, additive manufacturing, logistics, aerospace, drones and robotics, construction, medical technologies and sovereign data centres.
Reflecting on the association's first fifteen months, André Wilmes told Chronicle.lu: “We went from a blank page to what we are today. So today we are above 140 companies.” He noted that LuxDefence is working to establish six cross-sector working groups covering legal and compliance, finance and banking, military certifications and standards, strategy and business, business operations in defence and people in defence. Two are already operational, with the remaining groups expected to follow. The association is also working on international representation, skills development and helping companies understand requirements related to areas such as physical security, cybersecurity and military certification.
According to André Wilmes, one of LuxDefence's main priorities is to help generate economic returns in Luxembourg from increased defence spending by integrating local companies more closely into international supply chains. This includes encouraging companies to collaborate so that they can offer more mature or integrated products and potentially move higher in the supply chain. LuxDefence also highlighted its regular exchanges with the wider defence ecosystem and its efforts to support international delegations, trade-show participation and cooperation with foreign companies.
André Wilmes said progress had also been made on several challenges identified in the original Lux4Defence report, including proposed legislation affecting access to classified information and the manufacture of defence-related products, as well as plans for a defence campus or hub. Access to banking services remains another practical issue for companies entering the sector. “We have really spent a lot of time working together with banks, ABBL, the regulators to help companies get bank accounts,” he said, adding that the situation had improved considerably compared with twelve months ago.
Looking ahead, LuxDefence said its focus would remain on supporting economic return, international representation and industry awareness, while developing the six working groups and strengthening links between Luxembourg companies and foreign defence ecosystems. The association is also preparing further activities for its members, including regular exchanges, workshops and thematic events, as Luxembourg's defence technological and industrial base continues to develop.
