Go International
Building on the momentum of the successful trade mission to the West Coast of the United States last October, Luxembourg is further reinforcing its presence in leading American innovation hubs with a high‑level trade mission to Colorado Springs and New York from 12 to 18 April 2026. Organised by the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, in close collaboration with the Luxembourg Trade and Invest partners and the Luxembourg-American Chamber of Commerce, the mission brought together 23 companies active in space, defence, and digital technologies.
Carlo Thelen, CEO/Director General of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce said: “'In a context of geopolitical uncertainty, the Luxembourg and US business communities continue to demonstrate their strong dedication to a future oriented and dynamic transatlantic relationship, especially in today’s interconnected and rapidly evolving global economy. At a time when competitiveness has become a central priority, and resilient supply chains are more important than ever, Luxembourg stands as a stable and reliable partner, offering an attractive and a pro-business environment in Europe. The US is Luxembourg’s leading trading partner out of Europe in terms of trade in goods and services with total volume amounting to EUR 32.6 billion in 2025. This close economic relationship offers a strong foundation to further enhance economic progress and innovation on both sides of the Atlantic and lies at the very heart of this Trade Mission."
From space to digital innovation: strengthening transatlantic ties in key sectors
The mission began in Colorado Springs, where Luxembourg participated in the 41st Space Symposium, one of the most influential global gatherings for the space and defence sectors. For the second consecutive year, a national pavilion coordinated by the Luxembourg Space Agency underscored the nation’s priorities and avant guard technologies in the global space economy, while providing a strategic platform for dialogue with key institutional and industrial stakeholders. The programme included targeted visits to Astroscale U.S. and ispace-US in Denver, two pioneering companies in orbital debris removal, satellite servicing and lunar mobility. A networking reception, held in the presence of Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SMEs and Energy, offered participants the opportunity to connect in a friendly and convivial atmosphere.
The mission provided first-hand insight into key actors shaping the U.S. space and defence landscape.
Francisco Cuellar Córdova, CEO of Tumi Robotics, said: “Participating in this event as part of the Luxembourg delegation has been a key milestone for TUMI Robotics Space. As this was our first time attending an event of this scale, our goal was to better understand the global space ecosystem and identify how our dual-use robotic technologies can contribute both on Earth and in space. This mission has been extremely valuable in enabling high-quality networking, opening conversations for potential collaborations. We see this as the beginning of long-term partnerships that will accelerate our expansion into the space sector.”
Michel Poucet, Managing Director of Infinite Orbits added: “The U.S., particularly the Colorado Springs and Denver areas, is highly attractive to Luxembourg companies thanks to its strong space and defence ecosystem, spanningboth industry and government. The Space Symposium offers a unique opportunity to engage with key stakeholders in one place. This mission allowed us to reconnect with existing customers and partners, build new relationships, and gain valuable insights through site visits to leading space companies. It also provided an excellent platform to showcase Luxembourg’s robust ecosystem and the strong support from both industry and government for space and defence.”
André Wilmes, President of LuxDefence, also highlighted: “Fostering international relationships with fellow defence industry associations and collaborative engagements are among one of our top priorities. The targeted audience in Colorado Springs enabled us to hold multi-country and multi-stakeholder meetings otherwise impracticable to organise. The sheer number and variety of military and governmental representatives, industrial actors of all size and technology flavors, as well as the presence of innovation and national agencies from several countries created an environment where long term strategic partnerships and business opportunity gateways were crafted, both for individual companies but also for national ecosystems as a whole. As defence‑related activities in space continue to expand, we can expect growing interest and participation from Luxembourg companies and LuxDefence members attending next year.”
The mission then continued to New York, where meetings with key stakeholders such as the Cornell Tech, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), and SOSA provided insights into cooperation programmes, cutting-edge digital solutions, and dynamic startup communities, whilst showcasing Luxembourg as a competitive and forward‑looking innovation hub. The programme also included a visit to Newlab Brooklyn, a venture platform supporting more than 400 startups transforming critical industries. In addition, exchanges with the U.S. offices of Arendt & Medernach and Elvinger Hoss provided practical guidance for Luxembourg companies considering expansion into the North American market. Together, these interactions highlighted how New York stands at the crossroads of talent, capital and innovation, making it a strategic gateway for transatlantic collaboration.
A flagship moment celebrating transatlantic business success
A key highlight of the mission was the 12th Luxembourg American Business Award Ceremony, held at the prestigious Metropolitan Club, in the presence of H.R.H Grand Duke Guillaume, Xavier Bettel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Gilles Roth, Minister of Finance. The event was organised by the Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce, an accredited chamber in Luxembourg dedicated to building strong member relationships through knowledge exchange and professional events. This biennal award recognises companies that have made a lasting and meaningful contribution to Luxembourg-U.S. economic relations.
This year, Plastipak, a global leader in sustainable packaging and recycling solutions, was honoured for its long-standing commitment to strengthening bilateral business ties.
Fernand Ernster, President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce stated: “The Business Award not only recognises excellence, but also showcases the success stories of companies that have taken the transatlantic leap to expand their activities. Highlighting these success stories is essential. They reflect the dynamism and shared ambition that characterise the Luxembourg-U.S. partnership and will continue to move it forward.”
The momentum continued with the USA–Luxembourg Business Forum, which brought together business leaders, policymakers, investors and representatives of innovation‑driven institutions from both sides of the Atlantic. The “Tech & Innovation” session offered perspective from Luxembourg and the United States, exploring digital solutions and common challenges faced by companies operating in both markets. The agenda also included a networking reception at the Luxembourg House, providing a platform for engagement with U.S. companies and the broader business community. These interactions translated into concrete takeaways for participating companies, both in terms of market insights and business opportunities.
Johan Scheefer, CEO of STRAS, noted: "As a Luxembourg IT consulting company, I see the U.S. as a true laboratory for scaling digital technologies at speed, and New York perfectly embodies this dynamic, fast-paced ecosystem. The mission allowed me to connect with key tech players, gain deeper insights into the U.S. market, and reinforce my belief in combining European resilience with American innovation to build sustainable digital solutions. This experience strengthens my commitment to further invest in our U.S. presence, and I would strongly recommend it to any entrepreneur looking to expand internationally.”
And Paul Schockmel, CEO of IEE, underlined: “Joining the trade mission to New York is an opportunity to connect, gather fresh inspiration, and learn from one of the world’s most dynamic markets. The trip sparked several promising ideas for how our company can accelerate and scale within the U.S. health sector — a space that’s still new to us but full of potential.”
Turning connections into concrete business opportunities
By opening new avenues for collaboration in space, defense and digital technologies, the trade mission translated Luxembourg’s strategic ambitions into tangible business opportunities while reinforcing its position as a competitive and globally connected innovation hub.
Looking ahead, the Chamber of Commerce is already preparing its next visit to the United States, scheduled for January 2027.
Interested in expanding your business to the USA? Contact us at: usa@cc.lu
