Endowed chairs

Endowed chairs are funded by external capital providers as for example business companies and are not, or not completely, funded by the University itself. They are, in general, limited to a five-year contract period and allow the donor to establish collaborations with scientists in research and development.

The University of Luxembourg has in its only seven-year-long existence already obtained six endowed chairs:

• First off was  the Japanese electronics company TDK,  that founded the TDK Europe professorship „New materials for solar cells“ in 2006. This chair is filled by Prof. Dr. Susanne Siebentritt, head of the Laboratory for Photovoltaics at the University of Luxembourg.
• In 2007,  the City of Luxembourg funded a professorship in urban development research, located within the „Laboratoire de Recherche en Géographie et Aménagement du Territoire“ at the University. Its researchers focus on regional and communal planning in Luxembourg and in the Greater Region, on European regional planning concepts, and on sustainable regional and communal development. Professorship holder is Prof. Dr. Markus Hesse.
• In 2009, the company ATOZ Tax Advisors  established a professorship for European and international tax law at the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance, held by Prof. Dr. Alexander Rust.
• In March 2010, the University and the global satellite operator SES S.A. signed a partnership agreement that foresees, among others, a funded chair in Satellite Communications and Media Law; the position is held by Professor Mahulena Hofmann.
• In September 2010, the world’s largest steel producer ArcelorMittal,  headquartered in Luxembourg, sealed the “ArcelorMittal Funded Chair in Façade Engineering” with the University. The aim is to advance the development of energy efficient high-tech buildings made of steel, composite steel and glass. The chair was given to Prof. Dr. Christoph Odenbreit (+ Info) .
• Also in September 2010,  the Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A . announced the funding of the „Deutsche Bank Chair of Finance”. The chair is based at the Luxembourg School of Finance, located within the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance of the University, and is to cover research topics in banking and finance that have applications within the banking sector in Luxembourg.