The Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade ensures the implementation of economic competitiveness policy in Luxembourg. It includes, amongst others, the following priorities:

• business, technology and competitiveness
• regional economic development
• research and technological development (R&D), technology transfer and innovation
• industrial property and intellectual rights

The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, manages the Higher Committee for Research and Innovation.

The 7 Directorates General of the Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade are involved in the implementation of these policies. The Directorate General for General Affaires (DG 1) is in charge of enterprise policy, the budget and administration of the Ministry, maritime affairs and the Business Portal.

The Directorate General for the Internal Market and Regional Policy (DG 2) also deals with electronic commerce and IT security. Its tasks also include, amongst others, land planning policy, legislation and sector planning of the economic activity zones, the Greater Region Coordination and the management of the Luxembourg programmes funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Directorate General for Industry, Logistics and Infrastructures (DG 3) assumes the secretariat of the Economic Committee and deals with industrial companies as well as the strategy and follow up of the logistics sector. In addition, the tasks of this Directorate General include activity zones and the general policy for state aids.

The Directorate General for Competitiveness (DG 4) is in charge of the Observatoire de la compétititvité (“Competitiveness Observatory”) and the Observatoire de la formation des prix (“Price Forming Observatory”).

The Directorate General for the Promotion of Foreign Trade and Investments (DG 5) is, amongst other tasks, in charge of financial instruments for export promotion, the network of Luxembourg Trade & Investment Offices, trade missions, Luxembourg for Business and the Office des Licences (“Licences Office”).

The Directorate General for Energy (DG 6) is in charge of the national coordination of energy policy, energy markets and sustainable energy.

The Directorate General for Research, Intellectual Property and New Technologies (DG 7) is in charge of R&D support measures. It deals with the strategy and follow up of R&D and technology policy, including the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development (FP7), EUREKA and the European Space Agency (ESA). Its responsibilities also include the promotion of innovation, hosting structures and incubators, R&D programmes and projects, as well as clusters, notably via Luxinnovation, the National Agency for Innovation and Research, of which the Ministry is one of the founding members. DG7 is also responsible for the Luxembourg Portal for Innovation and Research. The Intellectual Property Office (OPI), in charge of patents, trademarks, designs, copyright and related rights, is part of this Directorate General. DG7 is also in charge of the strategy and follow up of the health technologies, clean technologies and information and communication technologies sectors.