Digital··7 min
Luxinnovation: which Fit 4 programme to choose and how to apply
Luxinnovation runs five Fit 4 programmes (Digital, Innovation, Sustainability, AI, Start) that co-fund a consultant's diagnostic or study. This guide helps managers of Luxembourg SMEs choose the right programme and submit their application in the right order.
Translated from French · Lire l'original en français
Do you run an SME in the Grand Duchy and can't decide between several forms of support? Luxinnovation is the first point of entry, and its Fit 4 scheme brings together five programmes that fund the work of an external consultant, from diagnostic to study. The right choice depends on your need, and the order of the steps matters as much as the amount.
Luxinnovation: what does the agency do and who is it for?
Luxinnovation is the national agency for the promotion of innovation and research. Guichet.lu presents it as the first point of contact for research and innovation. Its head office is at 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette (tel. +352 43 62 63 1).
Guichet.lu groups the support programmes under the “régime Fit 4” (“Fit 4 scheme”): Fit 4 Digital, Fit 4 Innovation, Fit 4 Sustainability, Fit 4 AI and Fit 4 Start. Four are aimed at established companies, only one at start-ups.
Which Fit 4 programme for which need?
Start from your problem, not from the programme name. Here is the simplest decision tree:
- Your IT tools, your data or your cybersecurity are holding you back: Fit 4 Digital.
- Your organisation or productivity needs to change: Fit 4 Innovation.
- You want to measure and reduce your environmental impact: Fit 4 Sustainability.
- You are considering an artificial intelligence project: Fit 4 AI.
- You run a technology start-up less than 5 years old: Fit 4 Start.
On the digital side, our article on the 100% funded Fit 4 Digital diagnostic details the first phase, and the 4-week cybersecurity plan shows what a diagnostic can lead to.
Fit 4 programmes compared: audience, cost, rate, duration
This table sets out the information published by Guichet.lu. Amounts are excluding VAT (excl. VAT) and may change: always check the official page of each programme before committing.
| Programme | Audience | Eligible cost | Rate and ceiling | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit 4 Digital, phase 1 | SMEs holding a business permit | Digital maturity diagnostic, flat fee of 5,000 euros | Fully covered by the grant | Depends on the diagnostic |
| Fit 4 Digital, phase 2 | Same SMEs | Implementation | Up to 50% according to Guichet.lu | Depends on the project |
| Fit 4 Innovation, phase 1 | Luxembourg SMEs | Consultant only | 50%, capped at 15,000 euros | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Fit 4 Innovation, phase 2 | Same SMEs | Fixed portion of the consultant's fee | Rate to be checked on the official page | Depends on the project |
| Fit 4 Sustainability | Head office in Luxembourg, main economic activity | Consultant's study | Capital grant | Depends on the study |
| Fit 4 AI | Head office in Luxembourg, valid permit | Consultant's study, from 10,000 to 200,000 euros | Up to 50% for SMEs, 30% for large companies | 6 months maximum |
| Fit 4 Start | Start-ups less than 5 years old | Coaching and funding | Up to 150,000 euros according to Guichet.lu and the specialist press | 20 weeks |
Fit 4 Start: the exception reserved for start-ups
Fit 4 Start is not like the others. It is an accelerator for technology start-ups (digital, health, space), not support for an established SME. You must be less than 5 years old, have a team of at least 2 people including one full-time, and have a physical presence in Luxembourg. Incorporating the company is not a prerequisite.
The programme offers 20 weeks of coaching and funding of up to 150,000 euros, according to the Guichet.lu page for Fit 4 Start. Demand is high: according to Gouvernement.lu and Paperjam, more than 400 applications were received for the 15th edition, compared with 20 start-ups selected in the 14th. Further reading on this topic: Luxembourg Future Fund 3 and its 270 million.
In what order to act: from first contact to grant
The sequence is almost identical from one programme to the next:
- Contact Luxinnovation. For Fit 4 Innovation, it is the SME department that assesses your eligibility.
- Ask for the list of approved consultants and request quotes.
- Have the quote checked. For Fit 4 AI, it goes through the Luxinnovation platform. For Fit 4 Sustainability, Luxinnovation issues a certificate to be attached to the application.
- Submit the application: on the Luxinnovation platform for Fit 4 Digital, via MyGuichet.lu for the others. For Fit 4 Sustainability, LuxTrust or the electronic identity card is required.
- Wait for approval. For Fit 4 Digital, the ministry confirms eligibility and issues a payment voucher.
- Carry out the assignment, then request payment on presentation of the invoice and proof of payment.
The application must always come before the commitment: for Fit 4 Digital, before any signature with the consultant, and for Fit 4 Sustainability, before the first legally binding commitment, in other words the order.
Three mistakes that cost you the grant
Signing before submitting the application is the most costly mistake, because the programme funds expenditure that has not yet been committed. A quote accepted too quickly can be enough to disqualify you.
Second pitfall: confusing diagnostic and implementation. Under Fit 4 Digital, phase 1 assesses your digital maturity for 5,000 euros excl. VAT, and phase 2 funds execution based on its conclusions. The diagnostic does not pay for your new website, your ERP or your security tool: it tells you what to do and in what order.
Third pitfall: overlooking the conditions linked to State aid. Fit 4 Digital requires an activity that is not excluded from such aid. Check your situation with Luxinnovation before putting a file together, and remember that this article provides information and does not replace legal advice.
Beyond Fit 4: R&D, Horizon Europe and 2024 figures
The Fit 4 programmes are only part of the offer. According to the 2024 activity report published by Gouvernement.lu, Luxinnovation supported 891 companies, including 67 SMEs in the Fit 4 performance programmes, mainly Fit 4 Sustainability and Fit 4 Digital. The agency also received 124 applications for national R&D and innovation projects, 68% more than in 2023, and 47.4 million euros of Horizon Europe funding went to Luxembourg entities.
The L-DIH (Luxembourg Digital Innovation Hub) also helped 32 industrial companies assess their digital maturity in 2024 and is extending its support to more sectors. For a concrete example of European funding, read the case of UNICHE, an SME based in Bertrange.
Key points before contacting Luxinnovation
Identify your need, compare the programmes in the table, then call Luxinnovation before speaking to a consultant. The right approach comes down to three steps: contact, apply, then sign. Then confirm the amounts and conditions on the official Guichet.lu pages, in particular Fit 4 Digital, Fit 4 Innovation and Fit 4 AI.
Frequently asked questions
What is Luxinnovation?
Luxinnovation is the national agency for the promotion of innovation and research in Luxembourg. Guichet.lu presents it as the first point of contact for research and innovation. Among other things, it runs the programmes of the Fit 4 scheme and puts companies in touch with approved consultants. Its head office is in Esch-sur-Alzette.
What are the Fit 4 programmes?
According to Guichet.lu, the Fit 4 scheme brings together five programmes: Fit 4 Digital for digitalisation, Fit 4 Innovation for organisation and productivity, Fit 4 Sustainability for environmental impact, Fit 4 AI for artificial intelligence projects, and Fit 4 Start, an accelerator for start-ups less than 5 years old.
How much does the Fit 4 Digital diagnostic cost?
According to Guichet.lu, phase 1 of Fit 4 Digital, the digital maturity diagnostic, has a flat-rate cost of 5,000 euros excl. VAT. This amount is fully covered by the grant. An implementation phase 2 can then receive support, depending on the conclusions of the diagnostic.
Can you sign with a consultant before applying for the grant?
No. For Fit 4 Digital, the application must be submitted before any contract is signed with a consultant. For Fit 4 Sustainability, it must come before the first legally binding commitment, in other words the order. Signing too early can cost you the grant.
How do you submit a Fit 4 application?
After contacting Luxinnovation and obtaining a quote from an approved consultant, the application is submitted on the Luxinnovation platform for Fit 4 Digital, or via MyGuichet.lu for the other programmes. For Fit 4 Sustainability, LuxTrust or the electronic identity card is required.
Is Fit 4 Start open to established SMEs?
No. Fit 4 Start is aimed at technology start-ups less than 5 years old, with a team of at least 2 people including one full-time, and a physical presence in Luxembourg. It offers 20 weeks of coaching. Established SMEs fall under the other Fit 4 programmes.
