Serge Linckels (Digital Learning Hub): Empowering Luxembourg’s digital skills revolution

Serge Linckels, managing director of the Digital Learning Hub, outlines how vocational tech training, affordable access and new academies in AI, quantum and cybersecurity shape Luxembourg’s digital transformation.

What mission guides the Digital Learning Hub?

I lead a public training institute for adults created three and a half years ago with a clear objective: support companies in their digital transformation. I address beginners taking their first steps as well as advanced professionals seeking deeper expertise. My offer rests on four pillars. First, modular training designed like Lego bricks. Participants select Python One, advanced cybersecurity, GDPR or AI modules and assemble their own learning track. This flexibility empowers employees to adapt skills rapidly. Second, the coding school 42, a very cool school that cultivates hands-on programming abilities. Third, three new academies opening in April in AI data, quantum computing and cybersecurity, fully aligned with national strategies recently announced. Fourth, the Elements of AI programme, a national initiative to demystify artificial intelligence and make it accessible. Since November 2022, 12,000 registrations confirm tangible impact. Classes remain small, around twenty participants, ensuring practical immersion. Unlike academic paths, I deliver vocational training focused on professional application. Most sessions sell out. Pricing reflects accessibility: four euros per training hour. A twenty-hour Python module costs eighty euros. That affordability removes barriers and strengthens Luxembourg’s digital capabilities.

How do you assess Luxembourg’s tech nation ambition ten years later?

I share a personal view. The past decade felt exciting. AI emerged, tablets reshaped usage, social media transformed communication, and multiple technological waves followed. Declaring Luxembourg a tech nation required boldness. Today I observe substantial progress. The government launched three national strategies in AI data, quantum and cybersecurity, perfectly matching our academies. Momentum continues to build. Luxembourg edges closer to becoming a red dot on the world map within the IT sector. Strong initiatives, targeted education and coordinated strategies create fertile ground. Of course, debates persist about execution, yet transformation remains visible. Champions exist, innovation grows, and skills development accelerates. From my perspective, this period represents a fantastic time. The ecosystem matures while new domains open. Ten years ago ambition dominated speeches. Today structured programmes, measurable participation and specialised academies anchor that ambition in reality. Luxembourg may not rival global giants in scale, yet agility, multilingual talent and strategic focus provide distinctive strengths. Continued investment in skills will determine whether this trajectory consolidates into lasting technological leadership.

“We never had a technology that had such a big impact in such a short amount of time.”

Where could technology take Luxembourg in the next decade?

Predicting the future challenges anyone without a crystal ball. Yet recent examples illustrate speed. ChatGPT transformed the world almost overnight, reaching one hundred thousand users within days. No previous technology produced such rapid impact. Artificial intelligence will reshape economies, but its social consequences intrigue me even more. Surveys indicate that ninety percent of companies already use AI in some way. That penetration suggests structural change. Finance still drives Luxembourg’s economy, especially middle and back-office activities. AI could reinvent many processes while new champions such as Gcore expand opportunities. I wonder how daily interactions will evolve. Today we sit face to face. Will that remain standard? Technological acceleration will redefine work patterns, communication habits and required skills. My mission focuses on preparing people for that uncertainty. Continuous upskilling, accessible education and curiosity toward innovation offer the best response. The coming years promise profound transformation, demanding adaptability from institutions, companies and individuals alike.