Since summer last year, the Luxembourg Open Innovation Club (LOIC), founded by nyuko in collaboration with the Lux future lab, Luxinnovation and the Technoport, supports companies in Luxembourg to multiply their innovation efforts by matching them with promising startups around the world. It counts close to 20 members now and revealed its full potential with a recent innovation call for the Grosbusch company.

The family-run company Grosbusch exists for 100 years and specializes in importing and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables in Luxembourg and the Greater Region. It relies on innovation to differentiate itself from its competitors. Goy Grosbusch, director of supports & marketing, had a specific topic to work on and was looking to get some constructive feedback and eventually startups with an interest of collaborating on common projects.

Luxembourg is too small to host many startups matching Grosbusch’s expectations, and it is almost impossible for a traditional company to reach many startups without a dedicated network. That is why Grosbusch worked with the LOIC: they launched a worldwide innovation call for startups in the food tech sector. “We leveraged our international networks to attract the most relevant startups in the food sector, that could best complement Grosbusch innovation strategy.” explains Itzel Lerma, manager of the LOIC for nyuko. “The whole approach is really modern and new, so it was a pleasure of being part in such a new adventure” comments Goy Grosbusch. Among the dozens applications received, the company selected 8 startups to interview and is now deepening its collaboration with one of them. The process took a few weeks but aims at long-term relationships. “In my idea this is the way we will exchange ideas and  eventual business opportunities in the future.” he adds.

The collaboration between the company and the startups is only starting but Grosbusch is already pleased with the result. Goy Grosbusch emphatizes: “I think that it makes sense for every company to, at least, listen to start ups and discover all the new possibilities that are popping up everywhere. From there on it is a personal choice whether to collaborate or not, but in my eyes it is a real opportunity that no company should miss.”