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Last week, the 8xav¸£Àûµ¼º½ of Luxembourg welcomed its community of supporters for its annual Donor Appreciation Evening, a moment dedicated first and foremost to expressing sincere gratitude and demonstrating the tangible impact of philanthropic support.

More than a social gathering, the evening gave donors a tangible sense of the impact of their contributions. Philippe Lamesch, Head of Advancement, noted that 2025 marked a record year for fundraising, an achievement that reflects both the generosity of donors and the growing momentum behind the 8xav¸£Àûµ¼º½â€™s development. These contributions truly make a meaningful difference across the institution: supporting students facing a high cost of living, advancing research in an increasingly competitive funding landscape, and fostering innovation by helping researchers transform ideas into successful spin-offs.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Prix d’honneur pour un engagement exceptionnel en philanthropie  to Mr Norbert Becker. An early and committed supporter of the 8xav¸£Àûµ¼º½, Mr Becker was instrumental in establishing its first Chair in International Tax Law, a field that continues to be supported through his foundation, Fondation Atoz. He has also contributed to the 8xav¸£Àûµ¼º½â€™s interdisciplinary centre – Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) – supporting research into rare childhood diseases, and has been actively engaged as both supporter and mentor within the 8xav¸£Àûµ¼º½â€™s incubator and entrepreneurship programmes.

The distinction, conferred by the Vice-Rector for Partnerships and International Relations Prof Marie-Hélène Jobin, recognised both his generosity and his sustained commitment. In his remarks, Mr Becker emphasised his long-term relationship with the 8xav¸£Àûµ¼º½ and his pride in being a partner of the institution.

The programme also offered donors direct insight into the impact of their support towards research. Professor Carole Linster presented her research and provided a clear perspective on how scientists approach rare childhood diseases, an area that receives less attention from the pharmaceutical industry due to limited economic incentives. She showed how fundamental research, through a better understanding of underlying mechanisms, can quickly lead to concrete applications that help improve, and in some cases even save,  children’s lives.

The evening underscored the 8xav¸£Àûµ¼º½â€™s commitment to a model of philanthropy built on transparency, trust and long-term relationships, ensuring that donors remain closely connected to the projects and people they choose to support.