Before the summer, the future of the Luxembourg Science Center was uncertain.
For nearly two years, the non-profit organisation faced substantial criticism over its governance, with huge billing discrepancies uncovered, missing time sheets and other management-related irregularities.
The issue stemmed from a conflict of interest involving Nicolas Didier’s private company, GGM11, and the Luxembourg Science Center, where Didier also served as director and chairman of the board. Now it seems the matter has finally been settled.
“We may have lost a year, but progress has been made,” said Minister of Education Claude Meisch.
Meisch explained that employees who previously worked indirectly for the Science Center through GGM11 have now been directly integrated into the Luxembourg Science Center under its ASBL structure. “That was our proposal,” Meisch said. “We always maintained that if this was not possible because Nicolas Didier, the owner of GGM11, didn’t agree, we would make arrangements to hire everyone individually. Fortunately, a resolution was reached, and people can continue working on the project they helped build.”
GGM11, whose sole client was the Science Center, created a conflict of interest due to Didier’s dual role as director and chairman of the board at the Science Center. When asked about Didier’s current standing, Meisch responded: “I have never been the spokesperson for Nicolas Didier, the Luxembourg Science Center, or GGM11. I can confirm, however, that he is no longer a member of the board of administration. My recommendation remains that he should step down as director of the Science Center and allow a new team to take over.”
The government has now placed two representatives on the Science Center’s board—one from the Ministry of Education and another from the Ministry of Finance. Additionally, a new agreement has been signed with the ASBL.
“This new agreement is in place until next year,” Meisch explained. “In the meantime, we’ll have the opportunity to review the details with the new board of directors and, hopefully, a new management team.”
The new contract, which costs the state just under €3 million annually, ensures the Science Center’s operations and guarantees the salaries of its employees. Although the Science Center charges an entrance fee, Meisch clarified that it still requires government support to remain financially viable.
