The LUMINEU is designed to investigate the possibility to search forneutrinoless double beta decay in $^{100}$Mo by means of a large array ofscintillating bolometers based on ZnMoO$_4$ crystals enriched in $^{100}$Mo.High energy resolution and relatively fast detectors, which are able to measureboth the light and the heat generated upon the interaction of a particle in acrystal, are very promising for the recognition and rejection of backgroundevents. We present the LUMINEU concepts and the experimental results achievedaboveground and underground with large-mass natural and enriched crystals. Themeasured energy resolution, the $\alpha/\beta$ discrimination power and theradioactive internal contamination are all within the specifications for theprojected final LUMINEU sensitivity. Simulations and preliminary resultsconfirm that the LUMINEU technology can reach zero background in the region ofinterest (around 3 MeV) with exposures of the order of hundredskg$\times$years, setting the bases for a next generation $0\nu2\beta$ decayexperiment capable to explore the inverted hierarchy region of the neutrinomass pattern.