Networked research central to tecHHub Hamburg

A bio-space is being set up with state-of-the-art equipment for microbiology, cell culture and chemistry. Companies share the facilities like a flat: "We have EUR 150,000 worth of equipment here, but only one company uses it once a month. So, it makes sense to share the infrastructure and book the labs as needed," said Denny Drossmann, Managing Director of Start-up Labs Hamburg, which operates the tecHHub. Start-up Labs Hamburg is a joint project involving DESY, the University of Hamburg and the City of Hamburg. In addition to the shared use of equipment, activities ranging from cookery evenings and further training to onboarding new employees can be undertaken: "Ideally, the companies could exchange skilled workers.”

The tecHHub's proximity to the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) research centre with its particle accelerator and outstanding X-ray light sources gives it real added value. The tecHHub is also home to research companies that need DESY's particle accelerator to develop new medication. Other research institutions, such as the Max Planck Society, have branches on the Bahrenfeld research campus. Parts of the University of Hamburg are also located there or will move there in the future. "The tecHHub Hamburg creates an attractive environment for startups and young innovative companies, who find a professional home there in the highly attractive environment of DESY and Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld with extensive infrastructure," said Rolf Strittmatter, Managing Director of Hamburg Invest. Students, graduates and postgraduates will be on site making it far easier for  tenants of the tecHHub to recruit qualified specialists.

The City of Hamburg, Hamburg Invest and DESY are creating the best possible structural conditions for companies in science and technology regardless of their development stage. Apart from the tecHHub, the Bahrenfeld research campus features many other research facilities with more planned. The DESY Innovation Village, which opened in 2019, marks a first step for young startups.  The "village" includes a makerspace with prototype workshops and a co-working area. The construction of the DESY Innovation Factory I, which will function as a kind of innovation accelerator, began last November. Innovative minds can develop their ideas in laboratories with physical, chemical and biological equipment before setting up a company. The construction of the DESY Innovation Factory II will get underway in spring 2025 and targets young, growing companies as a counterpart to the tecHHub Hamburg. Work in the tecHHub itself will focus on life science topics, while everything will revolve around physics in the DESY Innovation Factory II.

The Innovation Park is likely to fill up gradually. Construction of all the planned facilities is due to complete in 2027. Startups and companies can then avail of over 15,000 square metres of usable space. "The Altona Innovation Park will provide the right space for a forward-looking ecosystem that fosters the growth of existing and new companies from all over the world," said Nina Alswede, Key Account Manager at Hamburg Invest. The facilities in Bahrenfeld exemplify the City of Hamburg's innovation strategy. No less than four innovation parks including the Altona Innovation Park can be found in Hamburg. Work in Bergedorf focuses on wind energy, 3D laser technology, energy storage and optical technologies while aviation takes centre stage in Finkenwerder. Work in the Harburg Innovation Park focuses on green technologies, aviation, medical technology, digitalisation and materials science. The underlying strategy is to offer startups free space and outstanding research infrastructure in the vicinity. This approach is already paying and saw the City of Hamburg move from 45th (2017) to 13th place (2024) on the EU's Regional Innovation Scoreboard, to become Germany’s most dynamic city.

The tecHHub's proximity to major research institutions and young scientists and its integration into the Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld is unique. The latter is akin to a giant, future-oriented workshop in which teaching and research are carried out at the highest level. This is where basic research takes place and where discoveries in physics, chemistry and biology are turned into marketable innovations. On top of this, a new suburb is gradually being built with housing, shops, schools, sports and games. Drossmann pointed out: "You are unlikely to to find anything comparable in Europe".
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A series on our partner website Startupcity Hamburg highlights startups based in the tecHHub.