Magnets for smart minds
Why tech hubs will continue to be important drivers of growth
So brand new: JPT managing director Aurélien Claeyssen is excited about the company’s new headquarters © WISTA Management GmbH
WISTA’s head of leasing Axel Gutzmer swears by in-person spaces for networking © WISTA Management GmbH
Success story made in Adlershof: Henning Fitschen designs PV systems © WISTA Management GmbH
Are technology parks becoming obsolete in an era of hybrid work? Not at all. Head to Adlershof to experience how tech hubs bring together smart minds to create thriving companies.
Soon, JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH will bid its final farewells to the Centre of Biotechnology and the Environment (ZBU). The biotech company’s rapid growth demands larger facilities and laboratories for its 150 employees and hundreds of machines. “We are currently completing the construction of a new production site spanning over 8,000 square metres,” says managing director Aurélien Claeyssen. “This new site will accommodate more than 220 employees and expand our technological capacities.”
JPT develops and manufactures peptides—small molecules used across a wide array of life science applications. “Peptides can, for instance, be used in the treatment of certain types of cancer, the assessment of the effectiveness of vaccines, or, more recently, treatment of obesity,” explains Claeyssen.
Operating at the Adlershof site since 2004, the company produces up to a million peptides per year, making it one of the world's leading manufacturers. “With multiple patented technologies, JPT has always been a pioneer in its market and continues to focus on innovation to stay ahead of the competition," says Claeyssen. Hence, the new building —a true success story.
The same can be said of the technology centres in Adlershof. These centres are essential, not just but especially now that remote work has become the new norm in the post-pandemic age. People need spaces to collaborate, exchange ideas, and bring innovations to life. “The concentration of key players in one location is crucial to the success of a technology hub,” says Axel Gutzmer emphatically, who is head of the leasing team at WISTA Management GmbH and the former director of the biotech and environmental technology centres. “Short distances, strong networks, and a diverse mix of stakeholders—from start-ups to small and medium-sized companies to universities—create an ideal ecosystem.” Research and development thrive on interdisciplinary exchange, which is only possible at hubs operating on this scale.
Success is all the more likely when the infrastructure actively supports businesses—and adapts flexibly to changing needs. “Our technology centres provide companies with ideal conditions, especially during their early development stages,” explains Gutzmer. “Through flexible lease models and terms, we enable businesses to scale their space requirements in line with their growth.”
This is exactly what happened with JPT. “It typically takes years to establish and make an innovative company profitable,” says Claeyssen. “This is why it’s crucial to be able to access flexible infrastructure solutions that evolve with a business’s development, especially when we’re talking about laboratories, which require significant investment.” WISTA has been a key partner in this process: “They supported our growth and provided access to fully equipped labs, which is far from standard.”
To ensure technology hubs remain future-proof, ongoing investment in maintenance, inspection, testing, and servicing of buildings is essential. “Facility components are continuously replaced with more efficient and more powerful systems to guarantee the availability of utilities and maintain the buildings’ technical standard,” says Gutzmer.
Long-term success also requires maintaining the site’s appeal and strengthening its advantages. “With an eye on the modern world of work, we create innovative work environments to foster sustainable economic growth,” says Gutzmer, pointing towards ST3AM, a new co-working space. The new spaces at Rudower Chaussee 28 are tailored to best suit the needs of people in various phases of their work process.
Making technology centres work requires staff. While many operate behind the scenes, they are the “backbone of the operation” —such as facility managers for the centres, technical teams, and event and network coordinators. Last but not least, thanks to their support and advisory services, the Adlershof Founder’s Lab (AFL) have established themselves as enablers of entrepreneurial success.
Take AFL scholarship recipient Henning Fitschen, for instance. Even during his environmental engineering studies, Fitschen was positively electrified by the possibilities of photovoltaics (PV). After two full-time positions, he realised he wanted to design PV systems himself. “I saw a huge demand for this among architects and engineering firms.” He wasn’t wrong.
He might have even slightly underestimated the demand: People asked about installation just as much as planning. And so, he has been offering a full-service package since founding Fitschen Solar in Adlershof in late 2017: consulting, planning, and installation of PV systems.
Two years ago, the young company moved its five employees from the IGZ Innovation and Start-Up Centre to the Centre for Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy (ZPV). “That’s where I always wanted to be,” says Fitschen, waxing lyrically. Why? “The building itself, with its PV façade, is fantastic—and, of course, it’s also about the connections I can make here,” says the engineer. It’s where the know-how is concentrated, he says, much like the entire campus provides a fertile environment for entrepreneurs in his field.
Fitschen emphasises the invaluable support given to him at the Founders’ Lab. “It’s incredibly helpful to be surrounded by other founders, to exchange ideas, and to support each other,” says Fitschen with praise. One of the events to do so is the Adlershof Entrepreneurs’ Breakfast. After one such meeting, he ended up designing a PV system for a fellow participant. That’s how the future is built in Adlershof—by making close connections.
Chris Löwer for Adlershof Journal