No two days are the same

They are three out of 34,000: What it means to work in Germany’s largest technology park

Monday, 7.30 am
Stephan Möllers has been up for two hours. Setting off from Panketal, he’s now on the S8 train on his way to Adlershof. At Storkower Straße station, Alina Schmalz gets on the train, too. A few moments later, Paul Zimmer is passing through the Friedrichshain district. Coming from Pankow, he decided to take the bike instead of the S-Bahn today. The three of them share more than a similar commute to Adlershof. They are among the more than 34,000 people working and studying in Germany’s largest technology park.

Alina Schmalz is doing both. In December 2024, the chemist submitted her master’s thesis, which she completed at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM). Her focus: special metal-organic compounds applied in catalysis. They will also be the subject of her PhD and her future research. “I wanted to do research in a sustainable, environmental-related field and so I specialised in physical chemistry and catalysis during my master’s,” says Schmalz. After having arrived at BAM in the morning, she spends a moment structuring her tasks before diving straight in in. She spent a lot of time tinkering during her master’s, which now allows her to work more efficiently in the lab. “If a measurement runs for two or three hours, I can use that time to do other things on the way, analysing data or writing my thesis.” And just like that, a full workday—and an entire week—flies by.

Tuesday, 2 pm
To Paul Zimmer, afternoons are the ideal time for meetings, working with others, or a quick visit to a supplier around the corner. Today, he appreciates the short distances within the technology park. Two years ago, the mechanical engineer had never heard of Adlershof. Originally from southern Germany, Zimmer moved to Berlin to be with his girlfriend and soon realised that “90% of the job offers in my field are in Adlershof.” His field: meaningful work at the intersection of medicine and electrical engineering. He found the perfect fit at Magnosco. The company is developing a smart dermatoscope for dermatologists. Zimmer works in device development. “It’s a great place. I feel like there’s a lot happening on campus, many ambitious projects.” For Magnosco, having suppliers and external partners within walking distance is a huge advantage, he says: “We just pop over, take a look at the problem, and within half an hour, it’s sorted, and we can get on with it.”

Wednesday, 12.30 pm
Stephan Möllers shares a similar experience: “I’m always surprised at how quickly the day goes by because we never really know what will happen next.” Since 2023, Möllers has been head of the facilities management department at WISTA.Service GmbH. As a supply and energy engineer, he spent many years working in engineering firms specialising in plant design. Together with his colleagues, he now ensures that everything runs smoothly in the technology centres of WISTA Management GmbH—quite literally. Whether it’s heating, cooling, air circulation, technical gases, water, even the blinds on the windows, Möllers and his team “ensure that nothing breaks in the first place.” But that’s never entirely avoidable, which is why at least half of his work consists of spontaneous call-outs. After lunch—sandwiches from home, as he saves hot meals for dinner with his family—Möllers heads into one of his regular meetings with a technology centre manager. These meetings provide at least some structure to his week, though unpredictability is also part of the job’s appeal. A high-technology location like Adlershof requires buildings with sophisticated equipment: “The more complex the usage, the more complex the technology—and the more exciting it is for us.”

Thursday, 5 pm
“I don’t spend my free time in Adlershof,” as Alina Schmalz openly admits. Paul Zimmer, on the other hand, appreciates having two medical practices nearby. For most people, Adlershof remains primarily a workplace—but for some it is more. In recent years, the area’s image has seen some changes. Alongside the labs and offices, residential buildings have sprung up, public transport connections have improved, shopping facilities have been added, and even sports and cultural activities have made their way into the technology park. Those who take a broader view to include Humboldt-Universität’s sports programme and the neighbourhood around Dörpfeldstraße will be able to see that the business hub in Adlershof has evolved into a fully-fledged urban quarter—albeit one with a clear focus.

Friday, 11 am
Speaking of focus. How do people see remote work at the moment? Like most Fridays, Zimmer is working from his home office, while Schmalz and Möllers can count the times they worked from home during the past year “on one hand”. More would be possible for most, but not always practical. Digitalisation and virtualisation allow for greater flexibility. 
However, (development) work in laboratories, workshops, or technical facilities thrives on in-person collaboration, on people coming together—whether they’re three or 34,000.

Vincent Halang for Adlershof Journal