Groundbreaking ceremony for the Creativity and Innovation Lab

in the perennial garden on the Weihenstephan campus "where ideas are born," emphasized Prof. Dr. Christoph Moning at the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday for the new Creativity and Innovation Lab. This creative space is intended to foster ideas in the fields of research and entrepreneurship "along the entire value chain," said the HSWT Vice President, who was representing the ailing President Dr. Eric Veulliet. The Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts is financing the modular building with 3.3 million euros as part of the Hightech Agenda Bavaria (HTA) .

Knowledge transfer in flexible spaces

The HTA is an initiative of the Bavarian State Government to strengthen research and innovation and to promote technology transfer to business and society. "The Innovation and Creativity Lab, as a 'green beacon,' will not only enrich the research landscape of HSWT but also make a key contribution to the implementation of the Hightech Agenda Bavaria," says Dr. Veulliet. The "HTA Open Innovation Lab" will be a creative space where scientists, students, industry, and society can jointly develop innovative approaches to research and startup creation with a focus on food.

With its Food Startup Incubator Weihenstephan (FSIWS), HSWT already supports aspiring entrepreneurs with the necessary expertise and fosters innovative product development. In the future, the modular timber building will be just a few meters from the FSIWS. Its two floors allow for flexible room organization, starting on the ground floor with a creative space that can be transformed for various purposes – for example, as a co-working space or a prestigious venue for events and lectures. The upper floor, with its movable partitions, offers versatile use, from individual offices to seminar and meeting rooms.

Innovation boost for city and district

Rainwater harvesting within the building, electric vehicle charging stations in front, and shading through vertical greening are further building blocks on the path to a climate-friendly building of the future. District Administrator Helmut Petz emphasizes: “The flexibility and multifunctionality of the HTA modular building not only enable research projects but also create space for startups. This project contributes to positioning our region as a pioneer in sustainable and climate-friendly construction.” Freising's Mayor Tobias Eschenbacher underlines: “The ‘Creativity and Innovation Lab’ is not only an asset for HSWT but also for the entire region.”

Those interested can find further information in this press release from HSWT .