Kadans Science Partner signs long-term lease of 4,000 sqm with RWTH for new research campus in Aachen

Kadans Science Partner specializes in the development, redevelopment, and positioning of real estate for research and development departments of medium and large companies, universities, or knowledge-intensive companies in innovative sectors. These sectors include pharmaceuticals, life sciences, health care, medical technology, bio-based industry (life science) and high-tech. In Aachen, Kadans has acquired the former production facility of Maschinenfabrik Garbe-Lahmeyer & Co, the At the Park Aachen. The monumental and listed industrial complex, built in 1899, consists of seven buildings and is located north of the city center.

Kadans will extensively renovate the around 50,000 m² sized property and transform it into a science-related campus and hot spot for northern Aachen. The industrial appearance of the charming, loft-like building structures will be retained and combined with modern spaces. Kadans has extensive experience in the development and renovation of listed buildings, such as the Pastoe Factory in Utrecht or the former Mariënburg Monastery in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

At the end of 2021, the Collective Incubator – the student innovation platform of the RWTH – will move to At the Park Aachen. One of the largest tech incubators in Europe will be established there as part of the Excellence Start-up Center NRW (ESC NRW) funding program. “Here we have the unique opportunity to establish Aachen and the entire region as a stronghold for start-ups alongside Berlin and Munich, and help a number of new innovations to get started,” says Malte Brettel, Professor of Entrepreneurship at RWTH Aachen University. He was the one who brought the ESC to Aachen.

Fabian Voges, Head of Asset Management at Kadans Science Partner Germany, says: “We are delighted that we have been able to find our preferred tenant for our At the Park Aachen in RWTH Aachen and therefore secured an important milestone in the success of our project”.

Collective Incubator as innovation platform of RWTH Aachen University

The Collective Incubator is the student innovation platform at RWTH Aachen University. Part of it are office and conference rooms as well as a community space for the more than 60 start-ups that are founded annually in the vicinity of RWTH Aachen University. In addition, there will also be a workshop hall of more than 1,000 m² for the development of prototypes.

“This will make our vision of an interdisciplinary place for students, but also for scientists and companies, that combines study and practice, a reality. And only within a few years and on a much larger scale than we would have dared to imagine”, says David Beumers, project coordinator, who founded the Collective Incubator together with Johannes Schäfer and other fellow students in 2017 while still studying.

Eventually, other established companies are to gradually settle near the highly dynamic start-up landscape and exchange with the many newly emerging young companies. “We work closely together with partners from the business world who bring along problems from business practice and are interested in innovative solutions. Or simply in young, committed talents from RWTH Aachen University,” David Beumers explains.

Currently, the Collective Incubator Pop-up is already operating a 500 m² co-working space near the central station. Since its opening at the beginning of the year, the community has grown to over 95 start-ups and student initiatives, despite the Corona pandemic. Such strong growth that the space will soon be expanded to over 700 m² from the beginning of next year.

Kadans Science Partner offers spaces from 300 m² up to 20,000 m² for rent on At the Park Aachen. Some spaces are already fully renovated and ready for occupancy at short notice. Further information can be found at: www.at-the-park.de