New neighbours, new partners: Interview with Susann Niemeyer, Head of the IT and Media Centre
Adlershof Special: Computer science is seen to be a multifaceted sector. What is the situation in Adlershof?
Susann Niemeyer – The technology fields of IT and media in Adlershof are presently the domain of about 80 companies working in a wide range of diverse fields. And new, renowned companies are constantly joining them: for instance in 2010, lesswire AG, a member of the Prettl Group focusing on automotive, electronics, consumer and home appliances. Other magnets for future settlements are also the Computer Science and Mathematics Institutes of Berlin Humboldt University and the Fraunhofer Institute FIRST. With a new concept we intend to present the variety at our location in a transparent and visible setting.
How are you intending to proceed for this concept?
In its high tech strategy for Germany, the Fraunhofer Society has identified several IT focuses: production technologies; software engineering; ITC on the health sector; ambient intelligence; security technologies; transportation and logistics; multimedia. As the operator of the technology park, WISTA-MANAGEMENT GMBH will be discussing with five Berlin professors whether these focuses are suitable for Adlershof. Afterwards we’ll determine the fields the Adlershof companies are working in and whether they are developers, manufacturers or distributors. Then we’ll be in a position not only to depict all the stages of added value, but also pursue a specific development aim for these technology fields and assist the companies in their search for project partners. For the image processing network this procedure has been, and still is, highly successful.
Talking about successful, did the financial and economic crisis hammer the Adlershof companies as well?
Hardly that. Many of our IT companies operate in absolute niches, and the market can’t do without them even in times of hardship. In 2010, a total of 46 new companies settled in Adlershof, and the greater part of these on the IT sector. There have been space expansion requests, new recruits, and potential new tenants sending in their applications – all signs of an encouraging trend. For five years, our buildings have been occupied to 90% capacity. Accordingly, a third IT and Media Centre, the ZIM 3, is now being constructed and will be ready for new tenants in June.
Are the first tenants already in waiting?
We have two commitments, I’m in talks with six companies, and others are waiting their turn – an excellent response seeing that ZIM 3 can offer surfaces only under 250 square metres. A decisive contribution is also being made by our targeted marketing, for instance at trade fairs. All in all, about 25 companies can settle on 6,000 square metres. And these new neighbours will make the technology fields of IT and media an even more exciting prospect.
by Petra Hannen
Link: www.adlershof.de/it