Leipzig Opens New Innovation Center

The modern Center for Innovation, Startups, and Technology Transfer opened on October 1, 2026, in Hall 7 of the Leipzig Cotton Mill. With the construction of the Halle 7 Innovation Center, the City of Leipzig is sending a clear signal about the importance of economic development. A total of 17.8 million euros was invested in the Innovation Center over a two-year construction period; approximately 13.9 million euros had already been invested in the renovation of the building’s exterior and the expansion of space for the theaters. This was made possible by 7.2 million euros in funding from the “Stadtumbau Ost” program and 3 million euros in funding from the City of Leipzig.

• Supporting Young Companies from Founding Through the Growth and Scaling Phases

Leipzig has repeatedly proven itself to be a dynamic hub for startups, and now another important initiative is underway: For young companies, the most crucial stage of development begins after the founding and early phases. To continue growing, they need suitable space, access to capital, and connections to established companies and potential customers. If these conditions are lacking, the risk of early departure increases immensely. This is where the Halle 7 Innovation Center comes in: From the initial business idea through founding and early-stage support to the growth and scaling phases, young companies receive efficient support, with the goal of securing their long-term ties to the city and region.

To this end, Halle 7 offers flexible office and development space as well as access to investors, established companies, and partners from the business and scientific communities. Targeted programs bring startups together with potential customers, collaboration partners, and investors such as TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen and SI Ventures. This is intended to help innovations reach the market faster, enable companies to expand their Leipzig-based teams and operations, and create new value and jobs in the region.

• Networking Start-ups, Companies, Investors, and Academia Through SpinLab

As the operator of Hall 7, SpinLab plays a central role in connecting startups, companies, investors, and academia. At this location, SpinLab consolidates its accelerator and innovation programs and brings technologies and business models together with companies—from identifying suitable solutions through testing to implementation. At the same time, SpinLab supports growth-oriented startups with scaling, market access, and financing. As the operator of the Smart Infrastructure Hub Leipzig, SpinLab is part of the Digital Hub Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernization.

• Startup Support from the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

The HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management is consolidating its startup support programs in Hall 7: The HHL Digital Space and the HHL Women Entrepreneurs Initiative are moving in and together will form the business school’s new Entrepreneurship Hub. Both initiatives are expanding their programs for early-stage startups at the new location: The HHL Protolab supports initial product development, while the HHL Traction Lab helps startups reach their first customers. They will benefit from the additional space and their own event space in Hall 7. There, HHL will host events organized by its student initiatives, workshops, and networking sessions in the future. HHL Executive Education GmbH and HHL’s Institute for Family Businesses and Business Succession are also moving into the innovation center. HHL Executive Education trains over 900 executives annually through standard or company-specific programs.

• SMILE Startup Initiative Creates a Central Hub for Startups, Innovation, and Technology Transfer

The SMILE startup initiative at the University of Leipzig is relocating a large portion of its activities to Hall 7, where it is creating a central hub for startups, innovation, and technology transfer with the SMILE Incubation Space. Since its founding, SMILE has supported more than 650 startups and raised approximately 41 million euros in early-stage funding. In Hall 7, startup teams from the university receive office and workspace—particularly during the pre-seed phase—along with individual coaching, skill-building opportunities, and access to modern infrastructure to further develop their ideas and business models and prepare for launching their companies. Also integrated into the facility is the Process Living Lab (PLL) of the SEPT Competence Center. Here, innovative products, services, and processes can be prototyped, simulated, and tested under real-world conditions.