Halle 7 Opens: Leipzig Invests €17.8 Million in New Innovation Centre

With the opening of Halle 7 at the Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill (Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei), Leipzig is establishing a new centre for innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth. Spanning 5,500 square metres, the facility provides workspace and development areas for startups, as well as opportunities for collaboration with established companies, academia and investors. A total of €17.8 million was invested in the development of the innovation centre over a two-year period. The project was funded through the Urban Restructuring East programme (Stadtumbau Ost) and by the City of Leipzig.

The 5500-square-meter facility is designed to bring together startups, researchers, investors, and companies. Photo: Eric Kemnitz

Strengthening collaboration between startups and established businesses

The innovation centre is operated by SpinLab. Together with HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management and SMILE, the startup initiative of Leipzig University, the hub supports companies from their founding stages through to scaling up.

A key focus is fostering collaboration between startups and established businesses. Startups gain access to customers, partners and investors, including TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen and SIVentures. Established companies, in turn, can test new technologies through pilot projects and venture clienting, bringing them into practical application.

The urgency of this issue is highlighted by the German Startup Monitor 2026: the proportion of startups cooperating with established companies fell from 61.9 per cent in 2024 to 54.1 per cent.

“Innovation must not become a dispensable cost factor, especially in economically challenging times,” says Dr Eric Weber, founder and Managing Director of SpinLab. “No one can say for certain whether a company’s core business today will remain just as relevant ten years from now. That is why companies must keep access to new technologies and business models open.”

Halle 7 also broadens the profile of the Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill. “The Spinnerei has evolved from an industrial site into an internationally recognised arts and cultural destination. With Halle 7, it is now adding a place for entrepreneurship and innovation,” says Martin Richter, Managing Director of SpinLab. “Our ambition is to turn contacts into tangible collaborations and to provide young companies with the conditions they need to grow in Leipzig.”

Federal and state governments see potential for growth

Elisabeth Kaiser, Minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany, says:

“With the Halle 7 innovation centre in Leipzig, a place is being created where the startup community, academia, businesses and strong networks come together. Such places are particularly important for eastern Germany because they help connect ideas, talent and capital more effectively. This lays the foundation today for tomorrow’s value creation and economic growth to emerge from the innovations of the present.”

Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer adds:

“The future of the German economy will be shaped to a significant extent by small and medium-sized enterprises. That is why it is crucial to support founders, especially in the early stages, with workspace, networks and guidance. The new innovation centre offers ideal conditions for this and brings together forward-looking expertise in the region. In doing so, we are further strengthening Leipzig’s position as an attractive business location for young companies.”

Scaleups as drivers of growth in central Germany

At the opening of Halle 7, the SpinLab ScaleUp Award was presented for the first time. The inaugural award recipients are Sunfire from Dresden and CargoBeamer from Leipzig. Both companies have evolved from startups into internationally expanding technology businesses.

Sunfire manufactures electrolysers for green hydrogen, employs more than 700 people and has raised over €500 million in growth capital. CargoBeamer develops solutions for rail freight transport, employs around 160 people and has secured approximately €140 million in investment capital.

With the award, SpinLab recognises companies that have successfully made the transition from startup to scaleup and serve as role models for other founders. Photo: Eric Kemnitz

“There are plenty of startups in Central Germany. The bottleneck comes during the growth phase: anyone looking to scale needs customers, capital and experienced partners at the same time. Sunfire and CargoBeamer show what is possible when these elements come together successfully. Our goal is to make such success stories the norm,” explains Dr Marcus Haberstroh, Managing Director of the SpinLab Group.

About SpinLab

SpinLab supports startups in accessing markets, securing financing and scaling their businesses. It also connects innovative technologies and business models with established companies and investors. In addition to its Leipzig location, SpinLab operates two further innovation hubs: RootCamp in Hanover and ExciteLab in Dresden. As the operator of the Smart Infrastructure Hub Leipzig, SpinLab is part of the German Federal Government’s Digital Hub Initiative. It is also a consortium partner in the European Digital Innovation Hub Saxony (EDIH Saxony), which supports businesses, startups and public institutions in their digital transformation. To date, the startups supported by SpinLab have raised more than €900 million in funding and created over 3000 jobs.

Further information on Halle 7: www.smartinfrastructurehub.com