What Technikzentrum Lubeck does

Technikzentrum Lübeck (TZL) is a privately held joint venture (Gemeinschaftsunternehmen) of Lübeck's business community, founded in 1992 and registered as Technikzentrum-Fördergesellschaft mbH. It operates as the anchor of the Hanse Innovation Campus Lübeck, providing approximately 55,000 m² of flexible office, laboratory, and production space across 20 buildings at two locations — the TZL Campus on the Science Campus (10 buildings, 20,000+ m² focused on bio/medical technology and IT) and TZL Seelandstraße in the Herrenwyk logistics-industrial area (22,000+ m²). The company hosts more than 210 tenant companies and approximately 2,100 employees across its facilities. TZL is led by Managing Director Dr. Frank Schröder-Oeynhausen, with Axel Blankenburg as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

TZL generates revenue through four primary streams: commercial real estate rental (office, lab, and production space at two locations), coworking (TZL Coworking Campus/WeDSGN and TZL Coworking Central), fee-based training workshops via its wholly-owned TZL Akademie subsidiary (3D printing, CAD, programming, and AI workshops priced €20–€1,200 per seat), and event/conference room rentals. The organization also operates the GATEWAY49 startup accelerator and FabLab Lübeck fabrication laboratory, and runs multiple publicly funded innovation projects (Baltic Ventures, Fehmarn Belt, ConnectSHub, Maritime AI, StartUp SH, Innovative Hochschule HI Lübeck). Outreach to schools and youth is supported by Possehl Stiftung, Haukohl Stiftung, and MINT-Stiftung, including the annual TZL 3D-Druck Schulmeisterschaft competition.

TZL targets a horizontal segmentation spanning innovative SMEs and knowledge-based companies (the largest revenue contributor via lease income), startups and founding teams (via GATEWAY49, FabLab, and coworking), students and schools through MINT education programs, and established companies seeking Industry 4.0 workforce training. Notable tenant and partner companies include Basler, GitHub, ThorLabs, Fraunhofer MEVIS, oncampus, MachAG, and Gensel Group; alumni include Nik Software (acquired by Google) and Gestigon. Marketing is conducted through tzl.de, a dedicated akademie.tzl.de for training, real-estate listings on ImmobilienScout24, and active social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, XING, X, TikTok).

Name

Technikzentrum Lubeck

Legal name

Technikzentrum-Fördergesellschaft mbH

Website

https://tzl.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Technikzentrum Lübeck is a privately-held joint venture that operates a 55,000 m² innovation campus in Lübeck, Germany, renting office, lab, and production space to 210+ technology and medtech companies while running a startup accelerator, fabrication lab, and a 3D-printing/AI training academy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lübeck

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Commercial Real Estate Rental: TZL rents flexible office, lab, and production spaces at two locations (Campus and Seelandstraße) to knowledge-based and innovative companies. Revenue is generated from rental income with scalable units, short notice periods, and favorable rental conditions.
2. Coworking Space Rental: TZL operates two coworking spaces (Campus and Central) offering furnished workspaces, meeting rooms, and community areas, marketed as TZL Coworking / WeDSGN.
3. TZL Akademie Training Workshops: The TZL Akademie generates revenue from fee-based training workshops in 3D printing, CAD, programming, and AI for students, companies, and individuals. Workshops range from 1-day crash courses to 3-day masterclasses.
4. Event and Conference Room Rental: TZL rents out event rooms and conference facilities as part of its extended service offerings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

TZL is a joint venture technology and business center that rents approximately 55,000 m² of flexible office, laboratory, and production space across two Lübeck sites to innovative knowledge-based companies. Beyond real estate, it operates the GATEWAY49 startup accelerator, the FabLab Lübeck fabrication laboratory, the TZL Coworking spaces (WeDSGN brand), and the TZL Akademie training division offering fee-based workshops in 3D printing, CAD, programming, and AI for schools, companies, and individuals.

Product overview

Technikzentrum Lübeck (TZL) operates as a technology and business center offering three main service lines: (1) Real estate services at two locations (TZL Campus with 10 buildings and 20,000+ m² for tech companies, and TZL Seelandstraße with 22,000+ m² for industrial use), (2) Startup support including the GATEWAY49 accelerator program and FabLab Lübeck fabrication laboratory, and (3) TZL Akademie providing practical training in 3D printing, CAD, programming, and AI through workshops and the annual 3D-Druck Schulmeisterschaft competition. The organization has supported over 300 company foundations and hosts more than 210 companies with 2,100+ employees across its facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GATEWAY49: Startup Accelerator in Lübeck/Schleswig-Holstein
• TZL Coworking
• FabLab Lübeck
• TZL Akademie
• Baltic Ventures Program

Products and services

• TZL Campus Office/Lab/Production Space Rental Flexible office, laboratory, and production spaces on the Lübeck science campus with 10 buildings totaling over 20,000 m² for innovative knowledge-based companies in bio/medical technology and IT sectors. Tenants benefit from short notice periods, favorable rental conditions, and proximity to academic and research networks.
• TZL Seelandstraße Office/Lab/Production Space Rental Office, laboratory, and production facilities spanning over 22,000 m² in the logistics-industrial area Herrenwyk near the A1 highway exit Siems. Targets companies needing larger industrial-grade spaces with highway access.
• TZL Coworking (WeDSGN)
• GATEWAY49 Startup Accelerator
• FabLab Lübeck Fabrication Laboratory
• 3-Day 3D Printing Masterclass (FDM) Three-day intensive workshop teaching FDM 3D printing from basics to own construction and manufacturing. Covers CAD design, OrcaSlicer/PrusaSlicer software, and hands-on printing with PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG materials. Priced at €1,200 + VAT per participant for companies (€960 for trainees/apprentices).
• KI Workshop (AI for Beginners)
• Roboter Programmierworkshop (Robot Programming Workshop)
• Bewässerungssystem Programmierworkshop (Irrigation System Programming Workshop)
• 3D-Druck Crashkurs (3D Printing Crash Course)
• 3-Tages Arduino Grundkurs (3-Day Arduino Basics Course)
• Event and Conference Room Rental

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 company formations supported in 30+ years of operation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of LübeckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Lübeck is a key anchor partner on the Hanse Innovation Campus Lübeck. TZL and the university collaborate on technology transfer, R&D projects (e.g., OR-Net, neurogenetics, MEVIS image processing), and joint initiatives such as the 3D Week Lübeck technology week and the Innovative Hochschule HI Lübeck project.
• TH Lübeck (Technische Hochschule Lübeck)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTH Lübeck collaborates with TZL on innovation projects, student engagement, and technology transfer. Faculty members serve on juries for TZL events (e.g., TZL 3D-Druck Schulmeisterschaft). The university's Maschinenbau and other departments work on joint R&D initiatives.
• Hanse Innovation Campus Lübeck (Bio-Med-Tec)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTZL is a central participant in the Hanse Innovation Campus Lübeck, a collaborative ecosystem of over 40 institutes, labs, clinics, manufacturers, and startups working together on the science campus in bio/medical technology and IT.
• FabLab Lübeck e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFabLab Lübeck is a maker laboratory operated as a registered association within the TZL ecosystem. It provides open-access fabrication equipment for prototyping. TZL Akademie workshops often include FabLab visits. Dr. Claus Schuster of FabLab Lübeck e.V. serves on TZL Akademie's advisory network.
• Possehl StiftungcoreOthersPossehl Stiftung provides funding that enables TZL Akademie to offer heavily subsidized workshop participation for students (€20 for 3-day 3D printing workshops). The foundation also sponsors the annual TZL 3D-Druck Schulmeisterschaft competition.
• Haukohl StiftungcoreOthersHaukohl Stiftung funds the TZL Akademie's school programs and has contributed to equipping schools with 3D printers. Michael Haukohl serves on the jury of the TZL 3D-Druck Schulmeisterschaft.
• MINT-StiftungcoreOthersMINT-Stiftung supports STEM education initiatives at TZL, including the school 3D printing championship. Prof. Dr. Thomas Peters (MINT-Stiftung) and Bianka Prüße von Wentzky serve on the competition jury.
• Infinite Science GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the 3D Week Lübeck technology week, alongside the University of Lübeck and TZL. Focuses on additive manufacturing topics for SMEs.
• Baltic Ventures ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaltic Ventures is a startup program focused on maritime innovation, operated by TZL to support maritime startups in the Baltic Sea region. Part of TZL's broader innovation project portfolio including BSR Go-abroad, Fehmarn Belt Innovation, and ConnectSHub.
• GP JouleminorOthersDanny Zippert, Project Manager Wind Energy and Photovoltaics at GP Joule, serves as a jury member for the TZL 3D-Druck Schulmeisterschaft, bringing renewable energy expertise to the competition.
• UniTransferKlinik LübeckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniTransferKlinik supports technology transfer and company spin-offs from university research. It has assisted multiple companies that originated at TZL, including OPMedT (EXIST funding) and Atto-Lab, in their founding and early growth phases.
• Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein (IB.SH)minorOthersIB.SH administers the Weiterbildungsbonus Pro program, which subsidizes up to 90% of seminar costs (max. €1,500) for eligible participants in Schleswig-Holstein, making TZL Akademie courses more accessible.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• Mindspace: Premium flexible office and coworking operator with locations across European cities. Broader incumbent to TZL Coworking in the flex-office category.
• WeWork: Global coworking giant offering flexible workspace at scale across multiple countries. Broader incumbent relevant to TZL's coworking and office rental lines of business.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global accelerator and innovation platform with corporate partnerships across multiple verticals and geographies. Broader incumbent to TZL's GATEWAY49 accelerator offering.

Direct peers

• Station F: Paris-based mega startup campus combining workspace, on-site accelerators, and programs for founders. Comparable to TZL as a large multi-tenant campus with embedded accelerator and education programming.
• Impact Hub: Global network of innovation hubs providing coworking, incubation, and impact-oriented programming. Comparable to TZL's role as a regional innovation and entrepreneurship hub anchored by a curated community.
• UnternehmerTUM: Munich-based innovation center affiliated with TU Munich that combines startup incubation, education programs, and a deep founder community. Closely comparable to TZL's integrated incubation-plus-Akademie model at the regional level.
• Factory Berlin: Berlin innovation campus offering workspace, community events, and corporate partnerships to tech companies. Comparable to TZL as a multi-tenant campus operator with curated programming.
• WISTA Adlershof: Berlin science and technology park operating lab, office, and production space for high-tech tenants. Closely comparable to TZL Campus and TZL Seelandstraße in offering dedicated science-park real estate plus innovation services.
• TechQuartier: Frankfurt innovation hub providing workspace, events, and startup support services to the regional tech ecosystem. Mirrors TZL's combination of physical infrastructure, community programming, and corporate/startup bridging.
• betahaus: Berlin coworking and startup community combining flexible workspace with events and education. Comparable to TZL Coworking/WeDSGN and TZL Akademie in the coworking-plus-learning model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tzl_luebeck
• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/tzl.luebeck
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/technikzentrum-l%C3%BCbeck
• Instagraminstagram.com/technikzentrum_luebeck
• TikToktiktok.com/@technikzentrumluebeck

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Technikzentrum Lubeck