Innovation Campus Lemgo

What Innovation Campus Lemgo does

Innovation Campus Lemgo (ICL) is a registered non-profit association (e.V.) headquartered in Lemgo, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, operating as a co-location innovation hub that integrates vocational colleges (Lüttfeld-Berufskolleg, Hanse-Berufskolleg), the Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe (TH OWL), Fraunhofer IOSB-INA, SmartFactoryOWL, Future Food Factory OWL, CIIT, and the campus operator PHOENIX CONTACT under the "lernen.forschen.machen" (learn, research, do) philosophy. The association itself runs a small core team of approximately six people and coordinates the campus ecosystem rather than selling commercial products.

The primary technology product is the ICLMobil app, an open-source and open-data digital mobility platform developed with €331,000 of BMDV funding (January 2024 – September 2025) that integrates public transport, e-bike and e-scooter sharing, and AI-enabled carpooling (via partner RRive GmbH) into a single application. The InnovationSPIN building serves as the physical campus hub with co-working and event space, and the adjacent PHOENIX CONTACT arena provides event capacity for up to 5,000 visitors. Two additional flagship projects — TRiNNOVATION OWL (BMBF, up to €2M/year for five years from 2023) and RURBANIVE (EU Horizon Europe, 17 partners from 8 countries from February 2024) — extend the campus's reach into regional innovation transfer and European rural-urban collaboration.

ICL's revenue model is non-commercial: the association is funded by public grants (BMBF, BMDV, EU Horizon Europe), member contributions from institutional partners, and implicitly by venue and event activity. There is no priced product offering; events, workshops, and campus access are free to participants. The association's primary go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, using workshops, Science Slams, ICL-Talks, campus tours, and hosted international delegations to build network participation and attract follow-on research and talent partners.

Name

Innovation Campus Lemgo

Legal name

Innovation Campus Lemgo e.V.

Website

https://icl-owl.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Innovation Campus Lemgo is a non-profit association that coordinates a co-located innovation hub in Lemgo, Germany, integrating vocational colleges, TH OWL, Fraunhofer IOSB-INA, and partner companies to drive regional education, research, and technology transfer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Ecosystem Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI), Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE)

Keywords

• Innovation campus management
• Research transfer services
• Education industry partnerships
• Innovation ecosystem coordination
• Mobility platform development

Headquarters

HQ city

Lemgo

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public funding and grants: Innovation Campus Lemgo e.V. operates as a non-profit association (e.V.) dependent on public funding. Major projects are funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) — ICLMobil with €331,000, the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) — TRiNNOVATION OWL with up to €2M/year for 5 years, and the EU Horizon Europe programme — RURBANIVE. The TH OWL received €18M for the Mobility Center UrbanLand.
2. Member contributions and partnership fees: The association has members (Verein / members page) and collects contributions from member institutions and partners. The exact fee structure is not publicly disclosed.
3. Event and venue services: The campus hosts events (Science Slams, workshops, campus tours, corporate events) at venues including the InnovationSPIN, PHOENIX CONTACT arena, and Campus Corner. Revenue from venue hire is implied but not quantified.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Innovation Campus Lemgo e.V. is a non-profit innovation hub that coordinates a co-located ecosystem of educational institutions, research institutes, and companies in Lemgo, Germany. Its primary deliverables include operating the InnovationSPIN co-creation hub, developing and operating the ICLMobil open-source digital mobility platform, and coordinating publicly funded transfer and EU projects (TRiNNOVATION OWL, RURBANIVE) that translate research into practice across clusters such as intelligent automation, energy and mobility, food technology, and healthcare.

Product overview

Innovation Campus Lemgo is a collaborative innovation hub in Lemgo, Germany, organized as a registered association (e.V.) that brings together education, research, and business. The campus features the InnovationSPIN as its central building and innovation center, while offering the ICL Mobil digital mobility platform as its primary technology product. This Open Source mobility app enables users to access public transport, E-bikes, E-scooters, and carpooling services in one unified platform. Additional offerings include RURBANIVE (an EU-funded project on rural-urban mobility) and TRiNNOVATION OWL (a transfer project for innovation culture). The campus also organizes thematic clusters covering areas such as energy and mobility, intelligent automation, food technology, and healthcare, along with various events like ICL-Talks and Science Slams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ICLMobil: Digital mobility platform project for the Innovation Campus Lemgo, offering E-Scooter and E-Bike sharing services, ÖPNV integration, and carpooling solutions
• TRiNNOVATION OWL
• RURBANIVE

Products and services

• ICLMobil Open-source and open-data digital mobility platform app that bundles public transport, e-bike sharing, e-scooter sharing, and carpooling into a single application. Developed for Innovation Campus Lemgo and TH OWL sites, with the intention of being deployable at additional locations.
• InnovationSPIN Central building and campus center of Innovation Campus Lemgo, also known as the Mach.Bar co-working and event space. Functions as the hub for startups, research, and education on campus, hosting events, delegations, and co-creation activities.
• TRiNNOVATION OWL Transfer project creating a vibrant innovation and cooperation culture within TH OWL and the OWL region, funded under BMBF's 'Innovative Hochschule' initiative. Coordinates networking, knowledge transfer, and innovation structures between TH OWL, CIIT, Kreativ Campus Detmold, and Sustainable Campus Höxter.
• RURBANIVE EU-funded Horizon Europe project bridging the social and technological gap between urban and rural areas, with a focus on improving mobility in rural regions. Operates 7 Co-Creation Labs across Europe and integrates six rural-urban enablers including mobility, circular economy, ecosystem restoration, and cultural heritage promotion using Extended Reality.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 million euros in federal funding secured for Mobility Center UrbanLand (MZL)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, minor and core.

• Agentur für Arbeit Detmold-PaderbornsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2025The employment agency leadership attended the ICL-Talk on 'Kompetenzen für den Arbeitsmarkt.' They sought to better network with the campus to stay informed about campus activities and talent pipelines.
• Lions Club Bad DriburgminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 January 2025Local service club visited the campus for a networking event. Represents community outreach and visibility of the campus among regional civic organizations.
• Rotary Club Lemgo-Sternberg and Rotary Club Roermond-Maas en Roer (Netherlands)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 September 2024Rotary clubs visited the campus for a joint tour. International guests from the Netherlands expressed strong interest in replicating the campus model in their region.
• Stiftung Bildung & Handwerk (INTRA project)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2024Hosted the INTRA conference at InnovationSPIN on internationalization in vocational education. Joachim Höper presented on the value of international projects for developing structures and cooperation among educational actors.
• IIB International Institute of Business Enterprises e.V.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 January 2024Non-profit organization that organized the visit of a high-ranking Turkish delegation to the campus. Facilitated international visibility and knowledge exchange.
• Institut für Designstrategien (IDS) — TH OWLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024IDS is the lead academic partner in the ICLMobil project, responsible for design strategy and user research for the digital mobility platform. Contributes applied research expertise in mobility design.
• Fraunhofer IOSB-INA — Team Future City Solutions & Forschungsgruppe AssistenzsystemecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Fraunhofer IOSB-INA contributes expertise in intelligent systems, autonomous vehicles, and digital infrastructure. Also develops the ICL Mobil app in collaboration with iplus GmbH and RRive GmbH.
• iplus GmbH (now iplus1 GmbH)supportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Software development company contributing expertise in open-source software development and Open Data integration for the ICLMobil mobility platform.
• RRive GmbHsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Mobility app developer that has created an innovative carpooling app using AI and navigation technology to connect drivers and passengers. Contributes to the ICLMobil app development.
• Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) — NTUA, GreececoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ICCS is the RURBANIVE project coordinator. Led by Dr. Amditis, it drives the overall project strategy, consortium management, and technical leadership on immersive technologies (Extended Reality) across all 17 partners.
• RISE Research Institutes of SwedencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024RISE contributes research expertise in digital innovation, testing environments, and applied technology. One of the leading research institutes in Sweden active in the RURBANIVE consortium.
• Fundación CARTIF, SpaincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CARTIF is a technology centre in Valladolid that hosted the 2026 RURBANIVE consortium meeting in the Boecillo technology park. Contributes to circular economy and rural innovation research.
• Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), GreecesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AUA contributes expertise in agriculture, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable food systems. Co-organizer of RURBANIVE project events and host of consortium dinners during kick-off meeting in Athens.
• Partnership for Rural Europe (PREPARE), EUsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024PREPARE is a European network for rural development. Shares expertise on rural-urban synergies and approaches to rural development across Europe, particularly relevant for the Lemgo mobility use case.
• The Lisbon Council, BelgiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Think tank contributing economic and social policy research expertise to the RURBANIVE project, supporting the development of policy recommendations and governance frameworks.
• European Association for Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL), EUminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AEIDL supports rural innovation projects across Europe and contributes expertise in local development strategies, networking, and policy communication.
• Alchemia-nova, AustriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Research and innovation institute focused on circular economy and sustainable technologies, contributing to the circular economy pillar of the RURBANIVE project.
• Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), Czech RepublicsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Contributes to RURBANIVE through its research on logistics, supply chain improvement, and rural-urban linkages in the Prague Suchdol lab location.
• AgriFood LithuaniaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Represents the agrifood sector in Lithuania within the RURBANIVE consortium, contributing to discussions on food systems and rural innovation.
• Trikala Municipality (e-trikala), GreecesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Trikala is a pioneer Greek smart city. Hosts a RURBANIVE Co-Creation Lab focused on public transport and sustainable tourism. Shares best practices with the Lemgo mobility lab.
• Kedainiai District Municipality, LithuaniasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hosts a RURBANIVE Co-Creation Lab addressing innovation gaps, institutional thickness, and regional perspectives. Collaborates on rural development approaches with Lemgo.
• South Aegean Region, GreecesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Regional authority in Greece hosting two RURBANIVE labs on Milos island (ecosystem restoration) and elsewhere, contributing to the diversity of rural-urban scenarios in the project.
• reframefood (RFF), EUminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Food systems innovation organization. Contributes to RURBANIVE through expertise in food value chains and sustainable food systems. Also produced the RURBANIVE podcast.
• IMERYS, EUminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Industrial minerals company contributing to the RURBANIVE project, likely in areas of circular economy and sustainable resource use.
• BioBASE, AustriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner contributing expertise related to bio-based products or bioeconomy within the RURBANIVE consortium.
• Landesverband LippesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Regional authority that co-organized the 'Ideensprint Lippe' at Schloss Brake with TH OWL and ICL e.V. Focus on regional branding and city/dorf development. Provided venue and strategic direction.
• Centrum Industrial IT (CIIT) e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CIIT is a central campus member driving industrial IT standards. Partner in TRiNNOVATION OWL transfer project, facilitating collaboration between academia and industry on the campus.
• Kreativ Campus Detmold e.V.supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in TRiNNOVATION OWL project, representing the creative industries cluster in Detmold. Collaborates on cross-campus innovation transfer and joint events (e.g., Tag der offenen Tür shared with Innovation Campus Lemgo).
• Sustainable Campus HöxtersupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in TRiNNOVATION OWL project, extending the innovation network to the Höxter campus of TH OWL. Focus on sustainability-oriented transfer activities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Brainport Eindhoven: Dutch regional innovation ecosystem combining TU Eindhoven, TNO, Holst Centre, and ASML/Philips into a high-density tech cluster. Comparable as a regional innovation hub model, though broader in scope and urban-anchored rather than rural like Lemgo.
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Germany-wide applied research organisation of which Fraunhofer IOSB-INA is an institute. Comparable as the umbrella network for the research pillar of the ICL ecosystem and provides similar industry-transfer services across 76 institutes.

Direct peers

• FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik: Karlsruhe-based non-profit research centre affiliated with KIT, conducting applied IT research with industry partners. Comparable to Fraunhofer IOSB-INA's role within ICL and the ICL transfer model.
• Competence Center Industrial IT (CIIT) e.V. Lemgo-based member organisation driving industrial IT standards on the Innovation Campus. Actually a partner/member of ICL, but a comparable non-profit association model focused on industry-academia collaboration in industrial IT.
• RWTH Aachen Campus: Germany's leading industry-academia campus combining RWTH Aachen University research with ~50 corporate partners in clustered innovation fields. Directly comparable to ICL's model of co-located research and industry around a technical university, though at much larger scale.
• SmartFactoryKL: Industry 4.0 demonstration and research factory at TU Kaiserslautern, focused on intelligent automation and production digitisation. Directly comparable to SmartFactoryOWL on the ICL campus and the Fraunhofer IOSB-INA automation focus.
• UnternehmerTUM: TU Munich's centre for innovation and entrepreneurship, offering co-working, maker spaces, and startup incubation anchored to a leading technical university. Closely parallels ICL's TRiNNOVATION OWL transfer mission and InnovationSPIN co-working/event space.
• Novel-T (University of Twente): Innovation hub and startup incubator at University of Twente in Enschede, Netherlands. Comparable as a regional technical-university-anchored campus combining research, education, and startup incubation in a non-metropolitan setting.

Emerging players

• Werk1 (Munich): Startup incubator and innovation campus in Munich's Werksviertel district, hosting digital startups and connecting them with corporates. Comparable to InnovationSPIN's role as a physical co-creation space within ICL, though more startup-focused and urban-anchored.

Others

• de:hub Initiative (BMWK): German federal programme designating 12 digital hubs across Germany as part of BMWK's digitalisation strategy. Comparable as a policy-driven network of innovation sites; ICL Lemgo participates in this ecosystem and competes for visibility among 12 hubs.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icl-lemgo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Innovation Campus Lemgo