KITZ - Kieler Innovations- und Technologiezentrum

What KITZ - Kieler Innovations- und Technologiezentrum does

KITZ - Kieler Innovations- und Technologiezentrum GmbH is a privately held technology and innovation center (GmbH) headquartered in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, operating since 1999 across two locations. The west shore KITZ site at Schauenburgerstr. 116 provides approximately 8,200 m² of office, laboratory, and production space and hosts more than 90 technology-oriented companies; the KITZ² site at the Seefischmarkt on the eastern shore adds 240 m² of office units and community space adjacent to GEOMAR and HAW Kiel, targeting academic spin-offs and young founding teams. KITZ's core offerings are flexible rental spaces (offices from 20 m², ~400 m² of laboratory space with multiple safety levels, and ~400 m² of production space with three-phase power), coworking day passes starting at €12, event rooms for up to 70 participants, and a complimentary 'Unternehmensberatung Light' business consulting service for tenants.

The business model is primarily a recurring rental subscription model with short 6-month notice periods, supplemented by usage-based coworking revenue, one-time event room bookings, and ancillary services (reception, mail, IT, parking with 100+ spaces and 8 EV charging stations). Rental revenue is anchored by a diverse, long-tail tenant base across ICT, biotechnology, acoustics, environmental technology, medical animation, and geosciences. GTM is community-led: KITZ acquires tenants through its 90+ company network, regional events (KITZ-Frühstück, Waterkant Festival, Sommerfest), referrals from institutional partners (HAW Kiel, CAU Kiel, IHK Kiel, KiWi GmbH, KielRegion), and academic partnerships that funnel research spin-offs into the center. Physical infrastructure, including sustainability features (PV installation, LED lighting, bee colonies), is positioned as a differentiating lighthouse project.

KITZ is owned by six institutional shareholders: HAW Kiel, Förder Sparkasse, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, IHK Kiel, Kieler Volksbank eG, and Landeshauptstadt Kiel. This multi-stakeholder ownership structure—a mix of academic, financial, industrial, and public-sector entities—is typical for German innovation centers and provides embedded access to talent, capital, and regional policy alignment. The core team is small (~8 employees including Managing Director Andree Mehrens), with facilities managed via external service providers. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

KITZ - Kieler Innovations- und Technologiezentrum

Legal name

KITZ - Kieler Innovations- und Technologiezentrum GmbH

Website

https://kitz-kiel.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KITZ is a Kiel-based technology and innovation center (GmbH, est. 1999) operating ~8,440 m² of flexible office, lab, and production space across two locations, hosting 90+ startups and technology firms with coworking, event, and consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Center / Startup Incubator Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Meeting & Conference Planning (Internal/External) (THAHACAB)

Keywords

• Innovation center services
• Startup incubator facilities
• Office coworking rentals
• Laboratory production space
• Technology networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Office, Lab & Production Space Rental: KITZ generates revenue primarily through renting flexible office, laboratory, and production spaces to technology-oriented startups and companies. Spaces are available from approximately 20 m² and grow with tenant needs. Short notice periods of 6 months provide flexibility.
2. Coworking Space Booking: Day passes for coworking spaces at both KITZ locations (West shore and KITZ² at Seefischmarkt). Revenue is generated through per-use or subscription-based booking of flexible workspaces.
3. Event Room Rental: Rental of conference and event rooms (up to 70 participants) for meetings, seminars, and larger events, with modern technology and flexible seating arrangements.
4. Consulting & Advisory Services: 'Unternehmensberatung Light' — complimentary business consulting and sparring for tenants on financial and operational questions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KITZ operates a technology and innovation center providing flexible office, laboratory, and production spaces for startups and young technology companies across two locations in Kiel totaling approximately 8,200 m². Core offerings include monthly rental of offices (from ~20 m²), laboratory space (>400 m²), and production space (>400 m²), coworking day passes starting at €12, event rooms for up to 70 participants, complimentary "Unternehmensberatung Light" business consulting, reception and postal services, and access to a network of more than 50 partner organizations. The portfolio targets technology-oriented startups, academic spin-offs, and SMEs seeking flexible infrastructure combined with peer-networking opportunities in the Kiel/Schleswig-Holstein region.

Product overview

KITZ Kiel is a technology and innovation center operating as a single unified offering with multiple integrated services. The portfolio consists of two physical locations (KITZ am Westufer with ~8,200 m² and KITZ² am Ostufer with 240 m²) providing flexible rental spaces (offices, laboratories, production areas), coworking facilities, event spaces, and consulting services. The Mietflächen, Coworking, Netzwerk, Veranstaltungsräume, Beratung, and Services products work together as an integrated ecosystem supporting technology-oriented companies and startups from market entry through growth. The two locations serve different profiles: KITZ serves as an established urban hub for over 90 companies, while KITZ² provides a bridge between research and economy near academic institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KITZ²: Second location of the innovation center, located at the Seefischmarkt on the Ostufer (Ellerbek-Wellingdorf). Provides 240 m² of space with offices ranging from 29-38 m², 107 m² community space, and 75 m² outdoor area for events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90 companies supported across 8,200 m² at two locations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HAW Kiel (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAW Kiel is a shareholder (Gesellschafter) of KITZ and a key academic partner. KITZ² is strategically located adjacent to HAW, facilitating direct technology transfer from academia to commercial ventures. HAW provides research collaboration, student talent pipeline, and spin-off referrals to the KITZ ecosystem.
• Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Kiel (IHK Kiel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHK Kiel (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) is a shareholder of KITZ. It provides business development support, connects companies to the broader regional business community, and supports founding activities through its network.
• Landeshauptstadt Kiel (City of Kiel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandeshauptstadt Kiel (City of Kiel) is a shareholder of KITZ, providing public-sector backing and alignment with regional economic development goals. The city supports KITZ as a flagship project for innovation and sustainability in Kiel.
• GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung KielcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEOMAR is located adjacent to the KITZ² site at the Seefischmarkt. This proximity enables direct collaboration between marine research and commercial ventures, supporting technology transfer from ocean science into innovative products and services.
• KiWi GmbH (Kieler Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Strukturentwicklungsgesellschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiWi GmbH is the economic development corporation of Kiel, supporting KITZ through regional business development programs, startup funding connections, and cross-referrals within the regional startup ecosystem (including KielRegion.Accelerates).
• Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU Kiel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAU Kiel is a key academic partner connected through the wissenschafftzukunft initiative (with all four Kiel universities), providing research collaboration, student talent, and spin-off pipeline to KITZ companies.
• Starterkitchen (Innovationshub & Coworking Space)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarterkitchen is a startup hub and coworking space in Kiel that collaborates with KITZ on cross-referrals, shared events, and joint support for the Kiel startup ecosystem.
• ZfE Inkubator (Zentrum für Entrepreneurship der CAU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ZfE (Center for Entrepreneurship) at CAU Kiel operates an incubator that works closely with KITZ to support academic spin-offs transitioning from research to commercial ventures.
• KielRegion.Accelerates / KielRegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKielRegion is the regional development agency for Kiel, Kreis Plön, and Kreis Rendsburg-Eckernförde. It operates the KielRegion.Accelerates accelerator program and provides funding connections, cross-regional networking, and Sprotten Flotte bikesharing infrastructure at KITZ locations.
• Nordzentren (Technology Center Network Schleswig-Holstein)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordzentren connects all technology centers across Schleswig-Holstein, enabling KITZ to participate in statewide innovation ecosystem initiatives and cross-center collaboration.
• BVIZ (Bundesverband der deutschen Innovations-, Technologie- und Gründerzentren)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBVIZ is the national association of German innovation, technology, and founder centers. Membership connects KITZ with the broader German startup infrastructure network.
• Life Science Nord (Branchennetzwerk Medizintechnik, Biotechnologie, Pharma)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLife Science Nord is the industry network for medical technology, biotechnology, and pharma in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. It connects KITZ biotech/life science companies with the broader regional industry cluster.
• TecPort (Technologie Transfer Portal Kiel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTecPort facilitates technology transfer and innovation collaboration between research institutions and businesses in the Kiel region, supporting KITZ companies in accessing research resources.
• DiWiSH (Unternehmensnetzwerk für den digitalen Norden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiWiSH is the digital industry network for northern Germany, connecting KITZ IT companies with peers, talent, and digital innovation initiatives.
• StartUpSH (#WirMachenGründung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartUpSH is the statewide startup initiative promoting entrepreneurship in Schleswig-Holstein. It cross-references KITZ as a recommended startup location and supports ecosystem events.
• Duale Hochschule Schleswig-Holstein (DHSH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHSH provides dual education programs and connects KITZ with graduates and entrepreneurial students. Part of the wissenschafftzukunft initiative.
• Muthesius KunsthochschuleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt and design university that connects KITZ with creative and design talent. Part of the wissenschafftzukunft initiative.
• Syddanske Forskerparker (Southern Danish Science Parks)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border collaboration with Danish technology parks enables knowledge exchange and international networking for KITZ companies interested in the Danish market.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Mindspace: Mindspace is a premium coworking operator with multiple German locations, offering flexible office space and event facilities to startups and corporates. It overlaps with KITZ's coworking and event room offering but at a commercial, larger-scale level.
• Hamburg Innovation: Hamburg Innovation is the central innovation hub connecting Hamburg's universities and companies, operating technology transfer programs. It serves as a much larger, broader incumbent in the same northern German ecosystem.
• WISTA Management GmbH (Berlin-Adlershof Technology Park): WISTA operates Berlin-Adlershof, Germany's largest integrated technology park, combining research, academic, and commercial tenants across many hectares. It is a much larger incumbent operating the same Technologiezentrum/incubator concept KITZ applies regionally.

Regional players

• StartUp Lübeck: StartUp Lübeck is a regional startup support initiative operating in Schleswig-Holstein. It serves a comparable founder-and-startup support role but in a different city within the same federal state.
• Starterkitchen: Starterkitchen is a Kiel-based startup hub and coworking space that collaborates with KITZ on cross-referrals and ecosystem events. It operates a comparable coworking and community model within the same geographic market.
• IZET Innovationszentrum Itzehoe: IZET is another technology center in Schleswig-Holstein offering office and lab space to startups and SMEs. It is a regional peer operating in the same federal state under a similar publicly-supported model.

Direct peers

• CyberForum: CyberForum is one of Germany's largest technology and founder centers, based in Karlsruhe. It hosts hundreds of IT companies, runs events, and provides coworking and consulting services — making it one of the closest direct analogues to KITZ's Technologiezentrum model in a different German region.
• TU Hamburg Startup Dock: TU Hamburg Startup Dock is a university-incubator program supporting academic spin-offs from Hamburg University of Technology. It mirrors KITZ's university-adjacent incubation model in a nearby metropolitan area.
• Innovation Center Bremen (ICB): ICB is a regional technology and innovation center in Bremen offering flexible office and lab space to startups and SMEs with academic and corporate partnerships — structurally analogous to KITZ in another mid-sized German city.

Others

• Life Science Nord: Life Science Nord is the industry cluster network for medical technology, biotechnology, and pharma across Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. It connects KITZ biotech/life science tenants with the broader regional cluster and is an ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kitz-kiel
• Instagraminstagram.com/kitz_kiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 KITZ - Kieler Innovations- und Technologiezentrum