Innovation Factory

What Innovation Factory does

Innovation Factory Aachen GmbH is a German private limited company (GmbH, HRB 22772, registered in Aachen) founded in 2018 and operating from Campus-Boulevard 30 on the RWTH Aachen Campus. The firm positions itself as an innovation consulting and product development organization that enables companies to realize innovations "better, faster, and leaner" by providing access to the interdisciplinary resources of the RWTH Aachen Campus ecosystem, which combines 260+ university institutes with 400+ co-located companies and a 45,000+ student talent base.

The company's core service is a proprietary five-phase iterative innovation process (Ideation, Customer Focusing, Development, Prototyping, Industrialization) that clients can enter at any stage. It packages this methodology into five billable service lines: Innovation Journey (guided expert-led tours of the campus), Workshops (customized off-site sessions with technical experts and agile coaches), Innovation Projects (agile-sprint engagements across all phases), Accelerator (on-demand access to experts and prototyping capacity for 20/10% expansion and disruptive topics), and Camp (temporary workspace with prototyping tools and machines at Karl-Friedrich-Straße). Technical capabilities include software simulations, AR/VR concept evaluation, MVPs, and full prototyping infrastructure.

The business model is professional services delivered on a quote-based, bespoke engagement basis, with go-to-market executed through enterprise field sales, expert-led ecosystem networking, and reference projects such as e.GO Life, e.GO Mover, Silent Air Taxi, Pacific Garbage Screening, and Stellar i-ris. The company is led by founder Prof. Dr. Günther Schuh (Chairman of the Supervisory Board) and Managing Directors Dr. Alexander Keuper and Dr. Tim Latz, with operations focused on the DACH region. No external funding rounds, acquisitions, or parent-company equity stakes are disclosed.

Name

Innovation Factory

Legal name

Innovation Factory Aachen GmbH

Website

https://rwth-if.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Innovation Factory Aachen GmbH is a 2018-founded German innovation consulting firm embedded in the RWTH Aachen Campus ecosystem, offering a five-phase agile innovation process and related services to enterprises seeking to accelerate product development and prototyping.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Consulting Services

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (54142)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Innovation & Design Thinking Programs (EDAMAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Manufacturing & Operations Excellence (Lean/Six Sigma) (BPAHAHAC), Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI), Innovation Leadership & Leading Growth (EDABAAAO)

Keywords

• Innovation consulting services
• Product development support
• Agile prototyping workshops
• Accelerator innovation programs
• Industry academia collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Innovation Journey: Guided tours and presentations into the Innovation Factory ecosystem on RWTH Aachen Campus, accompanied by experts.
2. Workshops: Individual off-site workshops configured for specific use cases, accompanied by technical experts and agile coaches.
3. Innovation Projects: Agile sprints for companies to address their main topics, supported by agile coaches in all phases of the development process.
4. Accelerator Program: On-demand access to technical experts, high-end prototyping capacities, and agile coaches for implementing 20/10%-topics (expansion and disruptive innovations).
5. Camp Program: Temporary use of camp premises with necessary technologies, fully equipped workshops, and space for creativity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Innovation Factory provides consulting and product development services that help companies realize innovations better, faster, and leaner through a five-phase iterative innovation process (Ideation, Customer Focusing, Development, Prototyping, Industrialization). Core service offerings include Innovation Journeys (guided ecosystem tours), themed Workshops, agile Innovation Projects, an Accelerator program, and Camp workspace rentals, all supported by technical experts, agile coaches, and access to RWTH Aachen Campus prototyping infrastructure.

Product overview

Innovation Factory is an innovation services organization operating as part of the RWTH Aachen Campus ecosystem. It offers a portfolio of consulting and support services including Innovation Journeys, Workshops, Innovation Projects, Accelerator programs, and Camp facilities. These services are structured around a five-phase innovation process: Ideation, Customer Focusing, Development, Prototyping, and Industrialization. The organization helps companies realize innovations better, faster, and leaner by providing access to academic expertise, prototyping infrastructure, and agile coaching.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innovation Journey Guided expert-led tours of the Innovation Factory ecosystem on RWTH Aachen Campus, providing companies with insight into the innovation environments where reference products such as StreetScooter, e.GO Life, and Silent Air Taxi were developed.
• Workshops Off-site workshops on RWTH Aachen Campus configured for specific use cases such as Ideation, Digital Transformation, Agile Product Development, and Business Model Generation, accompanied by technical experts and agile coaches.
• Innovation Projects Individual innovation projects executed in agile sprints, with agile coaches supporting project teams in all phases of the development process to realize groundbreaking innovations for client companies.
• Accelerator Structured innovation program following the 70/20/10 rule (70% core business, 20% expansion, 10% disruptive innovation), providing on-demand access to technical experts, high-end prototyping capacities, and practice-approved agile coaches.
• Camp Temporary workspace facilities in Karl-Friedrich-Straße, Aachen, providing access to necessary technologies, fully equipped workshops, and creative space for companies to progress through the iterative innovation process.

Quantifiable outcome

• Faster innovation cycles through agile methodology
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• RWTH Aachen CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Factory is based on the RWTH Aachen Campus ecosystem. The campus provides 260+ RWTH institutes, 400+ companies, and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure including machines, technologies, and testing procedures. Academia and industry work together closely through interdisciplinary teams.
• e.GO Mobile AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnere.GO Mobile AG is a flagship success story of Innovation Factory. Developed e.GO Life electric car and e.GO Mover autonomous mobility platform through the innovation process. ZF Friedrichshafen AG joint venture for e.GO Mover production.
• ZF Friedrichshafen AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZF Friedrichshafen AG partnered with e.GO Mobile AG in a joint venture to develop and produce the e.GO Mover. ZF provides sensors, ZF ProAI central computing unit, electric motor, axles, brakes, and steering.
• Pacific Garbage Screening e.V.flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental nonprofit using Innovation Factory Camp to develop floating platform for removing plastic from seas and rivers. Represents success story of innovation process from ideation to prototyping.
• Air s.Pace GmbHflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of Silent Air Taxi, small electro-hybrid aircraft for medium altitude airspace. 50+ experts from science and business at Aachen location. Planned entry into service for 2024.
• FIR e.V. at RWTH Aachen UniversitysupportingTechnology or IntegrationResearch institute at RWTH Aachen University providing expertise and support for companies using the Innovation Factory ecosystem.
• Werkzeugmaschinenlabor (WZL) at RWTH Aachen UniversitysupportingTechnology or IntegrationMachine tool laboratory providing practical insights into agile product development for Innovation Factory camp users like Pacific Garbage Screening.
• Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management (IWW) at RWTH AachensupportingTechnology or IntegrationRWTH institute providing access to flow channels for testing hydraulic engineering solutions, used by Pacific Garbage Screening for platform testing.
• Werkzeugbau AkademiesupportingTechnology or IntegrationTooling academy providing expertise for companies developing manufacturing capabilities through Innovation Factory.
• Stellar i-risflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare technology company using RWTH Innovation Factory ecosystem to develop world-first measurement device for detecting fatigue, alcohol/drug consumption, and neurodegenerative diseases. Funded by EU Horizon 2020.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy that pioneered design thinking methodologies. Closely comparable to Innovation Factory in delivering structured innovation processes, prototyping, and customer-centric development for enterprise clients.
• Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) / HPI School of Design Thinking: German university-affiliated innovation and design thinking program offering academic-industry collaboration, prototyping, and education. Operates a similar German university-anchored innovation model to Innovation Factory at RWTH Aachen.
• UnternehmerTUM: TUM-affiliated innovation and entrepreneurship center in Munich offering innovation programs, maker spaces, prototyping facilities, and corporate innovation services. Direct analogue of Innovation Factory's RWTH Aachen Campus model in southern Germany.

Regional players

• Werkstatt Smart Production / SmartFactoryKL: Germany-based innovation cluster focused on industrial automation and Industry 4.0 prototyping. Comparable as a DACH-region technology ecosystem offering prototyping infrastructure and corporate innovation collaboration, though narrower in scope (manufacturing-focused).
• Rocket Lab (Design & Innovation Consultancy): German innovation and product development consultancy offering design thinking, prototyping, and corporate innovation programs. Comparable as a DACH-based innovation consulting peer.

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's largest applied research organization operating 75+ institutes with contract R&D, prototyping, and industrialization services for industry. Comparable as a Germany-based academic-industry bridge offering prototyping and applied innovation at much larger scale.
• IAO (Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering): Fraunhofer institute focused on industrial engineering, organization, and innovation management consulting. Comparable as a Germany-based provider of innovation consulting and applied research services to enterprises.
• McKinsey Design / McKinsey Innovation: Global management consulting practice offering innovation strategy, product development, and corporate transformation services. Competes for the same enterprise innovation mandates as Innovation Factory.
• BCG X (formerly BCG Digital Ventures / BCG Platinion): Global consultancy arm of BCG that builds and invests in corporate innovation, ventures, and product development. Competes with Innovation Factory for corporate innovation budgets but at much larger scale and with global reach.

Emerging players

• Stanford d.school (Hasso Plattner Institute of Design): University-anchored design thinking program offering innovation methodology education and corporate programs. Comparable methodology and academic-tethered structure, though more education-focused than consulting service-focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Factory