Collective Incubator Opens Its Doors at Werkhalle Nord
Representatives from academia, industry, government, and the startup community celebrate a major milestone in startup support at RWTH.
The Collective Incubator at RWTH Aachen University has officially moved into its new home: Werkhalle Nord. Located on the site of a former machine factory in the north of Aachen, the fully renovated facility marks a significant step forward in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship at the University. As part of the “Exzellenz Startup Center.NRW” initiative, this central hub – spanning 4,000 square meters – has been designed to serve aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, student initiatives, and partner companies. The space features state-of-the-art coworking spaces, a comprehensive maker space, and professional event and media production infrastructure.
More than 300 guests from the worlds of science, business, politics, and the startup scene attended the grand opening at Jülicher Straße 209q-s in Aachen. The diverse program encouraged meaningful dialogue and offered an inspiring glimpse into the new space and its many applications.
In his opening remarks, Professor Matthias Wessling, Vice-Rector for Translation and Transfer at RWTH, emphasized the University’s commitment to providing students with an early-stage innovation ecosystem that supports creative thinking and real-world project development.
“We now have a space we can bring to life,” he said, “and we want people, especially among RWTH’s 45,000 students, to understand that while careers at large, multinational companies are possible, the real excitement comes from building something of your own.”
Dr. Johannes Velling, Head of the Department of Digitalization, Startups, and Services at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWIKE), highlighted the Collective Incubator’s unique maker space and praised RWTH’s early-stage support for startup development. In her welcoming address, Aachen’s mayor Sibylle Keupen [in office from November 2020 to October 2025; editor's note] underscored the significance of the Collective Incubator for the city and the broader regional startup ecosystem.
Coworking area, Maker Space, and film studio – the Collective Incubator makes a strong impression
The event’s panel discussion, “Starting a business from university: Opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurial transfer,” brought together key voices in innovation and entrepreneurship. Panelists included Dr. Johannes Velling (MWIKE), Professor Malte Brettel (Head of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Group (WIN)), Dr. Jannik Bühring (CEO & co-founder of ivilion), and David Lebus (Board Member of Collective Incubator e.V.). Together, they explored the institutional frameworks, university support mechanisms, and the role of student involvement in startup development. Dr. Jannik Bühring and David Lebus also shared personal experiences from their own entrepreneurial journeys. Following the discussion, attendees were invited to tour the new facility. From its sunlit coworking areas and cutting-edge maker space to its fully equipped video and podcast production studio, the Collective Incubator made a strong impression with its forward-looking infrastructure designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and innovation. A reception rounded out the event, providing guests with the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and celebrate this important addition to Aachen’s innovation ecosystem.
Collective Incubator e.V. is a non-profit association at RWTH Aachen University dedicated to promoting entrepreneurial thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and student-driven initiatives. Its mission is to support science, research, and education, especially by empowering individuals interested in launching startups, advancing student innovation, and strengthening university-linked entrepreneurship across Aachen.
– Authors: Alessa Busch and Yasemin Cilt