First Start-up Center in Wildau officially opened

The start-up center Reaktor.Wildau was officially opened on June 23, 2025, and is one of six centers across Brandenburg offering optimal conditions for start-ups. The state of Brandenburg supports the establishment and operation of start-up centers throughout the federal state. More than 17 million euros will be made available for this purpose until 2028, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and state funds.

Start of the first cohort and opening event

The first development program at Reaktor.Wildau will begin on July 1, 2025. The start-ups of the first cohort, selected by a jury, presented themselves and their business models at the opening event.

“Supporting start-ups is one of the key strategies to further strengthen Brandenburg as an innovative business location. Our start-up centers offer the ideal environment to support visionary founders from future-oriented sectors and to position their forward-looking ideas successfully on a global scale,” said Minister of Economic Affairs Daniel Keller during the official opening.

Focus on future industries and location advantages

The start-up center Reaktor.Wildau is located in close proximity to the Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau, within the Aerospace Center. Here, promising young start-ups from the clusters of energy technology, information and communication technology (ICT), media and creative industries, mobility, as well as optics and photonics receive both cross-sectoral and specialized support on their path to market readiness.

Ulrich Scheppan, Chairman of the Board of the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg (ILB), explained: “Brandenburg is a land of founders – according to a recent study by the German Startups Association, it ranks first among the eastern German federal states. We aim to further enhance our attractiveness as a founding location through the new start-up centers. These centers are intended to provide entrepreneurs with highly specific know-how to help them establish a long-term presence in the market. With its proximity to universities, research institutions, and Berlin, Reaktor.Wildau is an excellent location. I wish the team and the future start-ups the best possible start.”

Intensive mentoring and technical infrastructure

The start-ups are supported in so-called “cohorts” for a period of nine months and are specifically prepared for international competition. They benefit from close mentoring by experienced coaches who support them in scaling their business ideas – from financing and patent strategies to international networking and customer acquisition.

In addition to professional consulting and tailored training programs, the center offers founding teams access to a comprehensive technical infrastructure, including modern office spaces, laboratories, and workshops. Especially during the growth phase, they are supported in minimizing risks and ensuring market success. In addition to the Wildau site, the other five start-up centers in Potsdam, Bad Belzig, Cottbus, Beeskow, and Strausberg will gradually launch their development programs. Start-ups can apply to participate in each program. The six centers are the result of a Europe-wide tender.

Background Information

The start-up centers in the state of Brandenburg are operated by six different providers, each with a specific focus:

• Bad Belzig: Under the name Start-up Center Gutshof Glien, a consortium is establishing a center focused on the clusters of transport, logistics, mobility, healthcare, ICT, media, and creative industries.
• Beeskow: Valuedfriends Innovation GmbH is setting up an open-sector start-up center called Incubator Village.
• Cottbus: Thiem-Research GmbH focuses on health, biotechnology, and medical technology, as well as cross-sectoral innovations.
• Potsdam: MediaTech Hub Potsdam Management GmbH emphasizes digital media, artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, and other media technologies within the ICT, media and creative industries cluster, as well as additional sectors such as health and mobility.
• Strausberg: STIC Wirtschaftsfördergesellschaft Märkisch-Oderland mbH focuses on autonomous driving and flight systems, aviation, and cross-sectoral innovations.
• Wildau: Reaktor.Wildau GmbH operates a center with a focus on start-ups from the clusters energy technology, ICT, media and creative industries, mobility, as well as optics and photonics.

For further information about the growth industries, economic development, business and technology support for companies, investors and scientific institutions in the Airport Region Berlin Brandenburg please contact:

Sandra Koletzki ​​​​​​ | sandra.koletzki(at)airport-region.de

(Source: Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit, Energie und Klimaschutz (MWAEK), 06|23|2025 | "First Start-up Center in Wildau officially opened")