MotionLab.Berlin takes over Europe's largest makerspace on the ringberlin model campus

MotionLab.Berlin is the operator of what will be Europe's largest makerspace, which will be built on the ringberlin model campus. The company emerged as the first-placed applicant in a Europe-wide tender and was awarded the contract. 

Fridtjof Gustavs is Co-Founder and Managing Director of MotionLab.Berlin, founded in 2017, which aims to make hardtech start-ups successful and thus achieve global CO2 neutrality by 2050. MotionLab.Berlin is a central hub for innovation in Berlin with a vibrant, diverse community that not only shares workspaces, but also brings together people from research, science, entrepreneurship, business, culture and politics.

An open campus for future technologies

Fridtjof Gustavs explains his vision for the innovation hub and makerspace: ‘To make an impact, innovation has to come out of the labs where it is created. And this is where ringberlin's uniqueness lies. With the aim of creating an open, carbon-neutral campus for all, the whole place itself becomes a launch pad for innovation - particularly in areas such as carbon capture, energy generation and sustainable construction, while also fostering progress in many other fields. We see it as the perfect place where we can bring hardtech and deeptech innovations into practice and further into everyday life. This creates a space at ringberlin where innovation is not only accessible to tech founders, but to everyone. We want to create a real home for founders, artists, inventors and all makers.’

A strong partnership for an innovative ecosystem

‘With MotionLab.Berlin, we have gained an excellent operator for the makerspace on the ringberlin model campus,’ explains ringberlin Managing Director Matthias Menger. ‘Fridtjof Gustavs not only knows the start-up scene in the hard tech sector like few others but has also gained a great deal of experience in operating makerspaces. He therefore also knows that the success of this project depends not only on external conditions, but also on crea3ng the right community mix at this location. We are really looking forward to working together and see this as a major milestone for the community and the ringberlin ecosystem.’

Support from politics and administration

Dr Severin Fischer, State Secretary in the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises: ‘As a start-up capital, Berlin is one of the world's most attractive metropolises for founders. We not only want to maintain this level but also expand Berlin into the No. 1 innovation location in Europe. That is why we are continuously working on improving the framework conditions for start-ups. Young companies urgently need suitable space. The Makerspace here on the Model Campus in Hall 2 ringberlin offers this space and has a successful operator in MotionLab.Berlin. With GRW funding of 36 million euros, the Senate Department for Economics was able to make a decisive contribution to the realisation of this project.’ 

Jörn Oltmann, District Mayor of Tempelhof-Schöneberg, also emphasises the benefits for the entire area: ‘The close connection between science and business creates valuable impulses that strengthen and further develop both the economic structure of the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district and the city of Berlin. We value the transparent and cooperative partnership with ringberlin.’

From idea to prototype

From the idea to the market-ready product - united in one central location. The Makerspace makes the cross-industry synergies on campus visible and usable. With workshops, modern machine infrastructure, co-working and office space, maker garages and test areas, Europe's largest makerspace offers ideal conditions for start-ups. 

Dr Stefan Franzke, Managing Director of Berlin Partner: ‘It's great to see how ringberlin is increasingly gaining traction. The planned makerspace will soon be one of the largest start-up centres in Europe. In the future, decisive impulses and innovations will emanate from here that will further strengthen Berlin as an international industrial centre. Berlin Partner has supported the ringberlin and MotionLab.Berlin projects from the very beginning. We are therefore all the more pleased about the joint project and look forward to further cooperation for Berlin as a business location.’ 

Hall 2 of the ringberlin model campus is currently being modernised and extended in line with its listed status. With direct access to local transport, e-mobility services and sharing concepts, more than 5,000 people should be able to get to the campus in the future as car-free and environmentally friendly as possible With an investment volume of more than 60 million euros, the state of Berlin is providing GRW funds of around 36 million euros through the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises to promote the regional economic structure, which will directly benefit the construction of the subsidised sections of the start-up centre


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: STÖBE. Die Agentur für Kommunikation GmbH, 03|21|2025 | “MotionLab.Berlin becomes operator of Europe's largest makerspace on the ringberlin model campus”)