From Third Generation Science Parks to Areas of Innovation

With the opening of the new airport BER in the south of Berlin, the now still busy airport Berlin-Tegel with its iconic terminal building will eventually be closed, leaving an area of 1210 acres (490 ha) empty. The local government of Berlin and WISTA-Management, the developers of Adlershof, both encouraged by the continuing growth and productivity of Adlershof, decided to take on the responsibility of converting the area and to plan, build and run a new science and technology park on the site. The logic of the Adlershof model was chosen as role model for the development of Tegel, which is approximately equal in size. The seven key success factors were: Creating a science base as public anchor, developing an infrastructure for start-ups and small and medium high-tech companies, exercising due diligence when planning the campus and its industrial extensions, encouraging entrepreneurship around the key technology areas, developing relevant networks for cooperation and brand-building, creating a sense of belonging and meaning for the core settlers and, delivering public financial planning that private investors can rely on.