Despite the 2025 arson attack: Technology Park Adlershof continues to grow and remains confident and optimistic

Germany’s largest science and technology park continues to grow amidst an ongoing economic crisis / companies recognise responsibility for Germany’s technological independence

The Science and Technology Park Berlin Adlershof continued its positive development in 2025. Revenues and budget funds rose by around 5% to over 4.2 bn. euros (2025: 4.0 bn. euros). The number of employees also developed positively, growing by 500 to around 29,600 people. The growth dynamic was particularly evident in the number of companies and research facilities. The number of students remained largely stable at around 6,200.

Third-party funding secured by the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) institutes based in Adlershof totalled 38 mn. euros, alongside core funding of 86 mn. euros. The non-university research institutes reported total budgetary funds of 356 mn. euros. The volume of third-party funding rose by 27% to 103 mn. euros. This points to a positive development of the site’s science and research sector in the year 2025. The number of employees working at scientific institutions totalled 4,200.

Looking ahead to business performance in the year 2026, only 11% of the companies based at the Science and Technology Park expect a decrease in revenues. Around 39% anticipate growth (2025: 46%), while approximately 50% of companies expect revenues to remain stable (2025: 43%).

How are companies making their infrastructure crisis-proof?

Crises, geopolitical conflicts and global upheaval have been increasingly shaping Adlershof Technology Park in recent years. Yet the site has proven remarkably resilient: Neither the COVID-19 pandemic nor the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine has had a lasting impact on its development. In 2025, however, it faced another stress test. A three-day power outage in September—caused by an attack on the power grid of south-east Berlin—posed acute operational challenges for both Adlershof-based businesses and research institutes. In the aftermath, many of the facilities at Germany’s largest technology park were surveyed in great detail about how they view crisis resilience and security going forward.

The outage caused many of the companies to rethink their crisis preparedness. Only 2% of businesses are considering relocating to another site. When asked which risks and crisis scenarios they are preparing for, a majority of respondents cited attacks on infrastructure (31%) and disruptions to energy supply (42%). For 16% of organisations, cyberattacks, too, represent a key risk requiring preventive measures. Natural disasters and extreme weather events currently play a comparatively minor role (11%).

In light of the geopolitical situation, nearly three quarters of Adlershof-based organisations (73%) support stronger engagement by German technology companies in developing security and defence-related technologies—for example to protect critical infrastructure. Only 7% oppose increased efforts and investment in this area.

Scientific and technological independence is key for the science hub’s resilience

Roland Sillmann, managing director of WISTA Management GmbH, draws the following conclusions: “For a long time, the focus in times of crisis was primarily on the economic resilience of Technology Park Adlershof. The most recent events—from the attack on Berlin’s power grid to geopolitical upheaval—have shown that the resilience of local infrastructures and the site’s systemic and operational resilience are becoming central factors. They determine whether we can remain operational and economically successful as a business location. Simultaneously, we can see in the development of 2025 that scientific institutions are continuing to expand their facilities in Adlershof. For many businesses, science and research are becoming increasingly important partners for cooperation. In fields such as photonics and optics, new materials, aerospace, artificial intelligence and energy, research in Adlershof is strengthening technological sovereignty and innovative power. For our independence and security, I also believe it is crucial that we in Berlin take responsibility for developing and manufacturing the products and technologies we need—for example, to protect our infrastructure. A clear majority of Adlershof-based organisations share this view.”

Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises: “Adlershof Technology Park is one of Germany’s most important drivers of innovation and growth and a key building block of Berlin’s economic future. Our goal is to make Berlin the number one innovation hub in Europe. This requires innovative hubs like Adlershof that generate future innovation and bring together research, industry, and good jobs. The targeted attack on the power grid in Adlershof in September 2025 made clear how vital it is to protect our critical infrastructure. That is why the State of Berlin is working closely with WISTA and the businesses on-site to further strengthen the business location and make it more resilient. A resilient and innovation-driven Berlin is the foundation for economic success, employment and technological sovereignty.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Patrick Scheele, scientific managing director of Ferdinand-Braun-Institut gGmbH, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH): “Adlershof brings together a broad spectrum of research institutions and companies of world-class calibre—from large-scale research facilities to start-ups, from fundamental research to application. At FBH, we research and develop semiconductor-based components, modules and systems for applications in microelectronics, high-frequency electronics, photonics and quantum technologies. These are urgently needed—for quantum sensing, modern wireless communication, medical diagnostics and environmental analysis. In doing so, we work closely together with companies and research facilities on the site. Such collaboration is the cornerstone of novel technological development and spin-offs that are capable of addressing the major challenges of our time.”

About the Technology Park Adlershof:

Located in Berlin’s Southeast, Technology Park Adlershof is the largest of its kind in Germany and, with around 1,300 companies, one of the leading locations for innovative technology—both nationally and internationally. The companies and scientific institutions on the site focus on the fields of photonics and optics, photovoltaics and renewable energies, microsystems and materials, information technology (IT) and media, as well as biotechnology and the environment. WISTA Management GmbH, developer and operator of the Science and Technology Park, supports technology-oriented companies and institutes in making contributions to the major challenges of our time through innovative products and services.

Contact:

WISTA Management GmbH
Rudower Chaussee 17, 12489 Berlin
+49 30 6392-2191
presse(at)wista.de
www.wista.de