What interest did the city have in founding the Technology Park?

Mayor Eckart Würzner: Heidelberg has been a center of science with excellent teaching and research for centuries. The Technology Park answers the question of how results from this top-level research – such as medicines against cancer – can be applied and turned into products locally. Innovation and entrepreneurial spirit drive economic development. Here, the Technology Park has had a key role to this day.

What were the milestones in the 40-year history of the Technology Park?

Mayor Würzner: The first milestone after the founding was the completion of the first construction phase in Neuenheimer Feld in 1985 – to this day, the largest location of the Technology Park in the city. Almost simultaneously, the Biopark at Czernyring became operational. The development of new locations in Bahnstadt with the completion of SkyLabs in 2012 and in the Heidelberg Innovation Park, starting with the opening of the Business Development Center in 2019, also counts among them.

What tasks does the Technology Park undertake?

Mayor Würzner: The Technology Park has a key role when it comes to developing something valuable from a good idea. It must bring together ideators with potential investors or experienced companies, provide advice and support through a network of experts with specific knowledge, and offer office and laboratory space. Maintaining an excellent network is central. The challenges of retaining creative people at the location and always keeping up with the latest developments have grown over time.

In which areas does the city collaborate with the Technology Park?

Mayor Würzner: As a municipal subsidiary, the Technology Park is closely linked to the city. We work together on many levels to ensure that Heidelberg remains an attractive location for innovative start-ups, especially in AI, IT, and life sciences – from advising founders to supporting technology transfer to developing spaces.

How does the Technology Park support city development?

Mayor Würzner: The Technology Park is an important anchor for city development: In both Bahnstadt and the development of the Heidelberg Innovation Park into a hotspot for innovations in IT, digital media, and bioinformatics, the Technology Park was among the pioneers, settling there first and being a central building block at these locations.

What significance does technology transfer have for the city?

Mayor Würzner: Technology transfer plays a very important role. That’s why we are in close contact with all stakeholders and support them on various levels. It is crucial to transfer scientific research results into economic and industrial applications. Take, for example, the fight against climate change: To make Heidelberg climate-neutral by 2040, we need innovative, sustainable solutions in energy transition and mobility. It fits well that the Technology Park at the Heinsteinwerk site hosts numerous environmental technology engineering offices.

How does the city integrate into the technology transfer networks?

Mayor Würzner: It is crucial for me that we exchange ideas regionally and use international networks to solve the most pressing future issues like climate protection. We have no time to lose and must find common ways forward.

When did you first get involved with the Technology Park?

Mayor Würzner: Shortly after I came to Heidelberg to study, the city, along with stakeholders like the Rhine-Neckar Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Heidelberg University, founded the Technology Park. I have followed its development with interest from the beginning.

by Dr. Stefan Burkhardt

Download: Testimonial from Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner